5 receivers Patriots can only hope fall to them in 2024 NFL Draft

Occasional lawyer and three-term President Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, “Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the assessment that something else is more important than fear.” In 2024, it seems the Patriots have decided that a rookie quarterback is more important than fear.

If the team is set on drafting Drake Maye or JJ McCarthy with the third overall pick, they will need to bolster the offensive line in the second round and hope a potential star receiver falls to them in the third. We already know who the Patriots have interviewed.

Last year’s pick didn’t go well; nobody seems to know what is happening with Kayshon Boutte at the moment. But here are five impressive receivers who might drop to this year's 68th pick. 

5 wide receivers Patriots can only hope fall to them in the third round 

Devontez Walker 

Devontez Walker began his college career at Julian Edelman’s old alma mater, Kent State, playing 20 games in the MAC. He caught 63 passes in two seasons and averaged a phenomenal 24.8 yards per catch in his freshman year.

During his two-year career there, Walker caught 12 touchdown passes. He even scored a rushing touchdown as a sophomore. Walker then transferred to North Carolina for his junior season and caught 41 passes in eight games, averaging 16.4 yards per catch.

He impressed at this year's NFL Combine with a Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 9.91 out of 10. That is good news, but the only potential issues the RAS raises are his height and weight. Although he's not short, at 6 foot 2, he is only in the 67th percentile of this year's receiver class. Coupled with that, he weighs just 193 lbs., which translates to being only in the 29th percentile, making him a tall but thin player.

But the thing about his (or anybody’s) height and weight is he understands how his body works, however big (or small) he is. Walker’s 4.36 40-yard time was in the  91st percentile, his vertical jump was in the 95th, and his broad jump was in the 99th! He could be the most gifted natural athlete in the entire draft.

The UNC alum is projected to be the 74th overall selection, although he could rise as high as 40th. Eliot Wolf should cross all his fingers and toes so that Walker will still be available when the 68th pick rolls around.