The Patriots have important questions at quarterback and wide receiver after buying and selling QB Mac Jones to the Jaguars and solely signing one new WR, K.J. Osborn, in free agency.
However, CBS Sports’ Kyle Stackpole believes New England may want to tackle both positions with college teammates in his contemporary mock draft.
The Patriots currently own the No. three general select in the 2024 NFL Draft, however Stackpole initiatives they will strike a deal with the Vikings, who would ship them their two first-round choices (Nos. 11 and 23).
“Of groups with top-three picks, it looks as although the Patriots have the weakest roster,” Stackpole writes. “So, while New England badly wishes to discover a long-term successor to Tom Brady, it opts to change again eight spots and collect treasured assets it can use to construct out its group under new head educate Jerod Mayo.”
With pick out No. 11, New England then selects Washington huge receiver Rome Odunze.
“The Patriots reportedly tried to land Calvin Ridley in free agency, but the star WR ended up signing with the Titans,” Stackpole wrote. “New England’s consolation prize at WR1 is the effective and productive Rome Odunze.”
Many professionals have projected Odunze to be taken in the pinnacle 10, but if numerous quarterback-needy groups are looking to alternate up to land one of the draft’s pinnacle signal-callers, the Washington product could fall.
If Odunze does, he would be quite the consolation prize for the Patriots after posting 167 catches for 2,785 yards and 20 touchdowns from 2022-23.
Last season, New England did not have a receiver eclipse six hundred yards receiving. Odunze may want to straight away alternate that as a rookie.
Then with choose No. 23, the Patriots draft Washington QB Michael Penix Jr.
“The Patriots traded back, used the greater pick to snag a No. 1 WR, and now get that wideout his college QB in Michael Penix Jr.,” Stackpole wrote. “The essential challenge for the Heisman Trophy finalist was once his scientific history.”
Penix Jr. suffered several accidents to commence his collegiate career, tearing his ACL twice during his time at Indiana (2018-20). However, he is an intriguing option after throwing for 9,544 yards, 67 touchdowns and 19 interceptions from 2022-23 and he regarded healthful at some stage in his exercise at the NFL Scouting Combine.
If New England feels top about his medicals, it can also get one of the draft’s biggest steals whilst pairing him with his proficient college teammate who he already has terrific rapport with.
