The New England Patriots can ace their NFL draft if they hit on a quarterback with the No. 3 overall pick, but what they accomplish on the second and third days of the event are nearly as important to build a roster for long-term success.
The team’s needs don’t end at quarterback. Their current projected starting left tackle — ex-Steelers right tackle Chukwuma Okorafor — has never started a game on the blind side in the NFL. And de facto general manager Eliot Wolf acknowledged last week that while the team has pass-catchers who can line up at and play “X” receiver, they don’t have “players that on a three-by-one can beat the backside coverage every single time.”
So, here’s what to look for the Patriots to do on Days 2 and 3 of the draft:
1. Boost offense early
The Patriots’ defense was solid last season, despite the team’s 4-13 finish. Former head coach Bill Belichick and defensive play-caller Steve Belichick are gone, but most of the defensive coaching staff and roster will return from 2023. The only contributors from last season who are not on the current roster are defensive tackle Lawrence Guy, linebacker Mack Wilson, cornerbacks Myles Bryant and J.C. Jackson, and safeties Jalen Mills and Adrian Phillips.
The offense, on the other hand, clearly needs more help nearly across the board. That’s where the Patriots should focus most of their attention on the first two days of the draft. That is, of course, unless a player the Patriots regard as a first-round talent falls into the top of the second round, and the team decides to take the best player available.
2. Fill major need at wide receiver
The Patriots can hardly field a traditional wide receiver unit at the present moment. They have DeMario Douglas for the slot and Kendrick Bourne and K.J. Osborn to play the “Z,” but the current top options at “X” are Kayshon Boutte and Jalen Reagor.
Among players who could go in Days 2 and 3 who could fill that need at “X” receiver are South Carolina’s Xavier Legette, Texas’s Adonai Mitchell and Xavier Worthy, Florida State’s Keon Coleman, Oregon’s Troy Franklin, Washington’s Ja’Lynn Polk, UNC’s Devontez Walker and UCF’s Javon Baker.
3. Attempt to add future starting left tackle
Look for a wide receiver or tackle with the Patriots’ 34th overall pick.
There could be as many as six offensive tackles drafted in the first round. Among players who could make it out include Arizona’s Jordan Morgan, Oklahoma’s Tyler Guyton, BYU’s Kingsley Suamataia, Houston’s Patrick Paul, TCU’s Brandon Coleman and Washington’s Roger Rosengarten.
Rosengarten is interesting because he played right tackle for the Huskies, but that was because he was protecting lefty QB Michael Penix Jr.’s blindside.
4. Add depth on defense in later rounds
The Patriots aren’t devoid of needs on defense, but they’re not as glaring and require less urgency.
The Patriots could use more youth at defensive tackle and linebacker, another situational edge-rusher, depth at safety and a developmental cornerback. The Patriots’ new grading system typically doesn’t value linebackers until at least the third round.
5. Look at bigger cornerbacks
Two of the Patriots’ top three cornerbacks are undersized in Jonathan Jones and Marcus Jones. They should look at a bigger cornerback to compete for a spot with Alex Austin, Isaiah Bolden and Shaun Wade.
Mississippi State’s DeCamerion Richardson, Notre Dame’s Cam Hart, Oregon’s Kyree Jakson, Boston College’s Elijah Jones and Arkansas’s Dwight McGlothern Jr. are all 6-foot-1 or taller and should be drafted early on Day 3.
6. Double up at a major need
The Patriots would be smart to take two wide receivers or offensive tackle for a better hit rate at a primary need.
Bigger wide receivers like Florida State’s Johnny Wilson, Michigan’s Cornelius Johnson or Holy Cross’s Jalen Coker would be worthy Day 3 adds.
7. Take a former Husky
Current Patriots wide receivers coach Tyler Hughes was an offensive quality control coach with Washington in 2023. He can give the Patriots the information they need on Rosengarten, Penix, wide receivers Ja’Lynn Polk and Jalen McMillan, edge defenders Bralen Trice and Zion Tupuola-Fetui, linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio, running back Dillon Johnson, tight ends Jack Westover and Devin Culp and safety Dominique Hampton.
The Patriots could be looking to take a tight end in the later rounds, even after adding veteran Mitchell Wilcox, who worked out for the team last week.
8. Lean on more college connections
Senior personnel executive Alonzo Highsmith spent the last two seasons at Miami, so he’ll know safeties Kamren Kinchens and James Williams, defensive lineman Leonard Taylor and offensive linemen Javion Cohen and Matt Lee well. Assistant wide receivers coach Tiquan Underwood comes from the University of Pittsburgh, where he coached wideout Bub Means and saw offensive tackle Matt Goncalves and cornerback M.J. Devonshire every day.
9. Take an athletic flier late
Wolf said last week that the Patriots are looking for football players, not athletes. Still, he did acknowledge they could “take some chances on height, weight, speed in the later rounds.”
At wide receiver, that could include someone like Means (6-1, 212, 4.43-second 40-yard dash) or Miami’s Tyler Harrell (6-0, 193, 4.25s 40). Wyoming offensive tackle Frank Crum (6-8, 313, 4.94s 40) and UCF’s Tylan Grable (6-6, 306, 4.95s 40) would qualify. Colorado State cornerback Chigozie Anusiem and Mississippi cornerback Deantre Prince are both over 6-foot and ran 4.3 40s.
10. Trade up or out
This is not the draft to trade down on Day 2. Fewer underclassmen declared because they’re already making money from NIL deals. So, the bottom of the draft is considered weak.
So, it’s a good year to package multiple picks to move up or to acquire future picks in a trade out.
