6 rings & football things: reacting to kadlick's post-free agenct frenzy patriots mock draft 3.0
The Patriots entered 2024 NFL Free Agency with a boatload of salary cap space (just over $100 million) and high hopes from fans thanks to phrases like “burn cash” and “weaponize” spoken by their head coach Jerod Mayo and de facto general manager Eliot Wolf.
Just over a week later, they’re spent less than half of their allotment and, while bringing back several core pieces in OL Mike Onwenu, TE Hunter Henry, WR Kendrick Bourne, and LBs Josh Uche and Anfernee Jennings, have left much to be desired in creating a competitive team for 2024.
So, as we continue to take cracks at the abundance of different draft day scenarios the Patriots could face here on WEEI.com, here’s yet another way they could attack draft weekend.
Behold: Mock Draft 3.0 – Post-Free Agency Frenzy edition:
**TRADE** Round 1, Pick 3
TRADE COMP: Vikings receive pick No. 3, Patriots receive pick No. 11, pick No. 23, 2025 1st
Minnesota acquired the No. 23 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft from the Houston Texans this past weekend, and many expect them to now parlay their two first-rounders to move up in the hunt for a quarterback.
Nobody likely wants to hear it — but the Patriots should sell off the No. 3 pick if the Vikings are willing to give up No. 11, No. 23, and their 2025 first-round pick.
After hardly addressing wide receiver and tackle in free agency, New England is clearly in a longer-term rebuild and has far too many holes to fill to not say yes to the above ransom. Jacoby Brissett, who the Patriots signed last week, winds up being the full-time starter in 2024.
Round 1, Pick 11 (via Vikings): OT Olu Fashanu, Penn State
After not signing a left tackle (yet) in free agency, the Patriots land Penn State’s Olu Fashanu with the 11th overall pick.
Fashanu has A+ athleticism, moving with incredible speed and agility for a 6-foot-6, 312-pound left tackle – and put together an outstanding 2023, being honored as a Consensus All-American, a First-Team All-Big Ten selection, and named the Big Ten's Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year. He has the ability to step in as a franchise left tackle instantly.
For what it’s worth: The Patriots met with Fashanu at the NFL Combine last month, and front office executive Alonzo Highsmith and assistant offensive line coach Robert Kugler were in attendance at Penn State’s Pro Day last week.
Round 1, Pick 23 (via Vikings): WR Brian Thomas Jr., LSU
New England was in on free agent wide receiver Calvin Ridley, reportedly offering him upwards of $20+ million per season. They swung and missed with him signing with the Titans, and now are still yearning for a true wide receiver No. 1 in their offense.
Fortunately for them, this draft class is filled with top-tier receiving talent – with LSU’s Brian Thomas Jr. being just one in a talented bunch.
Thomas Jr. stands at 6–foot-2, 209 pounds and ran a 4.33 (!!) 40-yard dash at February’s NFL Combine. In 2023, he put his talents on full display hauling in 69 passes for 1,177 yards and an NCAA-high 17 touchdowns, earning him a second-team All-SEC nod.
Thomas is fast as heck, has incredible hands, and is a top-tier playmaker. He’d immediately step in as New England’s No. 1 wide receiver.
Round 2, Pick 34: WR Ladd McConkey, Georgia
Another receiver?! Yes, another receiver.
While the Patriots finally addressed the position through free agency with the signing of former Vikings pass catcher K.J. Osborn, there’s still plenty of room to improve in the room.
Georgia’s Ladd McConkey is the best route-runner in the 2024 class, is crafty with the ability to play both inside and out, and his sub-4.4 second 40-yard dash at the Combine last month puts him in the upper-echelon of receivers in the class.
If he even makes it to pick No. 34, New England should be elated to add him to the team alongside Brian Thomas.
Round 3, Pick 68: CB Max Melton, Rutgers
While the Patriots drafted their most promising young player with the No. 17 overall pick in last year’s draft in Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez, injury, poor play, and off-the-field issues strained the room. They’ll likely look to address the position once again this go around.
Rutgers’ Max Melton stands at 6-foot-0, 190 pounds and was a three-year starter at boundary cornerback for the Knights – picking off eight passes in the process. He’d be a great developmental add that could eventually end up starting on the outside for the Patriots, allowing Jonathan Jones to bump back inside to his more comfortable slot cornerback position.
Round 4, Pick 103: OT Blake Fisher, Notre Dame
Like cornerback, offensive line was also a house of cards for the Patriots last season. Over 17 games, New England started 10 different offensive line combinations with 11 different players. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, they’ll stick with Mike Onwenu as their right tackle moving forward – likely in an attempt to solidify things across the entire line.
They also signed OT Chukwuma Okorafor and OG Nick Leverett in free agency, but will also need to build depth through the draft, which brings us to Notre Dame’s Blake Fisher.
Blake Fisher played opposite top-tackle Joe Alt for the Fighting Irish over the last two seasons, starting 24 games at right tackle. He’s a high-ceiling player who would benefit from sitting and making spot starts behind Mike Onwenu for a few seasons.
Round 5, Pick 137: RB Jaylen Wright, Tennessee
The Patriots signed third-down back Antonio Gibson to a three-year deal this past week, adding some much-needed pass-catching ability to the room.
They shouldn’t be done adding, though.
Tennessee’s Jaylen Wright flew at the NFL Combine last month, logging a 4.38-second 40-yard dash. This past season, he logged 1,013 rushing yards on 137 carries (7.4 yards-per-attempt) and four touchdowns while adding 22 receptions for 141 yards through the air.
Round 6, Pick 180: S Sione Vaki, Utah
Utah’s Sione Vaki does just about everything. In 2023, the 6-foot-0, 208-pound weapon logged snaps at cornerback, safety, defensive line, and even running back.
For a flier, it could be worth one of New England’s two sixth-round picks. Also, for what it’s worth, he met with the Patriots at the Senior Bowl last month.
Round 6, Pick 193 (via Jaguars, Mac Jones): QB Devin Leary, Kentucky
With the pick they received from the Jaguars in exchange for Mac Jones, the Patriots take another quarterback in Kentucky’s Devin Leary.
Leary, 24, spent five years at NC State before playing a sixth with the Kentucky Wildcats this past season. His best campaign came in ‘21 when he put up a 3,433-yard, 35-touchdown year accompanied by a 9-3 record with the Wolfpack.
This past season in the SEC, Leary took Kentucky to a 7-5 record while throwing for 2,440 yards and 23 touchdowns. A solid week in Frisco, Texas at the East-West Shrine Bowl in January has put the 6-foot-1, 215-pound signal-caller even further on the draft radar.
Round 7, Pick 231 (via Bears, N’Keal Harry): TE Tip Reiman, Illinois
The Patriots have addressed the bare tight end cupboard twice this offseason, re-signing captain Hunter Henry to a three-year deal as well as inking former Titan, Brown, and Raider Austin Hooper. That doesn’t mean, however, that they shouldn’t add to the room via the draft.
Illinois’ Tip Reiman is 6-foot-5, 270 pounds and put together a top-tier RAS score at the NFL combine with a 9.92 (10th out of 1,116 tight ends since 2024). He’s a raw prospect, having caught just 41 passes over three seasons with the Illini, but his athleticism makes him worth a flier in the seventh round.
Make sure to follow Mike on Twitter @mikekadlick, and follow @WEEI for the latest up-to-date Patriots and Boston sports news!
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