Welcome to the official Patriots Draft Tracker at 98.5 The Sports Hub, 2024 edition. Read below for the latest updates and reports out of the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit, as it relates to the Pats, as well as notable moves across the National Football League.
Patriots Draft Tracker, Day 2: Live Updates
Patriots select Washington WR Ja'Lynn Polk 37th overall
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JANUARY 01: Ja’Lynn Polk #2 of the Washington Huskies runs with the ball during the third 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 Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
The Patriots have drafted their wide receiver: they’re taking wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk out of Washington.
A big target who makes up for a lack of high-end speed with athleticism in other areas, Polk fits the Eliot Wolf mold. He stands at 6-foot-1 and 203 pounds, he has the skill set to make contested catches, and he seems to have a high floor as a complementary target.
Polk may ultimately lack the speed to become a true game-changing No. 1 receiver at the NFL level, but if he can continue to improve his route-running, he could deliver a high return on investment as a day-2 selection. On the Patriots, he’ll have a chance to start right away.
Bills select Florida State WR Keon Coleman 33rd overall
CLEMSON, SOUTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 23: Keon Coleman #4 of the Florida State Seminoles makes the game-winning catch against Jeadyn Lukus #10 of the Clemson Tigers in overtime at Memorial Stadium on September 23, 2023 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images)
A new weapon for Josh Allen: the Patriots’ division rival Buffalo Bills select Florida State wide receiver Keon Coleman with the 33rd pick.
Coleman’s traits (6-foot-3, strong, contested catches) made him the type of prospect that Patriots de facto GM Eliot Wolf might like, but instead, the Bills take him before he falls.
Day 1 recap: Patriots select QB Drake Maye third overall
Drake Maye (Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)
The New England Patriots didn’t mess around with the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. They stayed put and selected North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye, taking a chance on a consensus top-3 prospect at the most important position on the field.
Read more about Maye below…
— Drafting Drake Maye isn’t the end of a process for the Patriots, it’s the beginning
— Drake Maye is exactly the kind of quarterback the Patriots needed to gamble on
— How Drake Maye is embracing the toughest part of being the Patriots quarterback
— What the draft experts are saying about new Patriots quarterback Drake Maye
