Eliot Wolf actually name-dropped a top left tackle candidate for the Patriots
Who will be the New England Patriots left tackle in 2024? Eliot Wolf didn’t just drop a hint, he literally gave us a name.
The Patriots’ director of scouting and de facto GM indicated during a LIVE: Eliot Wolf Press Conference 4/18: https://t.co/o7IYs7LLew
Here’s the full answer from Wolf:
“I think if the season started today – which I get on the guys about using that phrase, because that can sometimes lead to bad decisions – if the season started tomorrow, I think it would be Okorafor, but that is probably more of a question for coach [Jerod] Mayo.”
Oct 30, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor (76) against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Wolf went on to remind everyone that Okorafor, who has primarily played right tackle in his NFL career, played left tackle at Western Michigan. His last season there was in 2017. But Wolf seems to believe that Okorafor would have what it takes to return to the blind side if needed.
“We went back and watched that film, obviously evaluated him when he was coming out [for the 2018 draft],” Wolf said. “He’s an athletic, big guy, so we feel like he can make that transition back to playing on the left.”
MORE: Eliot Wolf talks Patriots’ big 3 needs
Okorafor is 6-foot-6 and 320 pounds, and is listed with 34 1/2 inch arms. He’s clearly an NFL tackle. And it’s also worth noting that the Steelers had Alejandro Villanueva entrenched at left tackle at the time they drafted Okorafor, making the latter more of an option for the right side.
Moving Okorafor to left tackle for the first time in his NFL career, after seven seasons at right tackle, comes with inherent risk. But the physical tools are there, and Wolf was confident enough to name him as the projected Patriots left tackle in the first place. This sounds like the plan, for now.
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Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Check out all of Matt’s content.
Dolloff's Patriots Mock Draft 3.0: Best-case scenarios
Ideally, the New England Patriots revamp their offense in the 2024 NFL Draft. And do it flawlessly throughout their picks.
Of course, that isn’t a realistic proposition, but the Pats need to try. It’s imperative to address that side of the ball simply based on what’s currently on their 2024 roster. But it’s especially true since the 2024 drat class is deep at their positions of need, and at No. 3 overall, it’s lined up perfectly for them to take a big swing on a big-time quarterback prospect.
So, I’m not straying from that formula in my final mock draft of 2024. We’re keeping it simple. No trades. Just a general projection based on a range of picks, which in real life may require a deal, but in a mock draft would just make things more complicated than it needs to be.
From rounds 1-7, we’ve got the Patriots taking a quarterback, two wide receivers, two tackles, a tight end, and a cornerback, all of whom are expected to go at or around their designated draft spots. Here’s who we got heading to New England in this latest Patriots mock draft…
Round 1, Pick 3:
QB Drake Maye, North Carolina
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – OCTOBER 07: Drake Maye #10 of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts after throwing for a touchdown against the Syracuse Orange during the second half of their game at Kenan Memorial Stadium on October 07, 2023 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The Tar Heels won 40-7. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
Poor Drake Maye. He’s been overanalyzed to death. The kid has just about done literally nothing worthy of changing one’s mind from the end of the 2023 season to today, yet he’s got people saying he could be anything from a franchise quarterback worthy of a pick as high as No. 2, to a total bust that would get you fired.
At the end of the day, Maye likely hasn’t fallen out of the top-3 prospects, despite the rise of other players like Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy. He’s excellent at the traits you can’t coach. He has the size, arm talent, and mobility to make explosive plays at all levels of the field, assuming all goes well with his development. His relative rawness and shoddy decision-making with the ball late in his UNC career give him a low floor, but he’s got a higher ceiling than most other prospects in the 2024 class.
MORE- Patriots draft preview 2024: Cornerbacks
McCarthy is apparently rocketing up draft boards after impressing in the pre-draft process, and the Patriots may love his football intelligence and overall makeup, which are no doubt important at the quarterback position. But there’s been little to suggest that Maye can’t possess similar qualities, and despite McCarthy’s solid athleticism, he falls well short of Maye’s physical tools.
It would still be wise for the Patriots to be patient with Maye, and sit him as long as he needs until he refines his footwork and has a strong-enough grasp of the playbook. But Maye has the pure physical talent to play at some point in year 1, and if the Pats hit on this pick, he alone could transform them back into a playoff team.
Round 2, Pick 34:
OT Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma
Sep 2, 2023; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners offensive lineman Tyler Guyton (60) in action against the Arkansas State Red Wolves at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
The 2024 tackle class is deep, but also top-heavy. There’s a steep drop-off from starting-caliber players to projects right around the start of the second round. So we’ve got the Patriots dipping into the tackles at or around No. 34 and taking Guyton, whom reportedly hosted for a top-30 visit.
Guyton has the requisite size and length to play left tackle in the NFL (6-foot-8, 322 pounds, 34 1/8-inch arms), and gets high marks for his athleticism and pass protection skills. He has work to do in the run game and can stand to improve his techniques in accordance with his height, but on the Patriots, Guyton could be a day-1 starter at tackle.
Round 3, Pick 68:
WR Ja’Lynn Polk, Washington
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JANUARY 01: Ja’Lynn Polk #2 of the Washington Huskies catches a touchdown pass during the second quarter against the Texas Longhorns during the CFP Semifinal Allstate Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome on January 01, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
A big outside target who makes up for a lack of high-end speed with athleticism in other areas, Polk figures to go off the board sometime on day 2. He fits the Eliot Wolf mold at 6-foot-1 and 203 pounds, and he has the skill set to make contested catches and seems to have a high floor as a complementary big-play threat.
Polk may ultimately lack the speed to become a true game-changing No. 1 receiver at the NFL level, but if he can improve his route-running, he could deliver a high return on investment as a third-round pick. On the Patriots, he’d have a chance to start right away.
Round 4, Pick 103:
WR Brenden Rice, USC
ARLINGTON, TX – JANUARY 2: Brenden Rice #2 of the USC Trojans carries the ball against the Tulane Green Wave in the second half of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on January 2, 2023 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Tulane won 46-45. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
Here’s a double-dip for the Patriots in a deep, consistent receiver class. The Pats may need other teams to stay patient at this position in order to land two solid prospects in rounds 3-4, but Rice is projected to go right around the 100th pick, so it’s not out of the realm of possibility that he ends up with New England at 103rd overall.
The son of NFL legend Jerry Rice, Brenden likely will never approach the heights of his dad’s career. But he’s big (6-foot-2, 208 pounds) and plays with a physical edge, giving him a chance to be a strong red zone target on the perimeter. His unpolished routes may limit his potential, but Rice has the physical tools to make explosive plays in the right situations.
Round 5, Pick 137:
OT Javon Foster, Missouri
Nov 25, 2022; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers offensive lineman Javon Foster (76) on the line against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the game at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
The book on Foster is that he lacks the requisite athleticism to be a high draft pick or surefire starter at tackle. But he has the size (6-foot-5, 313 pounds) and length (34 5/8-inch arms), and he’s known as a smart football player and team leader (two-time team captain). Foster’s upside is limited, but he could develop into a solid NFL tackle over time.
Round 6, Pick 180:
TE Brevyn Spann-Ford, Minnesota
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – NOVEMBER 04: Brevyn Spann-Ford #88 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers runs with the ball against the Illinois Fighting Illini in the first half at Huntington Bank Stadium on November 04, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
Spann-Ford is unspectacular in the speed department, but is blessed with good size at 6-foot-6 at 260 pounds. He has upside as a “Y” tight end, but still needs to work on his blocking. However, you can’t teach size. He should have a chance with the right tutelage to round out his game and develop into a serviceable-or-better tight end at the highest level.
Round 6, Pick 193:
CB Dwight McGlothern, Arkansas
Sep 30, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks defensive back Dwight McGlothern (2) breaks up a pass intended for Texas A&M Aggies wide receiver Jahdae Walker (9) during the first half at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
McGlothern has a chance to outperform his draft stock because he has ball skills (eight career interceptions in college) and good cornerback size at 6-foot-2. His combine numbers were merely average, so his middling athletic ability has made him a day-3 pick. But in this day and age, cornerbacks that can make plays on the ball are more valuable than ever, and McGlothern can do that.
Round 7, Pick 231:
WR Bub Means, Pittsburgh
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – NOVEMBER 4: Bub Means #0 of the Pittsburgh Panthers makes a catch in front of Renardo Green #8 of the Florida State Seminoles for a 9-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter during the game at Acrisure Stadium on November 4, 2023 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
A triple-dip at receiver! Means is a lottery ticket due to his generally unrefined skill set, but he does have good size at 6-foot-1 and 212 pounds, and he has the top-end speed to have success in a passing game like the one Alex Van Pelt is expected to run in New England. He’d be landing in a decent spot for his development if he ends up a Patriot, for that reason.
