The New England Patriots are sitting at 3-10 and clearly need some help if they have any hopes of being competitive next season. It’s getting closer to the offseason, where the disappointment will end and the reboot will begin.
Assuming coach/general manager Bill Belichick is no longer with the team in 2024, there’s a strong likelihood that a new regime would want their own style of players that fit into their scheme. However, we’re not taking any of that into consideration in this mock draft.
We’re going to handle this mock as if the season ended today. As usual, this mock draft is more of a simulation of what could happen and what decisions we would make if we were in that position.
Here’s who the Patriots came away with in this full seven-round NFL mock draft.
Round 1, Pick No. 2: WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State
The Patriots decide to grab the surefire elite talent in Marvin Harrison Jr. over Drake Maye, after Caleb Williams went No. 1 overall. Harrison has raw ability and will make whoever is quarterback happy.
The Patriots still need a new quarterback, but they have a plan for that as the draft rolls along. After not being enamored with the talent drop off from Harrison Jr. to the next tier, the Patriots feel the drop off at quarterback is a lot closer.
TRADE: Patriots agree to massive draft day trade with Los Angeles Rams
Patriots Receive: 2024 first-round pick (14)
Rams Receive: 2024 second-round pick (35), 2024 fourth-round pick (103), 2024 fifth-round pick (137), 2025 second-round pick, 2025 sixth-round pick, 2026 fifth-round pick
Round 1, Pick No. 14: QB Jayden Daniels, LSU
The Patriots’ plan all along is to trade up into the teens, or quite frankly, when the third quarterback is off the board, which in this scenario was Bo Nix. That decision lands the Patriots the 2024 Heisman winner, Jayden Daniels.
This draft pick would truly signal the Patriots shifting their focus to the new-age NFL with a dual-threat quarterback to develop. Daniels is a moldable talent, and an offensive-minded coach should be able to develop him to become an elite two-way offensive threat.
Daniels and Harrison Jr. is a fun paring that should immediately boost the Patriots offense in 2024. It’s a solid foundation for the franchise to build on for the long-term future.
TRADE: Patriots make a trade with the Atlanta Falcons
Patriots get: 2024 third-round pick (77), 2024 fourth-round pick (125)
Falcons get: 2024 third-round pick (66), 2024 seventh-round pick (228)
TRADE: Patriots make a deal with the Baltimore Ravens
Patriots get: 2024 third-round pick (95), 2024 fourth-round pick (132)
Ravens get: 2024 third-round pick (66)
Round 3, Pick No. 95: HB Bucky Irving, Oregon
After trading up, the Patriots needed to swing more deals to get some picks later in the draft and close the gap. After addressing receiver and quarterback, the Patriots trade back in the draft, as their desired running back falls to No. 95 overall.
Bucky Irving is a solid runner and electric as a pass-catching back. He has some real upside as a workhorse back along with Rhamondre Stevenson, who has yet to truly develop into a pass-catcher other than on checkdowns.
The Patriots will need to find a long-term dual-threat running back with Stevenson being in a contract year next season.
Round 4, Pick No. 125: OT Blake Fisher, Notre Dame
Blake Fisher is the opposite tackle from Joe Alt, but he has some traits that can help him develop into a new-age offense tackle. The Patriots should try to retain Trent Brown and/or Mike Onwenu this offseason. But they’ll also want to find a few developmental, pure tackles in this draft class.
Fisher might not ever become a starter, but his athletic ability should allow the Patriots to have a nice project at tackle that wasn’t primarily a guard in college.
Round 4, Pick No. 132: TE Cade Stover, Ohio State
Cade Stover is one of the better in line tight ends in the class, and he ended up falling to No. 130 in this scenario. Stover should benefit as the No. 2 option behind Hunter Henry, who the Patriots should retain next season.
Grabbing a tight end is important for a new regime, as all three tight ends on the 2023 roster will be free agents in 2024. I doubt they’ll sign all three back. So they’ll likely need to find one at this point in the draft. Stover is an excellent fit for their new-age offense and does a little of everything.
Round 6, Pick No. 180: OT Jack Nelson, Wisconsin
After selecting Blake Fisher in the fourth round, the Patriots double dip here to hedge their bets. Nelson has the athletic traits and build to probably end up going a little higher, but he was here at No. 180 and made it hard to pass up.
If the Patriots are only able to retain one of their starting tackles, they’ll need to throw in one of the rookies to start Week 1, and what better way to develop a position than have a natural battle for it in training camp with two similar style tackles?
