The New England Patriots are one of the more fascinating teams ahead of next week’s NFL Draft. Will they stay at No. 3 and select a quarterback, or will the new regime trade down and gather additional picks?
“We’re open to anything — moving up, moving down,” de facto general manager Eliot Wolf said Thursday. “We’re open for business the first round and in every round. We have some holes we feel like we need to fill in the draft. We’re a draft-and-develop team; the more picks we have, the better.”
Thankfully, all of the pre-draft questions surrounding the Patriots will be answered next weekend. And with the 2024 NFL Draft fast approaching, Pro Football Network analyst Ian Cummings put together his final seven-round mock draft, in which he has New England selecting quarterback Drake Maye.
New England Patriots 2024 NFL Mock Draft Picks
At the time of this writing, New England has eight picks to work with. That number obviously could change, either before or during April’s draft. Cummings wound up using all eight picks while not making any trades.
Here’s each Patriots pick from Cummings’ final seven-round mock draft:
- Round 1, Pick 3: Drake Maye, QB, UNC
- Round 2, Pick 34: Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina
- Round 3, Pick 68: Jalen McMillan, WR, Washington
- Round 4, Pick 103: Javon Foster, OT, Missouri
- Round 5, Pick 137: M.J. Devonshire, CB, Pittsburgh
- Round 6, Pick 180: Cam Allen, S, Purdue
- Round 6, Pick 193: Josiah Ezirim, OT, Eastern Kentucky
- Round 7, Pick 231: Griffin McDowell, OL, Chattanooga
7-Round New England Patriots NFL Mock Draft
Round 1, Pick 3: Drake Maye, QB, UNC
Rodney Harrison won’t like it — but oh well.
Drake Maye is a polarizing prospect, but he’s also the top player on Cummings’ big board — yes, even ahead of Caleb Williams. Sure, he needs more development, but Maye oozes talent that could make the Patriots dream of Josh Allen or Justin Herbert.
The bust potential with Maye is real. But there also is the upside of an elite quarterback, and the Patriots shouldn’t pass up the opportunity to take him.
Round 2, Pick 34: Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina
Xavier Legette, listed at 6’1″, 220 pounds, is the kind of boundary receiver the Patriots need. He’s fast and physical and would add a playmaking dynamic to New England’s offense.
MORE: Top WRs in the 2024 NFL Draft
You certainly could argue for the Patriots using this pick to draft an offensive tackle. They’ve neglected the position for far too long, and they can’t subject their next quarterback to the relentless pressure Mac Jones dealt with. But the pick here is Legette, who could be a difference-maker right away.
Round 3, Pick 68: Jalen McMillan, WR, Washington
A double-dip! Jalen McMillan is a versatile receiver who would pair well with Legette and sophomore slot receiver DeMario Douglas. There might be some positional redundancy, as McMillan also might be a slot in the NFL, and his struggles against physical coverage in college could continue in the pros.
Nevertheless, the Patriots end Day 2 with a new franchise quarterback and a pair of talented young receivers. No complaints.
Round 4, Pick 103: Javon Foster, OT, Missouri
New England can’t wait any longer to draft a tackle. Cummings has them taking Javon Foster, who has a long way to go in his development but is an intriguing prospect. The Patriots also believe Chukwuma Okorafor can start at left tackle to start the season, so they might be willing to play the long game with someone like Foster.
MORE: Top OTs in the 2024 NFL Draft
Foster began his collegiate career as a right tackle but finished on the left side. To play left tackle in the NFL, Foster must significantly improve his footwork and pad level.
Round 5, Pick 137: M.J. Devonshire, CB, Pittsburgh
Cornerback is an underrated need for the Patriots. Christian Gonzalez looks like a star, but New England lacks ideal options to play on the other side. Jonathan Jones is capable, but he’s better in the slot and is working his way back from a minor knee procedure.
The rest of the cornerback room is filled with players who are either undersized or unproven — or both. So, drafting someone like M.J. Devonshire makes sense, as he has the length and ability to play outside.
Round 6, Pick 180: Cam Allen, S, Purdue
I’ll be honest, I’m not sure about this pick. Cam Allen might project as a strong/box safety, which the Patriots have plenty of. What New England needs is a traditional free safety in the mold of Devin McCourty. Allen can play both spots, but if he can’t handle deep safety in the NFL, he might struggle to find playing time in New England.
KEEP READING: 2024 NFL Draft Big Board
That said, Allen is a willing tackler with versatility and plenty of upside. I can see why Cummings chose him.
Round 6, Pick 193: Josiah Ezirim, OT, Eastern Kentucky
The Patriots are set at right tackle after re-signing Mike Onwenu, but there’s a chance he eventually lands on the left side. Even if he sticks at right tackle, there’s nothing wrong with planning for the future.
A developmental right tackle option you should keep on your radar in the 2024 NFL Draft. Josiah Ezirim started his career at defensive tackle, but has really impressive feel at tackle, and his size-explosion combo pops. https://t.co/ru6VxgbCnY
— Ian Cummings (@IC_Draft) April 19, 2024
Josiah Ezirim, who began his collegiate career on the defensive line, is still figuring things out on the offensive line. But he’s come a long way and has intriguing tackle traits.
Round 7, Pick 231: Griffin McDowell, OL, Chattanooga
Griffin McDowell, who also played at Florida, can play all over the line and also has experience on defense. He probably will be asked to play tackle in the NFL, though he still is very raw. McDowell has an edge and nastiness to his game that would play well in Foxboro, Mass.
All the 2024 NFL Draft resources you need — the draft order, the top QBs, the Top 100 prospects, and the full 2024 Big Board — right at your fingertips at Pro Football Network!