As the 2024 NFL Draft draws near, New England Patriots rumors are filling the airwaves as fans patiently wait to learn which quarterback is set to become the third overall pick. While we may not know whether it will be Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, or even J.J. McCarthy joining Jacoby Brissett on the Patriots’ roster, we may have just gotten our strongest hint at New England’s plans in the second round.
Boasting the 34th overall selection, or the second pick in the second round, the Patriots have a valuable selection that other teams will surely covet as Day 2 of the NFL Draft kicks off on Friday, April 26. Yet, the Patriots might already have a strong desire to stay put and grab an offensive lineman to help protect their new quarterback at 34.
According to ESPN’s NFL Draft expert Jordan Reid, there’s one lineman New England has evaluated very closely in the pre-draft evaluation process.
“If the Pats do go QB in the first round, I’d keep an eye on BYU offensive tackle Kingsley Suamataia at No. 34; the team has done a lot of homework on him.”
ESPN’s Jordan Reid on New England Patriots draft rumors
Kingsley Suamataia was hyped as a potential first-round prospect early on during the 2023 college football season. A deep offensive tackle class, combined with an inconsistent season at BYU, has pushed his stock down, but the Patriots may still be able to strengthen their depth with a potential starter with the 34th pick.
Related: New England Patriots mock draft 2024: Building a foundation for the future
