3 local prospects Patriots may select in 2024 NFL Draft

Among the many players the Patriots can select in the upcoming NFL Draft, there is a long list of local prospects who would love to play for their hometown (or College town) team.

Historically, there haven't been many big stars that have come out of Boston to play for the Patriots, but they have a tendency to find some hidden gems, which could very well be the case this year as well.

Because this is the first draft conducted by Jerod Mayo, Eliot Wolf, and Co., it's fair to say we should expect the unexpected regarding their picks. We've gotten used to how Bill Belichick ran the drafts, like expecting him to trade out of the first round or trade up to select a true special teamer. But we have no history to reflect on with the new regime.

Perhaps that means more local players will become New England Patriots this fall, four of whom could be great additions.

3 local prospects Patriots may select in 2024 NFL Draft

WR Jalen Coker - Holy Cross

One of the clearest positions the Patriots need to upgrade is wide receiver, which is assumed to be near the top of the priority list early in the draft. If they want to double dip at the position, one local player they could select in a later round is Jalen Coker from Holy Cross, a college located in Worcester.

Although he didn't test incredibly well at the 2024 Combine, the 6'1" pass catcher is known for his football IQ and impressive route running. He proved to take to coaching well, improving every season during his college career, and had his best year in 2023, recording 59 receptions for 1,035 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Coker isn't the fastest guy on the field, running a 4.57-second 40-yard dash. However, he consistently wins downfield (which is much needed in the Patriots WR room) and has been a reliable weapon with a catch percentage of 65%+. He wouldn't solve all the Patriots' problems, but he could be a solid addition to develop.

LB/ED Brian Abraham - Albany

Despite the re-signing of Josh Uche in free agency, the Patriots' pass rush is in need of a serious boost. Matthew Judon continues to be the leading force in taking down opposing quarterbacks, but he can't remain the only successful member of the defense in doing so.

A possible option for a late-round pick or even an undrafted free agent could be Brockton native Brain Abraham, an EDGE player out of Albany.

His college stats won't jump off the page: 36 combined tackles, 7.5 tackles for a loss, 4.5 sacks, and a forced fumble in 2023. However, he's athletic for his size (6'4", 229 lbs.) and played cornerback at Yale before transferring out.

Abraham could fit exactly what the Patriots need with some more refinement and development, mainly due to his late career position switch, but that's not necessarily a negative. With a former linebacker as the new head coach, a guy like Judon to work with, and an impressive LB coach to learn from, Foxboro could be the perfect place for him to thrive.

LB Joe Andreessen

Sticking with the defensive side of the team, although the offense will be the focus of the draft, the team does need to add depth to the linebacker room especially to add more help to the defensive line.

If an athletic prospect with a nearly perfect RAS score is what they're looking for, then former Bryant University linebacker Joe Andreessen could be a good choice.

He won't be the guy getting to the quarterback, but he proved to be a dominant force on the line during the 2023 season, recording 90 combined tackles, 12 tackles for a loss, one sack and a forced fumble. A year prior, while still attending Bryant, Andreessen impressively broke a school record with 116 tackles on the season.

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