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The New England Patriots 2023 season was far from ideal. The Patriots finished with an abysmal 4-13 record, earning the 3rd overall pick in the NFL draft. Due to the Patriots recent failure, the team decided to fire arguably the greatest coach of all time, Bill Belichick. After bringing in Jerod Mayo, it’s time for a new era in Foxborough.
The new chapter for the Patriots begins with the NFL draft, and Mayo has already hinted at their strategy. In an interview with CBS News Boston, Mayo said “We’re gonna draft the best player for a position that’s very important. You put the pieces together.” That clearly means the Patriots are done with Mac Jones and want a true franchise quarterback. That said, I’m going to break down what an ideal three-round mock draft for the Patriots looks like using the PFF draft simulator.
First-Round Pick: 3rd Overall
The pick: Jayden Daniels, Quarterback, LSU
After hearing what Jerod Mayo said, it’s obvious that the Patriots want to draft a quarterback. With Caleb Williams and Drake Maye off the board, all that’s left is Jayden Daniels. Daniels is a great player, and although he had a late breakout, he just won the Heisman trophy in 2023. Due to his rushing ability, Daniels has the kind of upside that can turn a franchise around.
Not only can Jayden Daniels expose a defense with his elite speed, he can also drop dimes over the middle of the field ?@ColtMcCoy breaks down how the LSU QB stays composed under pressure to convert explosive plays in tight windows ? pic.twitter.com/SbCzzr4Vva
During his final season at LSU, Daniels displayed great pocket presence and decision-making, which shows growth in his journey as a quarterback. Daniels has next-level arm talent and can make throws to all three levels of the field. The only real concern about Daniels is that it took him four full years to finally develop. That said, after seeing multiple NFL stars like Joe Burrow break out at a late age, I’m not quite as worried.
Second-Round Pick: 34th Overall
The pick: Keon Coleman, Wide Receiver, FSU
Assuming the Patriots draft Jayden Daniels, they need to get him some weapons. Simply put, no quarterback is going to find success with DeVante Parker, DeMario Douglas, and Hunter Henry. We’ve seen this exact same scenario play out with Bryce Young, and we all know how that ended.
Keon Coleman ... interesting pic.twitter.com/WtHcSlmurS
Keon Coleman is considered by many to be the 4th best wide receiver in this class, so getting him in the second round would be a great pick. Standing at 6’4” 215 lbs, Coleman would immediately take over the X role in this Patriots offensive which is a huge deal. Coleman still needs to work on his route running, but he can overcome that with an elite catch radius. If you put Coleman on the outside, he can do damage with his great YAC ability, ball skills, and acceleration.
Third-Round Pick: 68th Overall
The pick: Matt Goncalves, Offensive Tackle, Pitt
In 2023, the Patriots struggled badly on the offensive line. As a unit, they ranked 23rd on PFF, which is well below average. From watching the Patriots last year, the main issue stems from their weakness at offensive tackle. Vederian Lowe, in particular, was brutal, finishing the year with a rank of 81/83 (41.7 Grade).
The Pittsburgh Panthers had a very respectable OT prospect this past cycle in Carter Warren. This time around, I’m watching Matt Goncalves.
Listed at 6’6”, 330 pounds, but has great foot speed and left-right versatility. Aggressive finisher with terse physicality.
In the third round, Matt Goncalves is the best tackle available and one of the best players on the board. Goncalves played most of his 2023 season at right tackle but also has some left tackle experience. What’s more encouraging is that Goncalves played his entire 2022 season at left tackle, showcasing his versatility. Goncalves has great hands, natural leverage, and upper body strength, making him a fantastic pick for the Patriots.
2024 New York Giants 3-Round NFL Mock Draft
2024 Simulated 1st Round NFL Mock Draft
