New England Patriots mock draft 2024: Building a foundation for the future

Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

The 2024 offseason represents a new era for the New England Patriots. With Bill Belichick’s departure, a new regime is being led by Jerod Mayo and Eliot Wolf. With that comes a new approach to our Patriots mock draft 2024 for a team that needs to start from the ground up.

Before diving into our Patriots mock draft, here’s everything you need to know ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft.

New England Patriots draft picks 2024

Here are the Patriots draft picks in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Round 1, 3rd overall
Round 2, 34th overall
Round 3, 68th overall
Round 4, 103rd overall

Round 4, 103rd overall
Round 5, 137th overall:
Round 6, 180th overall
Round 6, 913rd overall
Round 7, 231st overall

New England Patriots draft needs 2024

Here are the top Patriots draft needs in 2024.

Quarterback
Offensive Tackle
Wide Receiver

Edge Rusher
Cornerback

Patriots mock draft 2024: Creating a foundation for a young quarterback

First Round, 11th overall*: Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington

New England Patriots mock draft 2024, Patriots 7-round mock draft — Jan 8, 2024; Houston, TX, USA; Washington Huskies offensive lineman Troy Fautanu (55) against the Michigan Wolverines during the 2024 College Football Playoff national championship game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

TRADE: New England Patriots trade 3rd overall to Minnesota Vikings for 11th, 23rd, 108th overall and 2025 third-round pick

Leading off our Patriots mock draft is a decision that should be relatively easy. As he learned from his time with the Green Bay Packers, the only thing more important than having a franchise quarterback is a foundation in place that can support a young signal-caller. After NFL free agency, New England simply doesn’t have the infrastructure to make a quarterback taken with the third overall pick to be successful. That leads to our trade with the Minnesota Vikings.

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At the start of the pre-draft process, many questioned whether or not Washington Huskies offensive lineman Troy Fautanu had the athleticism to play left tackle in the NFL. He responded by posting a 9.45 Relative Athletic Score, which puts him on the same athletic threshold as Trent Williams and Tristan Wirfs.

Wirfs was phenomenal this season in pass protection for the Huskies in blocking for Heisman Trophy finalist Michael Penix Jr. Across 623 pass-blocking snaps, per Pro Football Focus, Fautanu allowed just 18 hurries and 2 sacks, earning an excellent 88.2 pass-blocking grade. He’s also a strong run blocker, offering the power to overwhelm defensive linemen with the explosiveness to be successful in pass protection. Plus, something else New England will love, he can play multiple positions. This is the start of building a strong foundation before landing a young quarterback.

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First Round, 23rd overall*: Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas

Trading down in the 2024 NFL Draft allows New England to address multiple needs in a top-heavy class with depth at some critical positions. With our second selection in Round 1, the Patriots snag a potential No. 1 wide receiver with the Texas Longhorns’ Adonai Mitchell.

As it currently stands, the Patriots roster doesn’t have a playmaker at receiver. K.J. Osborn is best served as a third wideout and Kendrick Bourne can be a solid No. 2 pass-catching option. What New England lacks is that go-to guy who can also stretch the field vertically.

Mitchell immediately offers size and outstanding speed, he just hasn’t displayed consistency. Against the Alabama Crimson Tide, he played like a No. 1 receiver against NFL-caliber cornerbacks. Mitchell will need to improve his route running and become a player who plays up to his talent level more often, which includes more consistent technique and effort. With that said, there’s no other wideout towards the end of the first round who matches Mitchell’s upside and that’s why he is worth betting on.

Related: 2024 NFL Draft QB rankings

Second Round, 34th overall: Bo Nix, QB, Oregon

As we stated at the beginning of our Patriots mock draft, it’s not smart to draft a quarterback early unless you have the infrastructure to support them. Our first two picks in the 2024 NFL Draft put New England in a position where it can help quarterback Bo Nix be successful.

Nix immediately offers some of the qualities Patriots’ offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt is looking for. He offers above-average arm strength, good athleticism with solid accuracy and he’s an experienced starter with an NCAA-record 61 career starts. For Wolf and the Patriots’ organization, all of those qualities matter.

It’s important to recognize that Nix’s ceiling is limited. He’ll never be a top-10 quarterback who can carry an offense, but he will make the most out of a system if good players are around him. In New England, he’d now have an improved offensive line with a cast of offensive weapons that includes Mitchell, Rhamondre Stevenson, Antonio Gibson, Hunter Henry and Kendrick Bourne. In Van Pelt’s system, Nix could become an above-average starter.

3rd Round, 68th overall: Christian Haynes, iOL, UConn

The interior offensive line might not seem like one of the biggest Patriots draft needs in 2024. However, it’s important to consider some context. First, free agency proved that guards are way more expensive than ever to retain. Second, depth on the offensive line is more important than ever. That’s why we believe Wolf and other general managers will load up on offensive linemen in the 2024 NFL Draft.

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Besides, given Cole Strange’s injury history and inconsistent performances, competition is needed for New England. Christian Haynes spent his entire Huskies’ career playing right guard, but he could play either side of the interior in the NFL. He’s a very mobile offensive guard (9.12 RAS) and he offers a ceiling to become a high-end starter in the NFL.