New England Patriots 5-round 2024 NFL Mock Draft: Mac Jones gets replaced

It is time the Patriots stop messing around with the tight end position. For several years, it's been draft bust after draft bust followed by some weird free agent moves. New England either drafts a bunch of tight ends you've never heard of, or they pay a couple of free agent tight ends as they have with Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry.

At the moment, it's Mike Gesicki and Henry as the two veterans on the roster. But, going forward, the Patriots need to find their no. 1 tight end. They have to find that guy who will be around for the long haul. That's why, in the third round, they go with arguably the second-best tight end in the draft and get immense value with Texas' Ja'Tavion Sanders.

To go along with a new direction on offense, Sanders brings a ton of versatility to New England. He's a fantastic receiver, being able to make tough grabs and run after the catch. He runs routes like a receiver, yet he can block like a full back. He is a true athlete at the position, and if he's used correctly, the Patriots will have found a gem in the third round.

Sanders has first round potential written all over him, so if he has a strong pre-draft process, you can forget about finding him early in the third.