2024 NFL Mock Draft Recap: The latest Patriots first-round predictions originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
It’s almost time for the New England Patriots to make their decision in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
In less than 24 hours, the Patriots will be on the clock with the No. 3 overall pick. It’s the first time since 1993 that New England has a top-three pick.
The 1993 NFL Draft was pivotal for the franchise. The Patriots went 9-39 over the last three years, including a 2-14 record in 1992. They decided to take Washington State quarterback Drew Bledsoe with the No. 1 overall pick in 1993. The decision helped transform the Patriots from a perennial player. loser of a respectable franchise. Bledsoe helped the Patriots to the playoffs in his second season and then to the Super Bowl in year 4.
The Patriots should take a similar approach in 2024 and take a quarterback at third overall. Certainly, there are good arguments for trading down. But this is a unique year with so many quality quarterbacks available. Whether it’s USC’s Caleb Williams, UNC’s Drake, LSU’s Jayden Daniels or Michigan’s JJ McCarthy – several quarterbacks in the 2024 class have franchise cornerstone potential. And at least two of those four QBs are guaranteed to be available at No. 3.
It is extremely difficult to win at the highest level in today’s NFL without a very good or elite quarterback. Seven of the eight teams that reached the divisional round of last season’s playoffs started a quarterback picked in the first round. The top three QBs in the AFC – Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen – were all first-rounders. Mahomes and Allen were the top 10 picks.
Here are the final predictions for the Patriots’ first-round pick, based on experts’ recent mock drafts.
Phil Perry, NBC Sports Boston: Drake Maye, QB, UNC
Connor Rogers, NBC Sports: Drake Maye, QB, UNC
Athletic’s NFL staff: Drake Maye, QB, UNC
Matt Miller, ESPN: Drake Maye, QB, UNC
Jordan Reid, ESPN: Drake Maye, QB, UNC
Trevor Sikkema, Pro Football Focus: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Eric Edholm, NFL Network: Drake Maye, QB, UNC
Charles Davis, NFL Network: JJ McCarthy, QB, Michigan
Jason La Canfora, Washington Post: JJ McCarthy, QB, Michigan
Danny Kelly, The Ringer: Jayden Daniels, QB, The Ringer
Dave Richard, CBS Sports: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia at No. 11; Jared Verse, Edge, Florida State at No. 23 (Mock Trade: Patriots send No. 3 pick to Vikings for No. 11, No. 23 and a 2025 first-round pick
Walter Football: Drake Maye, QB, UNC
Ian Valentino, the 33rd team: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
