Prior to Friday, any New England Patriots mock draft was guessing the exact selections of the Patriots’ picks in Rounds 4 through 7. As of Friday afternoon though, the full list of Patriots draft picks is complete.
On Friday afternoon, the NFL announced the compensation (or comp) picks rewarded to each team. Comp picks are placed at the end of Rounds 3 through 7, so picks after the comp picks start are not confirmed until that list is released.
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UPDATE:ย On Monday the NFL announced it made a change to the initial comp picks, awarding the Bengals a third-round pick instead of the sixth that was originally announced. That change moves all of the Patriots draft picks from Rounds 4 to 6 down one spot from where they were initially reported. This entire post has been updated to reflect that change.ย
The Patriots themselves did not receive any comp picks this year. Comp picks are based on players teams gain or lose in free agency, and the Patriots’ 2023 signings and losses canceled each other out (OverTheCap.com does a great job of illustrating this here).
However, the rest of the league’s comp picks needed to be assigned to lock in the Patriots’ final four draft slots. With that done, the Patriots draft picks Patriots 2024 draft slots finalized:
๐1st round: No. 3
๐2nd round: No. 34
๐3rd round: No. 68
๐4th round: No. 102
๐5th round: No. 136
๐6th round: No. 179
๐7th round: No. 231
-Round 1, Pick 3
-Round 2, Pick 34
-Round 3, Pick 68
-Round 4, Pick 103
-Round 5, Pick 137
-Round 6, Pick 180
-Round 6, Pick 193 (from JAX*)
-Round 7, Pick 231 (from CHI**)
*This is the pick the Patriots received after trading Mac Jones.
**The Patriots own the Bears’ seventh round pick thanks to a 2022 trade that sent wide receiver N’Keal Harry to Chicago. Their own seventh-round pick belongs to the Las Vegas Raiders, after a pick-swap trade involving tackle Justin Herron.
Of course the Patriots can – and likely will – move around the board to some extent and now end up picking in every single one of those seven assigned slots. For now though, the Patriots have the fifth-most draft capital in the NFL, per Tankathon’s evaluation of the trade chart.
How have the Patriots done in each of those slots in the past? Here’s a look at their history with each pick.
3rd overall
ARLINGTON, TX – APRIL 26: A video board displays the text “ON THE CLOCK” for the New England Patriots during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
— 1966: OT Karl Singer, Purdue
The Patriots have never picked third overall since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970. Their lone pick in this slot came in the 1966 AFL Draft when they took singer, who played 39 games over three years.ย Pro Football Reference also lists running back Tommy Mason as the third overall pick by the Patriots in 1961, but other outlets list his selection as second overall.
34th overall
FOXBOROUGH, MA – JANUARY 13: Patrick Chung #23 of the New England Patriots reacts during the second quarter in the AFC Divisional Playoff game against the Tennessee Titans at Gillette Stadium on January 13, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
— 1974: LB Steve Nelson, North Dakota St.
— 2009: S Patrick Chung, OregonThe Patriots have done O.K. for themselves at 34th overall. Nelson played 14 years in New England and has his No. 57 retired by the team. Chung, who was drafted with the pick the Patriots acquired after trading away Matt Cassell and Mike Vrabel, was a cornerstone member of the second half of the Dynasty. Both are all-time great Patriots defensive players.
Given the team’s needs this year though, assuming they keep the pick, look for an offensive player to be added to this list. Then the question is, can he make the same kind of impact as Nelson or Chung?
68th overall
New England Patriots guard Len St. Jean (60) in action against the New York Jets at Shea Stadium. Credit: Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports
— 1968: OL/DL Len St. Jean, Northern Michigan
68th overall is another slot the Patriots haven’t picked in since the AFL Draft. Their one selection is a strong one though, as St. Jean played 140 games in 10 years for the Patriots as both an offensive and defensive lineman. He was a member of the Patriots’ All-1960s team.
103rd overall
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 17: A view of New England Patriots helmets on the bench prior to a game against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium on September 17, 2023 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
— 1963: FB Ralph Ferrisi, Southern Connecticut State
— 1965: QB Charlie Green, WittenbergA couple of more selections from the AFL Draft era. Neither player ended up playing for the Patriots, so it shouldn’t be hard for them to top their previous 103rd picks this year (assuming they keep the pick).
137th overall
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – DECEMBER 17: Bailey Zappe #4 of the New England Patriots attempts a pass during the first quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs at Gillette Stadium on December 17, 2023 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
— 1965: E David Lee, Louisiana Tech
— 1986: OT Greg Robinson, Sacramento State
— 2022: QB Bailey Zappe, Western KentuckyThe Patriots are back in the 137th overall draft slot for the second time in three years. In 2022 though they acquired the pick by trading down and then selected Zappe, who has gone on to start games for them the last two years. The Patriots are expected to take another quarterback in this year’s class – could that pick come at 137 once again?
180th overall
ARLINGTON, TX – APRIL 26: The New England Patriots logo is seen on a video board during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
— 1964: OT Dave Humenik, Notre Dame
— 1967: RB Bobby Leo, Harvard
— 1980: IOL Tom Kearns, Kentucky
— 1999: DB Marcus Washington, Colorado
— 2001: TE Arther Love, South Carolina State
— 2007: LB Justin Rogers, SMUThese six players went on to play a combined 3 games for the Patriots – all three by Leo. Rogers would have a three-year career as a backup linebacker in Dallas.
193rd overall
The New England Patriots logo is seen on a video board during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
— None
In all these years, the Patriots have never selected 193rd overall. They did draft 192nd last year, and took punter Bryce Baringer
231st overall
Apr 27, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; The podium with draft logo at the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
— 1963: G Dick Kelly, Georgia
The Patriots’ only 231st overall pick never played for the team. He was traded in the 29th (!) round of the AFL Draft.
