New England Patriots jolt the NFL with a sparkling 7-round mock draft

Pats keep up the pace with a top wideout in the third round

Again, as in the second round, the Pats shore up their listless receiving corps with their own 68th pick by adding wide receiver Malachi Corley from Western Kentucky. The 5'11" tall and 200-pound Corley racked up 79 catches for 984 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2023. Needless to say, he's no stranger to the end zone, which is exactly what the red zone-deficient Pats need.

bleacherreport.com comments on some of Corley's strengths,

"Corley is quick to transition himself into a runner, and he plays with decent burst, albeit mildly underwhelming for someone whose play style depends on it. He plays with a ton of strength and balance as well, which is where you really see his running back-like frame show up.

"Corley has enough long speed to break away as well. He isn't the type to completely ruin pursuit angles or anything, but he can separate and rip off explosive plays with a runway.

"Corley's hands are his best trait as a pass-catcher. Though he isn't a ball-winner in the air, Corley does an awesome job tracking the ball and can reliably catch passes outside of his frame. He has very natural hands."

Eliot Wolf has now begun stocking weapons for his new quarterback, Daniels. While Corley will be an excellent addition, it's still incumbent on Wolf to land one of the premier free-agent wide receivers available on the market. The Pats are purportedly poised to spend big in free agency, priority No. One should be on a No. 1 wide receiver.

Thus far, after three rounds, the Pats have added their future quarterback, a top offensive tackle, and a productive wide receiver. In so doing, they've added to their most needy positions on offense. Eliot Wolf should be delighted with his first two days managing the Patriot's draft room. The grade is high, and things are looking up.