There are plenty of mock drafts floating around right now to get Patriots fans excited about what's to come, especially with a new head coach and staff leaving little expectations to be had. For the most part, any guesses regarding how New England will select seem to follow a specific premise, prioritizing a few positions early and kind of going rogue after that.
But what if they only drafted offensive players this year?
That likely won't happen, but they actually have enough roster holes to fill and plenty of talent available to select for them to do it if they choose to. This is a mock draft that will do just that.
The first work of business would be to get the best WR1 you can via trade
Is there really anyone who would say no to this? Sure, taking a quarterback with the third overall pick would be ideal for most, so trading down isn't exactly thrilling. However, addressing another significant need like wide receiver is hard to pass up, especially if they could get their hands on a guy like Justin Jefferson.
Trading with the Vikings would mean they just swap first-round selections, leaving the Patriots open to taking a quarterback with the No. 11 pick. Given the current rankings of players, it's entirely possible that one of the top players at the position would fall to them beyond the top 10, making this trade even more of a can-not-pass-up opportunity.
Or they could go in another direction, like taking their next left tackle to replace Trent Brown.
With that settled, the Patriots get their next left tackle
Because Joe Alt will likely be off the board by now, the next best player to take would be Penn State's Olumuyiwa Fashanu. The 6'6" 319 lbs. offensive lineman would be a great fit as the Patriots hope to massively improve their offense in totality, especially their offensive line.
Fashanu has a proven track record throughout his college career, not allowing a single sack and just one hit through 1,349 offensive snaps and 24 games. This will be a significant factor for whoever ends up being the quarterback next season, even more so if they choose to go with a rookie.
His pass and run blocking is impressive, which has been a concern in New England in recent years, and would immediately put the offense at ease as they implement an entirely new system with the team.
The Patriots then trade back into the first round for a specific player
Because the offense needs an entire makeover in 2024, Jerod Mayo should go completely off the Bill Belichick script and trade back into the first round. He could do this by swapping picks with the Cardinals, giving up No. 34 for pick 27 while also sending a fourth-rounder to Arizona.
This allows the Patriots to get their next franchise quarterback.
One of the more under-the-radar quarterbacks going into this year's draft has surprisingly been UW's Michael Penix Jr. He was the main topic of conversation near the end of the college season but has fallen off over the last month primarily due to the rise of Jayden Daniels.
Although the LSU quarterback continues to be linked to the Patriots, he would likely be well off the board by the time they choose to select their next signal-caller, leading them to Penix Jr.
The former Husky didn't end the 2023 season all that greatly, with a big loss in the Championship game to Michigan. However, his strong arm and mobility would be a welcomed change in New England, which needs to keep up with the current trend of quarterbacks in the league. Penix Jr. would fit that mold and then some, with his natural confidence and leadership being a significant factor within a developing offense.
Patriots will stick with their third-rounder and take a receiver with a great influence
Maybe it's not the best thing to already think of a player in the shadow of their very accomplished father, but Jerry Rice is one of the most legendary NFL players of all time. So how could you pass up on taking his son, even if he only ever becomes half the player his dad was?
That would still be an excellent player.
He wouldn't need to be the WR1 in this Patriots offense since Justin Jefferson would take over that role. And (hopefully) they'll re-sign Kendrick Bourne to play alongside them, which would make a nearly impeccable receiving corps moving forward.
Rice would be a great complement to the two veterans, using his size, speed, and impressive 50/50 ball skills to really put them over the top. He appears to be one of the more underrated receivers in this year's class, making the Patriots lucky to snag him in the third round.
One last trade for good measure
Because why not?
Since Rhamondre Stevenson is the lone proven running back on the team, it would be ideal to trade up in the fourth round to get one of the best in the draft. So that's what Mayo and Co. do by trading their 136th pick and third-rounder in 2025 to the Jets and receiving the 112th pick in return.
How could you pass up taking one of the almost perfectly graded half-backs in this year's class?
Notre Dame's Audric Estime would be a boost to the offense for many reasons, primarily to take much of the load off Stevenson's back. He would be an asset on the ground, as he recorded 209 carries for 1,341 yards and 18 touchdowns while averaging 6.4 yards per rush in 2023. And he could help out in the passing game as well, recording 17/17 receptions for 142 yards.
He has the strength needed to break through a defensive line while also having the patience to know when to stop and go when the play calls for it. Estime's presence would give the next quarterback another solid weapon on the field, which is all you can ask for in a rebuilding offense.
The last but certainly not the least picks of the 2024 draft
It would probably have been a better decision to draft a tight end earlier than the sixth round, but there's a considerable jump from the highest-ranked player in Brock Bowers to the next one on the list, and Jaheim Bell is still a great prospect.
The 6'3" player has been proven to be consistently productive throughout his college career, missing just one game over the last three seasons. He has the speed that will ultimately benefit the Patriots offense and is known for his yards after the catch, something New England has struggled with from their players in recent years.
Lastly, the Patriots end their 2024 draft by selecting Roger Rosengarten, a right tackle out of Washington.
He is credited for being impressive as a pass blocker, not allowing a single sack over the last two years, and he has excellent hands to keep defenders at bay as much as possible. He's no scrub as a run blocker either, which will come in more handy over the next few years if the Patriots continue with their heavy incorporation of half-backs on game day.
One of the words that continues to be used to describe Rosengarten is explosive, which the offensive line will need to improve upon their performance of the last few years while also containing some of the toughest defenders in the NFL, with many of them in the AFC East.