The New England Patriots officially announced Jerod Mayo as their new head coach Friday morning. Mayo will not hold the GM responsibilities like Bill Belichick did, fully focusing on being the head coach.
Fortunately, that means that much of what the Patriots typically target in draft prospects likely doesn’t change all that much with Mayo at the helm. Armed with the number three pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, who are some draft prospects the Patriots could target under Mayo?
2024 NFL Draft Prospects Jerod Mayo Could Target
I’m going to break this one down into multiple positions here to give a broad overview for Patriots fans. New England has a slew of positions they need to address before the 2024 season kicks off, starting off with the most important one: Quarterback.
Quarterback
- Top Options: Caleb Williams, USC; Drake Maye, North Carolina; Jayden Daniels, LSU
- Mid-Round: Bo Nix, Oregon; Michael Penix Jr., Washington; Michael Pratt, Tulane
- Late-Round: Jordan Travis, Florida State; Devin Leary, Kentucky; Carter Bradley, South Alabama
The top three picks in the 2024 NFL Draft seem destined to be quarterbacks, but the order isn’t known just yet. Plenty have reported that the top three are all highly graded, and it could come down to personal preference by these teams. All of these quarterbacks would be keystones for the Patriots to build around.
If the Patriots wait at quarterback, there are a few options they could look at later on.
Bo Nix can operate a spread-esque passing game in the NFL if given a clean pocket and time to throw. He has the ability to make plays off-script if need be, but he will need to take some steps forward mentally to be a good starting quarterback in something that a coach as tough as Mayo can bring out.
Michael Penix Jr.‘s story and attitude will be a huge hit with Mayo. It also helps that Penix has put together quality film over the last two years and can add a vertical element that has been missing from the Patriots’ offense.
Michael Pratt‘s name hasn’t gotten quite the same amount of buzz online just yet, but don’t be surprised if he is the first drafted out of this tier.
Toughness is the name of Pratt’s game. He’s accurate at all three levels of the field, has the arm to make all the throws needed, and is a great athlete in space. His leadership at Tulane has been second to none, the kind of attitude that would really jive with Mayo.
If the Patriots add a quarterback in the offseason, either from a trade or in free agency, and save a quarterback for later, they have options to add.
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Jordan Travis is coming off of a late-season leg injury that ended up dooming Florida State’s season, but he has the playmaking and leadership intangibles that could make him a valuable backup in the NFL.
Devin Leary fits the mold of an ideal backup quarterback, similar to a Nick Mullens. He’s aggressive enough, so the offense won’t have to turtle up if he has to step in and he’s an accurate passer-especially in the intermediate and deep areas of the field.
The son of Gus Bradley, Carter Bradley has some solid late grades from NFL scouts. Bradley is accurate and has the arm talent and football IQ to stick in the NFL, even if it is just as a backup.
Wide Receiver
The Patriots’ need at wide receiver is pretty obvious, given the performances of that room over the last couple of seasons. They need a real standout top receiver as well as a couple of complementary pieces. It shouldn’t be a surprise if the team double-dips there in the draft.
- Top Options: Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State; Malik Nabers, LSU; Rome Odunze, Washington
- Mid-Round: Ja’Lynn Polk, Washington; Xavier Legette, South Carolina; Xavier Worthy, Texas; Roman Wilson, Michigan; Jalen McMillan, Washington; Tez Walker, North Carolina
- Late-Round: Malik Washington, Virginia; Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, Georgia; Joshua Cephus, UTSA; Luke McCaffrey, Rice
If the Patriots pass on a quarterback at third overall, they have plenty of options to take advantage of the top of a loaded wide receiver class.
All three of Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, and Rome Odunze are elite receiving options. Harrison is one of the best receiving prospects in recent memory and can be a top-flight WR1 right away. With a skill set reminiscent of A.J. Green, Harrison could be New England’s most talented receiver since Moss.
If it wasn’t for Harrison Jr., Nabers and Odunze would be battling for the top receiver spot. Nabers plays pretty similarly to Sammy Watkins coming out of Clemson, and his explosiveness makes him look like he simply glides on the field.
Odunze is a top-tier winner on the outside with his ability to separate as a route-runner and win in contested catches. If you want a pro comp, think closer to DeAndre Hopkins.
The depth of this class hits hard in the second-fourth round spots. New England could easily add an option at the top and hit this window again as well to nab two very talented prospects that will slip due to sheer depth.
Ja’Lynn Polk has the reliable skill set that the Patriots were hoping JuJu Smith-Schuster would bring. He is a better athlete than JuJu and a separator who can win at all three levels. His teammate, Jalen McMillan, is much of the same but adds a bit more ability after the catch than Polk at the expense of not being as sure-handed.
Xavier Legette, Xavier Worthy, and Tez Walker are speedsters who would give New England a real deep threat that the team has missed for years. Getting them the ball in space would be a must, but each has the ability to take the top off of defenses and force teams to respect their speed-opening up looks for other players.
Roman Wilson is an underrated receiver in this class despite playing for the national champion Wolverines. He isn’t the biggest receiver out there, but good luck covering him for long out of the slot. Wilson is a good route-runner and has the speed to do significant damage after the catch.
If New England passes on the mid-round and wants to fill out their depth chart with Day 3 picks, they have plenty of options there as well.
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Virginia’s Malik Washington set the single-season ACC receiving record this season, serving as the first, second, third, and maybe even fourth and fifth options on a Virginia offense desperate for playmakers.
Washington catches nearly everything that gets thrown his way and has the acceleration to win after the catch and deep. His physicality and mentality echo with the kind of player Mayo would want to coach.
The Patriots have always found excellent role players, and this year, that screams Marcus-Rosemy-Jacksaint. Rosemy-Jacksaint isn’t super productive, but just turn on the tape, and you can see an NFL-caliber receiver.
His zero career drops, superb run blocking, and ability to win in contested situations make him a reliable target. He’s the kind of unappreciated player that is a coach’s dream to have.
Joshua Cephus is a talented height/weight/speed prospect at 6’2″ and is a good deep threat with his size and ability to win vertically in contested situations. He has just one drop this season on over 100 targets, making him another reliable option for a Patriots team desperate for it.
Rice’s Luke McCaffrey is a do-it-all kind of player. His tape reveals a player who can win at all three levels of the field and makes a half-dozen highlight reel plays seemingly every week. He brings superb physicality with him and is not afraid to fight through contact.
Offensive Tackle
Trent Brown and Mike Onwenu are both pending free agents, with Brown almost certain not to return. The Patriots have to get their tackle spots fixed, rookie QB or not.
- Top Options: Olu Fashanu, Penn State; Joe Alt, Notre Dame
- Mid-Round: Kiran Amegadjie, Yale; Javon Foster, Missouri; Roger Rosengarten, Washington
- Late-Round: Nathan Thomas, Louisiana; Anim Dankwah, Howard; Caedan Wallace, Penn State; Travis Glover, Georgia State; Garret Greenfield, South Dakota State; Andrew Coker, TCU; Ethan Driskell, Marshall
A lot of fans would likely be upset at the team taking one of these two tackles with their top pick, but both Olu Fashanu and Joe Alt are well-deserving of the pick. Fashanu’s athleticism and technical polish give him a Laremy Tunsil level of upside, while Alt is a clean pass protector with superb movement skills to handle elite pass rushers.
If New England waits to draft a tackle, they have options as well.
Yale’s Kiran Amegadjie will slip some from a season-ending quad injury midseason, but he is an ideal developmental tackle with his athleticism and measurables. Scouts have also raved about Amegadjie’s character, something that Mayo has emphasized.
Javon Foster is a long, physical tackle who enjoyed a successful season against some excellent pass rushers. Allowing just one sack in 2023, Foster is reminiscent of D.J. Humphries and could develop into a cornerstone at left tackle for the Patriots.
Roger Rosengarten is a tad underrated on that Washington offensive line, but he is a clean, strong right tackle prospect who could quickly be one of the better pass-protecting right tackles in the NFL.
A huge, long tackle prospect, Nathan Thomas has desirable tools and incredible power in his hands. He needs plenty of refinement, but the development path is easy to see, making him a worthwhile Day 3 option.
You likely won’t be able to find a bigger player in this class than Howard’s Anim Dankwah. Standing at a whopping 6’8″, 375 pounds, Dankwah is a mammoth human being. Much like Michael Onwenu, Dankwah doesn’t carry that weight poorly at all though, and has great length for the position.
The 6’5″, 340-pound Caedan Wallace is a physical right tackle prospect with good tools. Wallace has allowed just two sacks in his last two seasons at right tackle and could develop into a good backup with spot-starter potential.
Georgia State’s Travis Glover is an ideal developmental swing tackle. Glover has experience playing at both left and right tackle and boasts a great frame and athleticism, and can be a solid swing tackle in the same vein as Ty Nsekhe.
Garret Greenfield, Andrew Coker, and Ethan Driskell are all similar players with great pass protection skills and athleticism. Each should be drafted in the top half of Day 3.
Pass Rusher
The Patriots will need to upgrade their pass rush if Mayo wants to take that defense to the next level. With Matt Judon off of a season-ending injury and Josh Uche and Anfernee Jennings hitting free agency, the Patriots are awfully thin at this spot.
- Top Options: N/A
- Mid-Round: Chris Braswell, Alabama; Jonah Elliss, Utah; Adisa Isaac, Penn State; Bralen Trice, Washington; Cedric Johnson, Ole Miss
- Late-Round: Mohamed Kamara, Colorado State; Jaylen Harrell, Michigan; Austin Booker, Kansas
There aren’t any pass rushers worth the Patriots’ top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and so I won’t touch on those unless a trade-down happens.
Chris Braswell screams New England Patriot. He is a freak athlete, placing high on Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List with his explosiveness, and boasts excellent technique, physicality, and power to his game. I personally have compared him to Everson Griffen, and he should be drafted pretty quickly.
Jonah Elliss isn’t the most flexible pass rusher out there, but he is physical and a highly polished pass rusher, a very New England style of player.
Adisa Issac is another athletic marvel of a pass rusher coming out of Penn State, with long arms and superb athleticism. He boasts excellent explosiveness and ability to turn the corner and flashed speed-to-power ability throughout the season. He could be a nice complement to Matt Judon on passing downs.
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Bralen Trice is a powerful, physical pass rusher with an incredibly hot motor on all reps. He overwhelms tackles often and simply could not be blocked throughout Washington’s trip to the national championship game.
Ole Miss’ Cedric Johnson doesn’t have a ton of buzz yet, but that will likely change after his performance in Mobile for the Senior Bowl. Johnson is another polished pass rusher who brings high energy and physicality in the run game — traits that the Patriots and Mayo will look for often.
On Day 3, the Patriots have plenty of options to restock the depth of their pass rushers.
Mohamed Kamara is a tad undersized at 6’1″ and closer to 250 pounds, but he plays the run well and can shed blockers in the run game to disrupt run games.
Kamara finished ninth among all EDGE rushers in the country in tackles for loss. Kamara makes his money off of his quickness, but he will have to grow his game to adjust from the Mountain West to NFL competition.
Much like Kamara, Jaylen Harrell is an undersized pass rusher, but he plays like the Energizer bunny. He relies too much on his quickness and motor, but Harrell is stylistically similar to Josh Uche if the Patriots simply opt to take a similar player to fill his role.
Austin Booker’s stock could end up being higher than a Day 3 pick when the process is all said and done. The Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year, Booker burst onto the scene with some jaw-dropping power and gave every Big 12 team fits as a pass rusher.
Cornerback
- Top Options: N/A
- Mid-Round: Kalen King, Penn State; D.J. James, Auburn; Kamari Lassiter, Georgia; Cam Hart, Notre Dame; Josh Newton, TCU; Ricardo Hallman, Wisconsin; Quinton Newsome, Nebraska; Mike Sainristil, Michigan; T.J. Tampa, Iowa State; Kris Abrams-Draine, Missouri
- Late-Round: Ja’quan Sheppard, Maryland; Beanie Bishop Jr., West Virginia; Christian Roland-Wallace, USC; Elijah Jones, Boston College; Jarius Monroe, Tulane
The Patriots’ defense was stellar at defending the run last year, but they fell off against the pass from their 2022 results. Christian Gonzalez’s return from injury will help, but the Patriots have to solve their CB2 spot and replenish their depth in the secondary.
Much like pass rushers, there isn’t a cornerback worth discussing up at the top without New England opting to trade down. However, the options on Day 2 are nearly limitless for New England.
Stylistically, New England has repeatedly turned to cornerbacks with plus man coverage ability and ball skills for their scheme — something Mayo feels like a certainty to continue.
While there isn’t a breakdown for each individual here, simply due to the sheer amount of options, both Day 2 and Day 3 of the draft boast plenty of options for the Patriots that fit their usual MO at the position.
Other Positions To Note
Tight End
- Top Options: Brock Bowers, Georgia
- Mid-Round: Ja’Tavion Sanders, Texas; Bryson Nesbit, North Carolina; Jaheim Bell, Florida State; Theo Johnson, Penn State; Ben Sinnott, Kansas State
- Late-Round: Dallin Holker, Colorado State; Tip Reiman, Illinois; McClellan Castles, Tennessee; AJ Barner, Michigan; Jared Wiley, TE, TCU
Hunter Henry, Mike Gesicki, and Pharoah Brown are all set to hit free agency. New England needs to restock the room, even if they do bring one of them back.
Safety
- Mid-Round: Beau Brade, Maryland; Kitan Oladapo, Oregon State; Cole Bishop, Utah; Jaden Hicks, Washington State; Tykee Smith, Georgia
- Late-Round: Patrick McMorris, Cal; Sione Vaki, Utah; Trey Taylor, Air Force; Malik Mustapha, Wake Forest; Dominique Hampton, Washington
Kyle Dugger is set to hit free agency, and both Jabrill Peppers and Adrian Phillips have just one year left on their contracts. This need gets lessened if Dugger re-signs due to Mayo’s influence on the locker room, but New England has been typically proactive with needs — something I don’t see changing with Mayo at the helm.
Interior Offensive Line
- Mid-Round: Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon; Sedrick van Pran, Georgia; Zach Frazier, West Virginia; Cooper Beebe, Kansas State; Isaiah Adams, Illinois; Dominick Puni, Kansas; Christian Mahogany, Boston College; Zak Zinter, Michigan
- Late-Round: Christian Haynes, UConn; Xavier Truss, Georgia; Brandon Coleman, TCU’ X’Zauvea Gadlin, Liberty; Kingsley Eguakun, Florida; Kyle Hergel, Boston College; Layden Robinson, Texas A&M; Jalen Sundell, North Dakota State
New England threw plenty of picks at the offensive line last year, so this need isn’t a huge one, but most of their rookie class saw action and didn’t provide any reassurances for this coaching staff.
Mayo was reportedly pretty heavily involved in the offensive line, and it could simply be a case of getting better coaching, but I’m not sure how comfortable they’ll be rolling into 2024 with this current group up front.
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