5 players the Patriots should avoid in the 2024 NFL draft

Duke v North Carolina
Duke v North Carolina / Grant Halverson/GettyImages
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Who should they draft? Well, that depends on who will coach the team in 2024. If it’s the same crew, they need a new quarterback. The last two years have drained all of Mac Jones’ confidence. And there can’t be much faith in the players below him on the depth chart if it’s taken 13 weeks to make a change.

The Patriots need better wide receivers.  DeVante Parker has been in the league for nine seasons, but he’s only started more than ten games on four occasions. It’s incredibly difficult for a young quarterback to form a relationship with his experienced receiver if he only plays 68% of the snaps. And that’s how many Parker played in a Patriots jersey last season. And there’s no point having a new quarterback with new pass catchers if they can’t protect the signal caller.

So, they will need new offensive linemen, too, but not giant linemen like Trent Brown; they need mobile ones for Adrian Klemm’s blocking scheme.

They also need more depth on the defensive side of the ball. Losing Christian Gonzalez and Matt Judon to long-term injuries in Dallas essentially scuppered the 2023 season. 

But 20 weeks out from the draft is far too early for a Patriots mock draft class. Who should they definitely NOT draft?

Patriots should not draft: Wide receivers

First, they shouldn’t draft any wide receivers, even if they need at least two new ones.

Regarding young receivers in New England, whoever they draft turns out to be huge disappointments. Jakobi Meyers is the best of the recent draftees, but he didn’t catch a touchdown in his first 41 games as a Patriot!

For whatever reason, the Patriots and rookie receivers don’t mix well. “Pop” Douglas looks like a poor man’s Kadarius Toney, and the real-life Kadarius Toney is far from a consistent performer. When it comes to individuals the Patriots should be avoiding come the 25th of April here’s the top 5.