With the preliminary week of free company within the rearview mirror, consideration turns to subsequent month’s NFL Draft. It’s no secret that is arguably probably the most significant New England Patriots draft in a long time. What they do with the No. 3 choose will chart the course for the group for the subsequent 5 years.
All indications are that the Pats want to maintain the No. 3 choose and use it to pick out their subsequent quarterback. However who is aware of whether or not a stunning provide from a group just like the Minnesota Vikings (possibly three first-rounders and a second for No. 3?) may change that plan.
For this mock draft, we’ll steer clear of trades. Keep tuned, although, for a beat author mock draft later this week by which I take a unique strategy.
The most important remorse from this mock draft was not touchdown a defensive lineman, but it surely does serve to get the offense numerous assist. Let’s dive into the eight picks.
GO DEEPER
One week into free company, the Patriots have not gotten any higher
Spherical 1, No. 3: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
The Patriots are in a bizarre spot the place they’re left to take whichever quarterback falls to them at No. 3 if — as they’ve indicated — they need to maintain on to the choose and draft a quarterback. So the choose right here is Maye with the belief that Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels went No. 1 and No. 2. Maye has good measurement and a large arm. He misplaced his prime receivers after his extra productive freshman yr in 2022 and needed to power issues a bit final season as a sophomore. Maybe that was good preparation for New England, although, since whoever the Patriots choose can be becoming a member of a mediocre offense and certain should create on his personal. Maye has a stronger arm and might be a greater general passer than Daniels, however he’s not nearly as good of a runner.
Drake Maye placed on a present in @UNCFootball‘s 40-7 win over Syracuse 🎯
🔥 442 Move Yds
🔥 55 Rush Yds
🔥 4 Complete TD pic.twitter.com/ccrwEUqt2s— ACC Community (@accnetwork) October 7, 2023
Spherical 2, No. 34: Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU
If the Pats keep on with the third choose and take a quarterback, this choice ought to be an offensive sort out or a large receiver. If Adonai Mitchell is out there, he’ll most likely be the choose. However for this mock draft, we’ll say he went within the first spherical (although you possibly can argue it’s price shifting as much as get him). Regardless, we went with Suamataia to turn into, ideally, a plug-and-play left sort out. After a powerful mix, the 6-foot-5, 330-pound Suamataia set himself as much as be a top-40 choose and would fill an apparent want for the Patriots.
Spherical 3, No. 68: Ja’Lynn Polk, WR, Washington
Polk doesn’t have the numbers or athletic profile of his faculty teammate Rome Odunze, a projected top-10 choose, however he put up large numbers reverse him and has the scale to play on the skin. The Patriots have to get higher at throwing the ball to the skin, and Polk may assist. He ran a 4.52-second 40-yard sprint, so he doesn’t have game-changing velocity, however he was dominant for the Huskies, posting 1,159 yards and 9 touchdowns in 13 video games final season.
Spherical 4, No. 103: Javon Baker, WR, UCF
If the Pats don’t land a large receiver with both of their first two picks, they’ll most likely have to double up shortly after, which is what we’ve completed right here. Baker is one other receiver with good measurement, which I figured is price double-dipping on since Kendrick Bourne, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Demario Douglas and Ok.J. Osborn can play within the slot. Baker began his profession at Alabama, however restricted taking part in time led to his switch to UCF, the place he put up 1,139 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns final season.
GO DEEPER
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Spherical 5, No. 137: Ben Sinnott, TE, Kansas State
Even after re-signing Hunter Henry and including backup Austin Hooper, tight finish continues to be a place of want for the Patriots and an space to focus on with a Day 3 choose. Sinnott is extra of a go catcher than a run blocker, which seemingly wouldn’t result in a lot taking part in time in 2024 behind Henry and Hooper, however he can be a pleasant developmental choice to exchange Hooper subsequent season.
Spherical 6, No. 180: Kamal Hadden, CB, Tennessee
Cornerback is an under-discussed want for the Patriots since (1) two of their prime choices — Christian Gonzalez and Marcus Jones — are coming off harm and (2) Gonzalez is their solely true outdoors nook worthy of a beginning job. Hadden is coming off a season-ending shoulder harm, so there can be some medical questions. However he might be an underrated goal late within the draft.
Spherical 6, No. 193: Jase McClellan, RB, Alabama
Antonio Gibson offers the Patriots a third-down working again who can tackle an even bigger function if Rhamondre Stevenson will get harm, however they might nonetheless use extra depth on the place. That might cause them to McClellan, Alabama’s beginning again final season. He was the backup to Jahmyr Gibbs in 2022 (and averaged 5.8 yards per carry), then took over the function full-time final season and totaled a team-high 890 speeding yards on 180 carries.
Spherical 7, No. 231: C.J. Hanson, G, Holy Cross
A defensive lineman can be a good suggestion right here, however it might’ve felt a bit of bizarre to complete this mock draft with out including depth to the inside of the offensive line. The inside is just about set now (Cole Unusual at left guard, David Andrews at heart and Sidy Sow at proper guard with Atonio Mafi because the backup), however a developmental choice who might be stashed on the observe squad wouldn’t harm. Hanson was a group captain who began all 26 video games for the Crusaders throughout his junior and senior years.
(Photograph: Grant Halverson / Getty Photos)