The New England Patriots find themselves in a curious position going into the 2024 offseason. For the first time in 2 decades, the franchise has a new head coach in former linebacker Jerad Mayo. This change in leadership hopes to bring along with it a new and improved culture and more success than we have seen in the past couple of years of Patriots football.
That being said it is no secret that a coaching change and talk of a better environment isn’t enough to summon success. For that, you need talent, something the Pats have frankly sorely missed, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Mayo has said that he will not be shy with his spending in free agency, which should alleviate some of those woes (although throwing money at everything can also prove to be a fatal error, cite the 2009 Redskins and the 2019 Jets). Even if Mayo breaks the bank on a couple of key pieces, the front office needs to get guys that improve the team’s chances further down the line as well as this upcoming season.
The most effective way to do this is through the NFL Draft. Although New England doesn’t have the greatest history when it comes to drafting talent, certainly not when it comes to the offensive side of the ball, (starting to notice a trend yet?!?!?!), they seemed to have actually hit on a pick or two the past couple years. Most notably this year was Oregon cornerback Christian “Gonzo” Gonzalez and Eastern Michigan guard Sidy Sow, and last year Houston cornerback Marcus Jones and UT-Chattanooga guard Cole Strange. Still these drafts were less than ideal overall to put it lightly, and consisted of some “interesting” choices.
My personal favorites include selecting kicker Chad Ryland over wide receiver Puka Nacua, and linebacker Henry To’o To’o, taking wide receiver N’Keal Harry over multiple star receivers such as Deebo Samuel, AJ Brown, and DK Metcalf, and drafting wide receiver Tyquon Thornton instead of wide receiver George Pickens and running back James Cook. To put it simply the front office can not have another year of iffy selections and missed opportunities. The team needs to hit on a majority of their selections if they want any chance of relevance within the next 10 years.
Seeing as I am skeptical that the front office will actually be able to get this done I have decided to throw my hat in the ring. Without further ado I present Ryan Lewis’ Patriots Mock Draft 1.0.
Trades:
NE Receives: R4 P126, R5 P 168
GB Receives: R4 P104
R1 P3:
Jayden Daniels
Senior | Quarterback | LSU
Daniels is considered to be a step under the top two QBs in this class but make no mistake, the LSU product will bring tremendous value to whatever team is lucky enough to select him. Daniels has a great arm and a quick release allowing him to fit balls into tight windows and launch shots down the field with ease. His footwork is phenomenal and he has a great sense of touch and timing. He tends to have a problem in the processing department, but that is something that has improved every game this season and should continue to improve as time goes on. The real draw with Daniels is his legs. Daniels is a wizard in the open field. His ability to escape the pocket and simply blow past defenders with Lamar Jackson esque fluidity is breathtaking. His long speed and stop and go ability should allow this to still be a factor at the next level, but he really has to make an effort to protect himself better when he gets there. Multiple times this year Daniels put himself in position to get himself seriously hurt and the last thing any GM wants is a QB hell bent on sending himself to the blue tent (we are looking at you Anthony Richardson). Daniels will add a new layer to a Patriots offense that has been one of the worst in the league for the last 3 seasons, and hopefully be the solution to New England’s quarterback problem.
R2 P34:
Ja’Tavion Sanders
Junior | Tight End | Texas
I know I know this isn’t a receiver. Beyond that this is a decent reach according to PFF’s ADP. Using our second round pick on a tight end of all things would most likely spark riots in the streets of Foxborough. At first glance I agree this pick is odd, however considering that tight ends Mike Gesicki and Hunter Henry might have played their last games in a Patriots uniform, and the simple fact Sanders is no normal tight end, this could be a huge get for their new look offense. Sanders has great size for the position at 6’4″ 243 pounds. He’s a more than serviceable blocker, and has sure hands, ending the year without dropping the ball a single time. The thing that really sets Sanders apart from the rest of the pack is his freakish athleticism for the position. Sanders speed allows him to stretch the field, burst through the seam, and burn corners and linebackers alike after the catch. His leaping ability mixed with his unreal catch radius enables him to go and get it on jump balls, and with hands like his he is coming down with it more times than not. His route running certainly needs some work but his speed size combo will make him a threat in the league for years to come. Sanders should be an immediate improvement from Gesicki even if Henry decides to stay and could act as a safety valve for Daniels right out of the gate, turning checkdowns into 10 yard gains.
R3 P68:
Malachi Corley
Junior | Wide Receiver | Western Kentucky
“FINALLY a receiver!” is probably what your chanting as Pats fans everywhere are rejoicing that the organization is taking yet another swing at fixing the receiver position. At the time this was written the only viable receivers on the Patriots are Kendrick Bourne and Pop Douglas. These are two solid options, but not enough to carry an otherwise lack luster receiving core. New England will most likely look to target an upgrade through free agency, names like Tee Higgins and Michael Pittman come to mind. However, they still should look to target at least one receiver in what appears to be one of the deepest classes we have ever seen. Among this group there is one receiver that I don’t think is getting enough hype, and that is WKU receiver Malachi Corley. Corley’s tape makes one thing clear from the start, the kid’s not afraid of contact. At 5’11” 211 pounds Corley is built more like a running back than a receiver and knows how to use his size after the catch, bowling over defenders on his way to extra yards. I wouldn’t call Corley elusive by any means, but he finds a way to shift around or run through defenders and break off big runs with his long speed . His route tree is limited to mostly short routes, although I think his scheme is more the problem than his ability to go deep, and his footwork is not the best. Still it’s undeniable the guy creates big plays, something the Patriots desperately need. He had a couple drops this past season but not nearly enough for it to be a concern which can’t be said for a lot of prospects projected to go in this range. Corley seems to me like a guy that will fall victim to most scouts over blowing his lack of short speed and labeling him as someone with “not enough burst or elusiveness” to suit his play style at the next level, leading to him falling in down the board and into the lap of one lucky franchise who will be glad they took a chance on him.
R4 P126 (Trade):
Javon Foster
Senior | Left Tackle | Missouri
Foster is not a giant at tackle by any means standing at 6’5″ 309 pounds. What Foster lacks in size he makes up for in arm length and speed. Foster is an impressive athlete for a lineman and should test well at the combine especially in the 40 yard dash. He tends to be a bit of a bruiser blocking wise, man handling larger offensive lineman at close range. His main problem is his footwork specifically his kickslide , which could make him a tough start at left tackle to begin his career. However, his ability to block effectively in the pass and run game mixed with athleticism makes him a solid high upside selection for any team in search of offensive line help. With Trent Brown potentially leaving this offseason and the injury prone nature of the Patriots offensive line getting a guy like Foster should be a priority for New England.
R5 P136:
Braelon Allen
Junior | Half Back | Wisconsin
Braelon Allen resembles a linebacker more than a runningback. Sporting a Derrick Henry esque build at 6’2″ 245 pounds Allen is a north south runner through and through. He is fully aware of his lack of short burst and start stop ability, and he frankly doesn’t care. He is too busy weaving around defenders with surprising elegance, using his elite balance to bounce off hits and keep running, and his large frame to power through and drag defenders on the way to the endzone. Allen is not the best pass blocker but can get the job done in certain spots. He isn’t an elite receiving back but does have the ability to run simple routes and catch the football, and once he has it it’s best to get out of his way. He lacks elite long speed meaning he won’t be breaking off any 99 yard runs, but he will be consistently hard to tackle between the gaps, on short downs, and near the goal line. With Zeke Elliot potentially leaving the team to chase a ring the Patriots could use a running back to pair with star player Rhamondre Stevenson, and Allen could be one half of a fearsome duo.
R5 P168 (Trade):
Joshua Cephus
Senior | Wide Receiver | UTSA
Yes, I have the Patriots double dipping at receiver again this year. The fact of the matter is Cephus has too much talent this late to pass up on. He is versatile in terms of where he can be placed, playing a large amount of snaps both outside and in the slot this season. Cephus is a good size for the position although slender at 6’3″ 185. Cephus plays fast and shows off his speed with the ball in and out of his hands. He posses immaculate footwork and route running ability at multiple levels of the field. His hands are a sure thing dropping just one pass all of last season. Cephus is also a very capable blocker in the run game, which is great for an offense now being led by a Stefanski protege who is sure to put an emphasis on running the ball early and often. So why is Cephus so far down the board? Well for starters he played at a smaller school. UTSA has seen a lot of success in recent years, however they aren’t playing a lot of Power 5 competition making Cephus’ performances less impressive to some scouts. Cephus also had an incident last year, flipping his car on UTSA’s campus due to driving with a BAC of .183 which is probably scaring some front offices. These concerns along with his problems dealing with press coverage due to his frail frame lead to Cephus ending up in round 5. Regardless I think this is a homerun pick for New England, this guy seems to have all the talent in the world and could be a huge steal this late in the draft for a team desperate for weapons.
R6 P182:
Trey Taylor
Senior | Safety | Air Force
The Patriot’s safetys are immensely talented. Jabrill Peppers proved to be an integral part of the defense this season, especially in the run game, and Dugger has been one of the most underrated players at the position for a few years now. The Pats even have solid depth pieces with Adrian Phillips and Jalen Mills serving as more than serviceable backups. The issue is Dugger and Mills are both free agents this offseason, and New England has a history of not paying guys in the secondary. This leads me to believe that sooner or later we will need to fill the void left by one or both of these guys. Enter Jim Thorpe Award Winner Trey Taylor. Taylor has a solid build at 6′ 210 pounds and has a pretty physical style of play. At Air Force he was used as a swiss army knife of sorts. He isn’t afraid to play in the box or even at the line of scrimmage to stuff gaps and shoot through running lanes. His ability to play the run is complimented by an innate ability to cover, deep or in the slot. Taylor has good play and recovery speed allowing him to play in a very reactive manner and still be extremely effective. Beyond the play on defense Taylor is a proven leader and has shown to be useful on special teams as well, which could help earn him a spot on the final roster. Taylor hits hard which is fun to watch when he connects, however his heat seeking missile approach to tackling can lead to some bad angles and missed tackles especially in one on one situations. Taylors versatility and special teams prowess make him a perfect player to take a chance on day 3.
R7 P229
Steve Linton
Senior | Edge | Texas Tech
Linton is a primary pass rusher . At 6’5″ 235 he is light for the position but still can get by larger tackles thanks to his natural feel for angles and excellent bend. He has violent hands and is capable of utilizing speed to power due to his strong leg drive. He is an ok run defender, but struggles to shed blocks and anchor do to his lack of size. While Linton could develop into a solid pass rusher and run defender he is limited by weight and strength at the moment. The Pats might be losing edge rusher Josh Uche this offseason and Linton could be a replacement/developmental piece at the position assuming he makes the roster.
