Skip to Search Skip to Live Player Skip to Content Skip to Footer

New England Patriots

New England Patriots

New England Patriots

Patriots select tight end Jaheim Bell in seventh round of 2024 draft

Avatar photo
Author Matt Dolloff
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 03: Jaheim Bell #6 of the Florida State Seminoles runs in a 4-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter against the LSU Tigers at Camping World Stadium on September 03, 2023 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

The New England finished off their 2024 draft class with the selection of Florida State tight end Jaheim Bell, with the 231st pick in the seventh round.

Bell played 13 games for the Seminoles in 2023, with nine starts. He caught 39 passes for 503 yards and two touchdowns.

Bell stands at 6-foot-2 and 241 pounds, with 10-inch hands. He’s undersized relative to the prototypical tight end size, meaning he may have to make an impact as a pass-catcher, perhaps an H-back type, to stick on an NFL roster.

NFL.com draft expert Lance Zierlein describes Bell as such: “Bell is a player without a clean positional fit after playing all over the field at South Carolina and Florida State.” That versatility likely made the Patriots interested in bringing him in and seeing how he develops.

Bell has been praised in scouting reports for his abilities as a receiver, with plenty of room for improvement as a blocker, which isn’t terribly surprising for an undersized tight end. He joins a TE room that includes established veterans Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper, as well as La’Michael Pettway and Mitchell Wilcox.

In total, the Patriots made eight draft picks, seven of them on offense. The lone defensive player was defensive back Marcellas Dial out of South Carolina. It’s also possible that the Pats acquire a seventh-round pick at the 11th hour, but it appears the first draft under new head coach Jerod Mayo is complete.

Get complete New England Patriots coverage at 985TheSportsHub.com.

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.

Wide receiver Javon Baker showed plenty of confidence after being drafted by the Patriots

One thing that’s quickly apparent about wide receiver Javon Baker? He’s a quote machine.

Baker was drafted by the Patriots in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft on Saturday, 110th overall. That represented a bit of a fall for Baker, who some projected to be a top-100 pick.

—Did the Patriots reach on Ja’Lynn Polk?
—The Patriots have a plan to maximize third-round pick Caedan Wallace
—How Drake Maye is embracing the toughest part of being the Patriots quarterback

Baker himself clearly felt the wait. After getting drafted he joined Instagram live. “It took too f—ing long. You’ve gotta pay,” he said while celebrating.

When he joined this conference call with Patriots reporters shortly after his pick, Baker’s confidence was clear. He had plenty to say with multiple quotes going viral on social media.

Outspoken wide receivers are nothing new in the NFL. Many of the league’s best stars at the position have also been some of the best headline-makers. Baker is right out of the Terrell Owens-Chad Ochocinco-Steve Smith era of the league, based off of what he had to say on Saturday.

If there’s one thing the Patriots won’t have to worry about with Baker, it’s confidence. Here are the highlights from his introductory call with the media on Saturday (you can watch the full thing here)…

  • On what fans should know about his game

    “Just come to the home stadium and bring your popcorn, as I like to tell y’all. Bring your popcorn. I make people in wheelchairs stand up. Bring your popcorn.”

    This was the first question Baker got from Patriots media. He came right out of the gate letting us know who he is and what he’s about.

  • On what he’s hoping to prove with the Patriots

    “Prove them everything. Prove to them what I can do. Prove to them I can do everything as a receiver. I would do anything to win, like just prove them that. Honestly, I am a team player and I want to prove to the team that I am one of them.”

    This was a common theme during Baker’s press conference. He repeatedly referenced not being limited to just one position or one role.

  • On how he feels he can change a game

    “My mentality. I am a receiver. I don’t do anything but receiving the ball. I don’t care if that ball is thrown out of bounds at the sideline, I’m going to receive the ball. So, at the end of the day, it’s that right there. My mentality is just different from any other receiver. I can get down and dirty, I can do anything. So, that right there, my mentality alone can just do anything as a receiver.”

    Baker said something similar during a podcast with legendary NFL wide receiver Steve Smith during the pre-draft process. You can check that out here.

  • On the future for him, Drake Maye, and Ja’Lynn Polk

    “Just us three alone is bringing back the winning mentality that everybody likes in Boston.”

    Is this the trio that will bring championship mentality back to Boston sports? We’ll see how the Celtics and Bruins do tonight following the pick…

  • Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at abarth@985TheSportsHub.com.

Matt, a North Andover, Massachusetts native, has been with The Sports Hub since 2010. Growing up the son of Boston University All-American and Melrose High School hall-of-fame hockey player Steve Dolloff, sports was always a part of his life. After attending Northeastern University, Matt focused his love of sports on writing, extensively writing about all four major Boston teams. He also is a co-host of the Sports Hub Underground podcast and is a regular on-air contributor on the Sports Hub. Matt writes about all New England sports from Patriots football to Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins.

NEXT: Patriots draft QB Joe Milton in sixth round of 2024 draft

Get The 98.5 The Sports Hub Newsletter Delivered To Your Inbox

Stay up to date with the latest Boston sports news and analysis, local events, exclusive contests, and more.

*
By clicking "Subscribe" I agree to the website's terms of Service and Privacy Policy. I understand I can unsubscribe at any time.
Avatar photo
Author Matt Dolloff
Category:
Tags:
,,

More Matt Dolloff

Load More