With the New England Patriots being just one of two teams that are officially out of postseason contention, the team can definitively start looking ahead.
This week, one of the big storylines revolved around head coach Bill Belichick. According to a report, the Patriots have already decided on Belichick's fate. With some thinking he could be fired due to such a poor season and an inability to win in a post-Tom Brady era, it looks as though a departure is now imminent.
The report suggests that New England has already decided to part ways with Belichick. But, the question is, how? They could mutually part ways, or another team could swoop in with heavy interest and whip up a trade for the Hall of Fame coach.
With the latter idea in mind, let's take a stab at our latest mock draft. But first, before Belichick is traded, the Patriots make a selection at no. 2 overall.
The Patriots get their new franchise quarterback en route to a fresh start at head coach in this five-round 2024 NFL mock draft.
With the no. 2 overall pick, the Patriots make the easiest of decisions in going with North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye following the selection of Caleb Williams at no. 1.
Mac Jones is clearly not the answer, and neither is Bailey Zappe. On the other hand, Maye is every bit of your prototypical NFL quarterback standing 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds. His mobility allows him to make throws while evading pressure, his arm talent is superb and he's shown an ability to place his passes accurately even under said pressure.
Maye is the consensus no. 2 quarterback in his class, and some might even put him above Williams. For the Patriots, this resets the quarterback clock with a new rookie contract and gives whomever the new head coach is a brand-new beginning. Hopefully, Maye turns out to be a first-round hit rather than a bust like Jones.
The Patriots will again pick in the first round thanks to the following blockbuster trade. Here is where we see Belichick's exit.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers ironically watch Tom Brady leave town only to trade for his former head coach a season later. Tampa Bay will likely part with Todd Bowles, and instead of going the route of a younger, offensive mind, they opt to go for experience and give Belichick his shot at reviving the latter portion of his career.
With the pick netted from Tampa Bay, the Patriots select Washington edge rusher Bralen Trice. This will fit a need both on-field and financially, as the team will opt to let go of Josh Uche who is in the final year of his contract.
Trice is one of several first-round edge prospects in a deep class, and will come in and start immediately for the Patriots. He is a big body at 6-foot-4, 270 pounds, but possesses one of the best pass rush arsenals in the class. His moves are NFL-ready, that's for sure.
Even if he's going up against a quicker, longer offensive lineman, Trice has the moves to get by. His hands are masterful and work together with a high football IQ to win consistently.
One of the biggest frustrations amongst Pats fans over the last few years has been the team's inability to gain consistency and security at the wide receiver position. Last offseason, the team opted not to pay Jakobi Meyers, which was the wrong move. Instead, they paid JuJu Smith-Schuster and DeVante Parker.
A first-round pick, Tyquan Thornton, has not panned out as planned. It appears, though, the team finally has a consistent producer in Demario Douglas. Now, they need an alpha. They need a real, legitimate threat on the outside. That's why they select Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka here at pick no. 35. Somehow, Egbuka was available for us here in this mock.
Egbuka is your typical Buckeye receiver. He stands 6-foot-1 with a lean, dense frame that can maneuver around defensive backs in a variety of ways. His body control is excellent and he's able to run a smooth allotment of routes, giving the Patriots someone they can count on to be their no. 1 guy.
Egbuka gives you the feeling of someone who can be a high-volume contributor due to his route running and sleek, quick footwork. For a rookie quarterback like Maye, Egbuka might end up being his best friend. This is a dependable, quality receiver with a high floor and high ceiling as a pro.
In the third round, the Patriots add to one of their few strengths this year -- the run defense. With the 66th overall pick, New England snags Texas defensive lineman Byron Murphy II. The Patriots always have a knack for going after those gritty defensive players, and Murphy is no exception.
He stands 6-foot-1, weighing 301 pounds, but you would think he's about 25 pounds lighter with the way he moves. He is a violent pass rusher and easily disrupts plays from multiple positions. The Patriots could choose to play him just about anywhere and he would find ways to make plays.
Murphy has sneaky athleticism for his size, allowing him to even rush the passer from the defensive end position. The interior of the Pats' line, this year, has struggled to get much going in terms of a pass rush, too, so being able to plug him in anywhere is going to really benefit this group.
With pick no. 103 coming in the fourth round, the Patriots try their best to find another potential high-level contributor along with Jonathan Jones and Christian Gonzalez, going with cornerback T.J. Tampa out of Iowa State.
In the fourth round, you can't get much better value than Tampa. The 6-foot-1 corner has marvelous burst and acceleration while being a guy who not only tracks the ball but attacks it. When he decides to make a move for the football, he commits to it.
In the fifth round, the Patriots go best available by selecting Pittsburgh offensive tackle Grant Concalves. It's not likely that the Patriots will find a Trent Brown replacement this late in the draft, but they do their best here to find someone who could give it a shot.
Concalves stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 330 pounds. He is a mountain of a man and plays with the nastiness that any quarterback would feel proud of. He's a bit of a project, but Concalves is well-worth a selection here, and some might argue he could go sooner.