I felt like doing a mock draft myself but I see that co-workers Alex Barth and Matt Dolloff have already done that so I wanted to expand that out to an entire offseason, starting with the draft because the NFL Draft should be before free agency like it is in all other sports. So here are my best guesses as to what the Patriots offseason might look like with some interjection of what I would do.
CANTON, OH – AUGUST 8: Ron Wolf and his son Eliot pose with Wolf’s bust during the NFL Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on August 8, 2015 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
Based on reports out there, it feels like Eliot Wolf is going to be the final decision maker for the Patriots when it comes to the 53 man roster, which I assume also means Eliot Wolf is making the selections for New England on draft day. Maybe Matt Groh raised his hand to object to that last sentence. For those who don’t know Eliot Wolf, is the son of Ron Wolf, long time Hall of Fame general manager of the Green Bay Packers who brought the Green Bay Packers multiple championships. Eliot Wolf has been with the Patriots since the 2020 season after having spent time with the Packers and Cleveland Browns in different roster building roles. Wolf is technically the Patriots’ director of scouting, but multiple reports say that he is working as if he’s the General Manager, the final decision maker, just not with the official title. Remember, titles are still overrated in Foxboro. My hope is that new Head Coach Jerod Mayo and Eliot Wolf are in lock step similar to how field manager Alex Cora and general manager “Sugar” Dave Dombrowski were. Here are my best guesses as to how the the 2024 Patriots Off Season will look.
Mocking the Patriots Draft Day
TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA – SEPTEMBER 23: Dallas Turner #15 of the Alabama Crimson Tide tackles Jordan Watkins #11 of the Mississippi Rebels during the fourth quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 23, 2023 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
I have believed for a few months that the Patriots really want Jayden Daniels to be their next franchise QB. It feels like from reading and talking to NFL people that a team might take Jayden Daniels with the number 2 pick. If the NFL draft starts with Caleb Williams going number 1 and Jayden Daniels going number 2, I would take Ohio State Wide Receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. at number 3 but I doubt the Patriots will. My guess is the Patriots will trade down in the draft and pick Dallas Turner, EDGE rusher from Alabama. If Jared Mayo wants to play more aggressive on defense, per Matt Judon on with Felger and Massarotti during Super Bowl Week, this would be the perfect first pick for the Jerod Mayo era. Turner finished with 11 sacks, 33 hurries, 11 QB hits and a PFF pass-rush grade of 89.3 in 2023. In this scenario Atlanta would trade pick #8, #43 and #109 to the Patriots for the #3 pick, and at #3 Atlanta would take QB Drake Maye.
The first four rounds of the Patriots draft board would now look like this:
#8, #34, #43, #68, #104, #109To be clear, Dallas Turner would be my pick at #8 in this hypothetical situation.
The Rest of the Draft
Nov 19, 2022; College Park, Maryland, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes tight end Cade Stover (8) runs after the catch as Maryland Terrapins linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II (11) defends during there second half at SECU Stadium. Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Anther guess, as I’m playing real life Madden rebuild, is a team who really wants a player at the top of the second round at pick #34, would offer the Patriots a 1st round pick next season, in which case, I’d take that trade. IF not, I’d be boring in the second round and draft two offensive linemen.
Graham Barton, Center, Duke at #34
Amarius Mims, Tackle, Georgia at #43
The Patriots taking a skilled player in the second round just doesn’t feel like a winning idea to me.
In the third round, I’d go with Cade Stover, TE, THE Ohio State at pick #68
According to google, “Cade Stover is a thick, powerful, and versatile tight end prospect. Stover is both a good receiver and blocker, and was used all over Ohio State’s offense. He played as a traditional “Y” tight end, lined up as an H-back, and as a slot and wide receiver on occasion.”
Just reading that makes me think he’s a Patriot.
In the fourth round, with picks #104 and #109 I’d go best running back and Wide Receivers on the board.
The idea here is the Patriots are in it for a multiple year rebuild of their franchise, what’s the best way to do it, build from the lines out. Defensive line, Offensive Line, and then find the skilled positions. I’m constantly told that a Quarterback on a rookie contract is the most valuable contract in the NFL. Even if Patrick Mahomes just won the Super Bowl with the highest cap hit in, $37 million, in NFL history.
Trade Mac Jones
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – DECEMBER 17: Mac Jones #10 of the New England Patriots looks on before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Gillette Stadium on December 17, 2023 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
I’m not sure Mac Jones has been happy in New England since he was drafted by the Patriots. Then Mac Jones got in here and was like, “yuk, get me out”. What the Patriots could get for Jones in a trade remains to be seen but Mac Jones needs to go. If I had to guess, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Tampa and Atlanta might be the best landing spots for the disgruntled former 1st round pick of the New England Patriots. Mac Jones clearly needs to be out of Foxboro and I think he can be an NFL starter but it feels like he needs the right offensive personal around him like he had in college at Alabama.
So the next question is who do the Patriots go into training camp with in their Quarterback room? My vote and maybe their votes are for low cost bridge QBs. Bailey Zappe I’d bring back. I’d sign Jacoby Brissett and draft a third QB in the late rounds of the draft. At this stage of the Patriots rebuild, I wouldn’t invest big money into a QB and I’m guessing they won’t either.
Acquire Leadership Level Vets
Oct 27, 2022; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) gets sacked by Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman Justin Madubuike (92) in the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
The Patriots are in desperate need for veteran leadership on both sides of the football. New England needs more David Andrews’s, Devon McCourty’s and Mathew Slater’s. So who is that? Is that Justin Madubuike of the Ravens? Is that L’Jarius Sneed of the Super Bowl Champion Chiefs? Is that Saquon Barkley of the Giants? Those are high end free agents, are those players leaders in the room and on the field? The Patriots have the money to spend and need high end, high quality players to teach the younger players the right way to play. I think at some point between 2007 and 2011 the Patriots had 10 or more players on the roster who were a captain on their college team. Do that! Look for those types of players in free agency and in the draft. Get leaders!
The Patriots need to find a direction and go with it, for the sake of Patriots fans, the hope is that this collaborative effort leads to a playoff birth sooner rather than later because I’m not sure how long Boston sports fans will invest in a 4-6 win per season football team.
