NFL mock draft roundup: What experts have Patriots doing with top selections entering week of draft (2024)

Patriots

There seems to be a near-consensus forming among draft experts on who the Patriots will select at No. 3.

By Conor Roche

April 21, 2024

The countdown to the 2024 NFL Draft is now down to days as the first round is on Thursday.

All the rumors on what the Patriots will do with the No. 3 overall pick will finally be tested and we’ll know if they’ll actually have a highly-rated quarterback prospect or not.

As the draft is fast approaching, let’s take a look at what draftniks have the Patriots doing with the No. 3 pick and their other top selections.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and Field Yates: UNC QB Drake Maye (Round 1), FSU WR Keon Coleman (Round 2), UNC WR Devontez Walker (Round 3)

In a three-round mock draft, Kiper and Yates have the Patriots drafting their quarterback of the future and giving him some receiver help.

“I don’t see the Patriots trading back, even if they have needs at several other positions,” Kiper wrote of the Patriots’ decision to take Maye. “Taking Maye secures their future at the NFL’s most important position.”

It appears Kiper’s inclination that the Patriots won’t trade down is correct. The “most likely scenario” on what New England will do with the No. 3 pick is to stand pat and draft a quarterback, ESPN’s Mike Reiss reported Sunday.

If so, Maye might be the most likely option as most reports indicate the Commanders will draft Jayden Daniels with the No. 2 pick. Maye, a 6-foot-4, 223-pound quarterback, showcased a strong arm and ability to run during his two seasons as UNC’s starting quarterback. He threw for 3,608 yards, 24 touchdowns, and nine interceptions with 449 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns last season.

As for the receivers, Yates believes Coleman’s contested catch ability and Maye’s familiarity with Walker make them appealing options for the Patriots in this scenario.

“I’m double-dipping at wide receiver — and setting upDrake Mayewith a familiar target in Walker, whose length and speed would help open up this offense,” Yates wrote.

Coleman, who stands at 6-3, had 50 receptions for 658 yards and 11 touchdowns last year, mostly playing on the outside for the Seminoles. Walker, meanwhile, had 41 receptions for 699 yards and seven touchdowns while catching passes from Maye, playing in only eight games due to an eligibility issue after he transferred to UNC.

NFL Media’s Peter Schrager: UNC QB Drake Maye

Schrager also has the Patriots taking Maye, believing their selection will come down to whichever quarterback between Maye and Daniels the Commanders don’t select.

“Despite lots of smoke that New England could trade down, I believe this new Patriots regime will be comfortable with either Jayden Daniels or Maye,” Schrager wrote. “Pats brass took Maye out for steaks the night before his Foxborough visit earlier this month, and those guys loved the Charlotte native. That said, theyalsoloved their top-30 visit with Daniels. I think they’re fine with whichever one falls to them. New England also wined and dined QBJ.J. McCarthyon Monday night, but I still see this selection being Daniels or Maye.”

Maye is currently the slight betting favorite to be the No. 3 pick, holding -145 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. Daniels (+155) and McCarthy (+320) aren’t too far behind, though.

NFL Media’s Chad Reuter: UNC QB Drake Maye (Round 1), Georgia OT Amarius Mims (Round 2), Iowa State CB T.J. Tampa (Round 3)

Similar to Kiper and Yates, Reuter has the Patriots drafting Maye. However, he has them beefing up the offensive line and adding a corner with a relatively high draft selection for the third straight year.

“The Patriots have taken a back seat toJosh Allenand the Bills in the AFC East since Tom Brady’s departure in 2020,” Reuter wrote on having the Patriots select Maye in his mock draft. “So you can’t blame New England if it might want a physical, strong-armed passer like Maye, who can emulate the game of Buffalo’s Pro Bowl passer. Like Allen coming out of Wyoming, one of the biggest knocks on Maye is his inconsistency. I think offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt would embrace an opportunity to help the young man maximize his talents.”

Allen is one of the quarterbacks Maye’s been most compared to in the draft process due to his aforementioned frame, arm, and ability to move with his legs. Maye’s also viewed as a bit of a project quarterback too, just like Allen was coming out. His footwork in the pocket has been critiqued by draft analysts, with some believing he’ll need to sit for a bit before starting.

As for Mims, he’s a 6-8, 340-pound behemoth who was a rock-solid presence on Georgia’s offensive line over the last two seasons. He didn’t give up a single sack in his college career, according to Pro Football Focus. But he exclusively played right tackle, a spot that’s currently employed by Michael Onwenu on the Patriots’ depth chart.

Tampa was a star on Iowa State’s defense over the last two seasons, recording three interceptions over that stretch and earned third-team All-American honors in 2023.

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler: UNC QB Drake Maye (Round 1), BYU OT Kingsley Suamataia (Round 2), Western Kentucky WR Malachi Corley (Round 3)

Brugley also believes the Patriots will take Maye, in part, because of how bad the team’s offense was in 2023.

“Listening to trade offers is the responsible move for de facto general manager Eliot Wolf,” Brugler wrote. “But it is tough to imagine the Patriots passing on a quarterback here, especially if Maye makes it to No. 3. OwnerRobert Kraft is not interestedin another offensive season like last year in New England.”

Following that theme, Brugler also has the Patriots addressing their other two big offensive needs with their next two selections in his mock draft. Suamataia, a 6-5 offensive tackle, was ranked third on The Athletic‘s Bruce Feldman’s annual athletic “Freaks List” in college football for his speed at his size (he ran a 5.04 40-yard dash at the combine). He also only gave up two sacks over the last two seasons, splitting time at left tackle and right tackle during that time, per PFF.

Corley was a productive receiver at Western Kentucky. He had a 101-catch, 1,293-yard season in 2022 before his numbers took a slight dip in 2023, recording 79 receptions for 984 yards. But he still had 11 touchdowns, matching the total he had the year prior.

CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco: Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy

Prisco seems to hold one of the few dissenting opinions who believe the Patriots will select someone other than Maye with the No. 3 pick.

“The Patriots will decide between Drake Maye and J.J. McCarthy in this spot, and I think it will be McCarthy,” Prisco wrote. “That’s way too high for him in my eyes, but the word is the Pats really like him.”

McCarthy has seemed to rise up draft boards since the combine, with the vast majority of mock drafts projecting him to be a top-10 pick. He helped lead Michigan to a national title this past season, but he didn’t have the stats that the other top quarterback prospects had in 2023. He threw for 2,991 yards, 22 touchdowns, and four interceptions with 202 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns.

Still, McCarthy seems to have many fans. In fact, Patriots de facto general manager Eliot Wolf might be one of them as it was rumored earlier in April that he’s “pushing hard” for the team to draft him.

Predictions from scouts (via ESPN): LSU QB Jayden Daniels

ESPN NFL Draft expert Matt Miller surveyed 10 scouts around the league for a mock draft, with them having the Commanders pick Maye at No. 2 instead of Daniels. So, the Patriots wound up with Daniels instead in this mock draft.

“The other guys really left me without a choice, but this is who we wanted outside of Caleb [Williams] anyway,” the scout reportedly told Miller.

“We’re sprinting to the podium with this pick,” the scout added. “He’s a true playmaker and can beat you with his arm and his legs.”

Daniels won the Heisman Trophy this past season due to his ability to make plays with his arm and legs. He threw for 3,812 yards, 40 touchdowns, and four interceptions while rushing for 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns. He met with the Patriots in New England earlier in the month after the team sent a heavy contingent of staffers to his Pro Day in March.