The New England Patriots have a lot of work to do. Perhaps too much to fix everything in one draft.
Odds are, the Pats aren’t going to hit on every high draft pick, let alone the whole class. But their needs on offense are so glaring, so immediate, that they have to try to revamp the group at every key spot. That will be the focus of this seven-round Patriots mock draft.
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For simplicity’s sake, we’re going to stay at each draft slot without trading. Every selection is realistically projected to go in the range of where the Patriots pick, based on the consensus big board of mock drafts across the internet.
With that in mind, let’s get to it. Here’s our latest Patriots mock draft for 2024…
Round 1, Pick 3:
QB Drake Maye, North Carolina
The longer we’ve gone, the more it’s felt like LSU’s Jayden Daniels has jumped UNC’s Drake Maye and will be headed to the Washington Commanders at No. 2. So, with the third pick, the Patriots grab who they hope will be their franchise quarterback of the future.
Maye checks off a lot of traits that give him elite potential. He has prototypical size (6-foot-4, 223 pounds), big-enough hands (9 1/8 inches), adequate mobility in and out of the pocket, and the arm talent to make NFL-caliber throws at all levels of the field. He was also a team captain as a freshman and was named a weekly captain for five games as a sophomore, and his former Tar Heel teammates have praised his leadership skills.
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That being said, it would be a mistake for the Patriots to start Maye too soon. Physically, he has to build more consistent footwork, which would in turn lead to more consistent accuracy. Mentally, he could stand to improve his decision-making and cut back on turnover-worthy plays. So, it would be sensible to start Jacoby Brissett while Maye takes time to develop, even if the Pats have to languish through some mediocre-or-worse football.
But Maye’s raw talent is for real, and he projects as a strong leader, so there’s potential to mold him into a star if they develop him the right way. If and when he gets drafted, his development will become the most important thing for the organization.