New England Patriots Mock Draft: Let's Go! 2024 Mock #1: 4-round mock draft
The Patriots' pick in the second round is another obvious one on offense. Mac Jones still has one year left at short money in 2024, so don't rule out his still being around, but it's better for both the player and the team if he's traded. Get what you can and move on.
To fill the void at quarterback for the future, the Patriots select Oregon Ducks' quarterback, Bo Nix. nflmocks.com comments about the Oregon slinger's 2023 season,
"He finished the year by setting an Oregon school record with a 71.9 completion percentage and also threw for 3,593 yards and 29 touchdowns. If that were not enough, he was also one of the most dangerous quarterbacks in the run game, rushing for 510 yards and 14 touchdowns."
Nix ticks many boxes, but one slightly concerning aspect is his physical resemblance to Mac Jones. At 6'2" tall and weighing 217 pounds, Nix seems a clone of Jones. Yet that notwithstanding, he'll come to Foxborough with a chip on his shoulder at not being a first-round pick, and that's not a bad attribute to have, is it?
New England Patriots stay on offense with a wide receiver and another offensive tackle
Deferring a wideout until the third round (barring any trades) is not the greatest look for the Patriots, but first things first. QB and OT are the most critical needs, but the team addresses its other most pressing need in the third round, selecting Western Kentucky wide receiver Malachi Corley, who caught 69 passes for ten touchdowns and 906 yards in 2023. The 5'11" tall receiver weighing 210 pounds is the best available and could be a find in the third round.
Firstroundmock.com has this to say about Corley,
"While Corley has shown he’s a smooth receiver who can find soft spots in coverage downfield and even sneak behind a secondary, he excels short-range with the bubble screens and short routes.
From there, he is tough to bring down. This Western Kentucky receiver has proven to be a handful for defensive backs to contend with because he’s a strong and determined runner after the catch. It’s not uncommon to see Corley make the first man miss and pick up additional yardage after the catch.
"I can see him being a real chain mover in the NFL. That’s his greatest value on game film. I can see him more in the mold of Lions’ WR Amon Ra-St. Brown (fourth-round in his rookie season (who I was too low on) who caught 90 passes his rookie season."