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Mel Kiper lists several prospects Patriots could target if they trade down
"There’s going to be some receivers in the mix.”
Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo told NFL Media on Sunday that drafting a quarterback remains a “priority” during the 2024 NFL Draft.
But even with the appeal of drafting a blue-chip prospect like UNC’s Drake Maye or LSU’s Jayden Daniels with the No. 3 pick, Mayo added that the Patriots are leaving no stone unturned when it comes to bolstering the rest of their roster next month.
“With that being said, you have to really be in love with the guy to take him at No. 3,” Mayo noted. “So really all the options are still open for us.”
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Even with their coveted draft position, New England could be tempted to trade down in the first round — especially if they’re able to add additional first-round picks (both in 2024 or futures).
As tough as it might be to pass on a potential franchise QB like Maye or Daniels, New England does have several contingency plans in place if the team isn’t smitten with whichever QB falls to them at No. 3.
The QB-needy Vikings could be a viable trade partner with New England, especially if Minnesota parts ways with picks No. 11, 23 and future draft assets.
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Speaking on MassLive’s “Eye on Foxborough” podcast, ESPN’s NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. elaborated on a few appealing draft targets for New England if it trades down to No. 11.
“At the left tackle spot, Olu Fashanu, from Penn State, would be in the mix. [Alabama’s] J.C. Latham, who played right tackle, but athletically could go to left tackle, would be a possibility at that point,” Kiper said. “I think from the offensive line standpoint, there will be some guys.”
The offensive line stands as another area of New England’s depth chart that needs to be bolstered this offseason. Even though the Patriots brought back Mike Onwenu on a three-year contract to play right tackle, New England still has a vacancy at left tackle after Trent Brown signed with the Bengals in free agency.
Even though New England should be able to select a top prospect at pick No. 11, the top O-line player in this draft class in Notre Dame LT Joe Alt will likely be off the board by then.
A potential No. 1 wideout like Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr., LSU’s Malik Nabers, and Washington’s Rome Odunze all run the risk of being taken with a top-10 pick as well.
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But Kiper believes that New England should still be able to land an impact receiver in this draft grouping if they were to trade down.
“Then you get into a variety of guys who played slot and outside,” Kiper said. “[LSU’s] Brian Thomas is the big-bodied, outside, downfield threat. Tracks the deep ball – 17 yards per catch, 17 touchdowns. Xavier Worthy can be a slot or outside – 160 pounds but ran a 4.21.
“There’s a lot of other receivers – Malachi Corley is great after the catch. He’s a second-rounder. Ricky Pearsall, Florida, moving up. Ladd McConkey, Keon Coleman is one of the toughest players to evaluate because he’s a heck of a player but ran a 4.61. You saw him at the gauntlet run great. Puka Nukua ran a 4.57 but had a great gauntlet and became a great receiver so many Keon Coleman benefits from that. There’s going to be some receivers in the mix.”
If the Patriots are still focused on adding a QB in this draft, Kiper also mapped out a scenario where New England rolls the dice and sees if Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy is available at No. 11 or another spot below No. 3. New England could also find value in the second round if it is assessing other QB prospects.
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“You’d be getting into the mix at that point with the elite guys gone. Then you get into, is J.J. McCarthy going to be there? Probably not,” Kiper said. “If he’s there at 11, it’d be the end of discussion. Then you get into Bo Nix from Oregon or Michael Penix Jr. from Washington.
“Both Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr. will be there. I had Nix going to Denver and Penix being an early second, could be a trade to get into the late first. The reason he’s dropped a little bit is the four injuries – shoulder and knee – and the struggles in that National Title game.”
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