The NFL Scouting Combine has come and gone, and many people are excited for the NFL offseason with free agency and the 2024 NFL draft right around the corner.
In New England, fans are itching to see the offensive talent the new regime will target. These are exciting times, but it’s also worth prefacing: The NFL combine is not a way to evaluate talent, but it is a way to finalize your draft board.
My 2024 draft kit is coming soon, and I utilized specific combine drills to finalize some matchups where the margins are smaller.
I think 10-yard split, 3-cone and other drills are more important than the 40-yard dash, vertical, long jump and bench press. Those specific drills will showcase what actually happens in a game, as opposed to the latter which happens in rare situations.
In the NFL, short area quickness, explosiveness and change of direction are valuable for evaluations. As I finalize my kit, It’s time we head into the true mock draft realm.
This time of the year is typically when I switch my mock drafts to what I think the Patriots will do, as opposed to what I want them to do. However, without any knowledge of what this regime will be doing in their first year, I am making these selections based on reports out there, who the team has been interviewing and who is on the roster currently.
Without further ado, let’s get right into the latest seven-round mock draft.
Pre-draft trade!
Before we dive into the draft, there are two trades that I have the Patriots making, which will affect their draft compensation.
The Patriots decide to move on from quarterback Mac Jones, and all intentions are they can get a fifth-round pick for him.
In this scenario, Jones finds a new home in Minnesota. The Vikings need a new quarterback desperately, as Kirk Cousins is currently a free agent and near the end of his career. However, they also need to get younger on defense, and this trade allows them to target that in the first round.
Mac Jones might not be the answer for the Vikings, but he’s worth a flier and a fresh start. They also have the offensive talent and coaching to help him turn things around.
Minnesota Vikings Receive: Mac Jones
New England Patriots Receive: 2024 fifth-round pick (No. 145)
Pre-draft trade!
With the Patriots mentioning their desire to weaponize the offense, they’ll likely need to move on from veterans to clear space for young guys to get much-needed playing time early on. Some reports this week suggested DeVante Parker is likely out. So in this scenario, we find a new home for the veteran X receiver.
Los Angeles Rams receive: DeVante Parker and 2024 seventh-round pick (No. 229)
New England Patriots receive: 2024 sixth-round pick (No. 218)
Round 1, Pick No. 3: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
The Patriots are reportedly fine with any of the top-three quarterbacks, and with Caleb Williams and Drake Maye off the board, Jayden Daniels is the pick here.
It is likely he will sit a year, or at least the majority of it, as the Patriots try to properly rebuild their roster. There’s no reason to rush a rookie into a situation that isn’t stable. Patience could pay off big for the Patriots.
There are some parts of Daniels’ game that needs work, but the Patriots are primed for a proper rebuild with the former LSU standout under center.
Round 2, Pick No. 34: Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina
I have been hammering the table for Legette to become a Patriot.
He plays different, but he has the athletic profile to someone like Deebo Samuel, DK Metcalf or AJ Brown and would be the ultimate redo to the 2019 NFL draft selection of N’Keal Harry.
Legette has the size, speed and hands to become a true No. 1 coverage dictator. This would be the sort of pick that aligns with the notion to “weaponize the offense.”
He might not be on the board in this spot, but Adonai Mitchell and Xavier Worthy’s performance could knock Legette into Day 2, which would open the possibility of a huge move for the Patriots.
Round 3, Pick No. 68: Theo Johnson, TE, Penn State
The Patriots need a tight end, and they can probably sign one in the offseason in addition to bringing back Hunter Henry. But they need a developmental guy that could factor into the team’s plans when they feel the team is ready to compete.
As previously mentioned, I’m not expecting Daniels to be the starting quarterback in Week 1, and the same goes for Johnson at tight end. Johnson was productive, and he has the prototypical athletic profile that fits into an Alex Van Pelt offense.
Add all of that to his good NFL combine performance, and Johnson will likely not get out of the top-100. So the Patriots might find his value to be too good here to risk passing up and waiting until the next round.
The Patriots will also likely fill their tackle position by re-signing Mike Onwenu, who they view as a cornerstone player. But they may also attack the position with a veteran, as well as a mid-round tackle to develop.
Round 4, Pick No. 104: Christian Jones, OT, Texas
The Patriots love their Jones’ so much that they get another after shipping Mac Jones off in a trade to the Vikings. Christian Jones is a fun project offensive tackle that has played against some tough talent.
He has some work to do, but that is why he slides to pick No. 104.
As I mentioned earlier, the Patriots would be re-signing Mike Onwenu and signing a veteran tackle who could start for a year or two while they develop Jones.
Round 5, Pick No. 136: Dylan Laube, RB, UNH
Laube, a receiving back from the northeast, is someone a lot of draft experts have tied to the Patriots. One of the main reasons for taking one here is how much the modern NFL relies on multiple running backs and receiving backs in a rotation.
The Patriots have not found a suitable replacement for James White, since he retired. Laube could fit that role for the Patriots as an electric playmaker with the ball in his hands.
Round 5, Pick No. 145: Drake Nugent, C, Michigan
With David Andrews nearing the end, the Patriots will need to find a starting caliber center soon. Although Jake Andrews was taken last year, he has the ability to play guard. Nugent can play guard as well, but he is a much more polished center than Jake Andrews.
Nugent will give the Patriots plenty of options on the field. The worst case scenario is he develops into a much-needed backup when David Andrews eventually retires.
With both Nugent and Jake Andrews being able to play guard, the Patriots fill that much-needed swing interior role that offensive lineman Ted Karras once held in New England.
Round 6, Pick No. 182: Anthony Gould, WR, Oregon State
The Patriots double dip at receiver with Parker gone, concerns with JuJu Smith-Schuster’s health and no real talent, outside of Demario Douglas.
Although things can change, the wide receiver room needs a revamp, and Gould gives them a nice slot option outside of “Pop” Douglas. Although he wasn’t extremely productive in college, he had a good NFL combine performance, and he is certainly someone that fits a similar mold to Douglas.
He would give the Patriots some added depth if they plan on giving Douglas a bigger role on offense.
Round 6, Pick No. 218: Tip Reiman, TE, Illinois
Reiman impressed at the combine with some unexpected athletic ability, and he also showed good focus and footwork in drills. He was someone I thought would initially be available as a priority free agent, but his combine performance might allow him to get drafted.
Reiman is a fun option for a Patriots team trying to revamp their offensive weaponry. He would immediately slide in as the blocking tight end and third tight end behind Hunter Henry (or Dalton Schultz) and Theo Johnson.
