The New England Patriots have a rare opportunity to make one of the greatest splashes in recent memory at the 2024 NFL draft. They manage to do so in this week’s seven-round mock draft by pulling off two blockbuster trades with the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears.
The Patriots have a long history of snubbing their noses at high-end offensive playmakers, but that is likely to change now that Bill Belichick is gone and Eliot Wolf is leading the personnel decision-making.
Of course, the team is also in dire need of offensive line help and a future face of the franchise at the quarterback position. The revolving door of Mac Jones, Bailey Zappe and a third wheel veteran signal-caller has worn out its welcome.
In one fell swoop, this mock draft has the Patriots boosting their positions of need, while also creating a roster capable of competing in 2024. Here are the results from the latest seven-round mock draft:
TRADE!
The Patriots trade the No. 3 overall pick of the draft to the Minnesota Vikings for All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson and the No. 11 pick. It’s a big-time swap that gives the Patriots the best receiver in football, and it puts the Vikings in position to select one of the top-three quarterbacks in the draft.
Round 1, Pick No. 11: JC Latham, OT, Alabama
It doesn’t matter what moves the Patriots make if they fail to address the horrendous offensive line situation. Trent Brown has been too inconsistent, and Mike Onwenu was playing out of position in 2023.
The Patriots use the No. 11 pick they got from the Vikings on one of the best offensive tackles in the entire draft. Standing at 6-foot-6 and 360 pounds, Latham has the prototypical size with exceptional skills in both pass protection and run blocking. You won’t find many tackles in the league with Latham’s size and athleticism.
He’s a player the Patriots could grab on Day 1 and count on to contribute right out of the gates.
Round 2, Pick No. 34: Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona
It makes sense for the Patriots to double dip in this draft to solidify their offensive front. Trent Brown is a pending free agent, and if Michael Onwenu sticks around, it would make more sense for the Patriots to move him back to guard, while slotting in a top rookie draft pick at the other tackle position.
Arizona’s Jordan Morgan would make for a strong rookie tandem with JC Latham. The Patriots would have their tackles for the future with two powerful difference-makers up front. Those additions alone would be a dramatic offensive improvement, and New England’s quarterbacks would actually have a fighting chance.
Trade!
The Patriots trade their No. 68 overall pick in the third round to the Bears for veteran quarterback Justin Fields. That would give the Patriots a player under center that has the experience to make an impact immediately, along with room for significant growth. At only 24 years old, Fields is coming off a career-year and appears to be entering his football prime in the NFL.
Round 4, Pick No. 103: Roman Wilson, WR, Michigan
Roman Wilson was without question one of the best players on the field at the Senior Bowl. He’s a proven separator with supreme route-running abilities and reliable hands.
Imagine an offense with Justin Jefferson on the outside and both Wilson and Demario Douglas working underneath. DeVante Parker’s play has been too up and down to rely on for another season, and Tyquan Thornton hasn’t shown enough to warrant another look in his third year.
The Patriots need playmakers that can consistently get open, and early indication is Wilson becoming one of those players.
Round 5, Pick No. 135: Tykee Smith, S, Georgia
The Patriots need to focus heavily on the offensive side of the ball, but they don’t neglect defense entirely with Georgia’s Tykee Smith still on the board in the fifth round.
Kyle Dugger, who is a pending free agent, could end up elsewhere in March, which would cause some reshuffling in the defensive backfield. Smith would give the Patriots another developmental project to help fill the void.
One of Smith’s best traits is his versatility. He’s a feisty and physical downhill playmaker with the ability to line up at both safety and the slot cornerback positions.
Round 6, Pick No. 181: Blake Watson, RB Memphis
Ezekiel Elliott is unlikely to stick around in New England, if a strong market develops for his services. Regardless, Kevin Harris is ready to step up as a cheaper No. 2 option behind Rhamondre Stevenson.
The duo of Stevenson and Harris means the Patriots would still need to get a third-down running back in the pipeline. Look no further than Memphis’ Blake Watson in the sixth round. He was a proven playmaker in the offensive backfield for the Tigers with 1,152 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, along with 53 receptions for 480 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
Round 6, Pick No. 189: Joe Milton, QB, Tennessee
The Patriots traded for Justin Fields, but they also managed to land a quarterback prospect late in the draft as well.
Milton has one of the strongest arms in the entire draft, and he’s capable of making plays on the run. The biggest issues have been his accuracy and ability to read defenses. If he can improve on those problems, he’ll be able to take his game to new heights.
This would be an opportunity for him to work in behind Fields, while gaining NFL experience and building on his overall skill set.
Round 7, Pick No. 228: Will Reichard, K, Alabama
The Patriots learned a hard lesson last year when reaching on drafting kicker Chad Ryland in the fourth round. So they wait until the seventh round to take Will Reichard out of Alabama.
Reichard went 22-of-25 kicking in 2023, including two kicks of 50-plus yards in the Rose Bowl against the Michigan Wolverines. Ryland has been far too inconsistent to depend on moving forward. Even if they don’t outright replace him, it’s time to get some real competition in the mix.
