Dueling mock drafts 1.0: Early Patriots fits to keep an eye on

The Patriots add serious talent on both sides of the ball in this NFL mock draft.

Even though they still have four games left to play in the 2024 season, at 3-10 the New England Patriots can already start looking ahead toward the future. This also means that we will have an earlier-than-you-would-want ability to start focusing on the offseason ahead, including a draft that will once again have the Patriots in a prominent spot.

So, to get us all into the holiday draft spirit, here is our take at a dueling mock draft. Before we dive in, though, let’s hear from the drafters.

Matt St. Jean: A bye week this late in the season is the perfect opportunity to look ahead to the offseason. The Patriots are seemingly destined for a top five pick in this year’s draft, and this team has needs all over. This draft will be about taking the next step in building a team around Drake Maye. Pat Lane and I decided to do dueling mock drafts through the first three rounds of New England’s picks to explore some of the different approaches the team could take and players that could fit their needs. Pat, do you want to walk them through the ground rules?

Pat Lane: Sure, we’re going to be using the current draft order according to Tankathon. Because so many teams are tied at 3-10, they are rotating the picks, which is why the Patriots are drafting third in the first round, eighth in the second round, and seventh in the third round. Also, we won’t be making any trades, just sticking and picking.

Matt: One more note from me: I’m assuming the Patriots make some moves to bolster the offensive line in free agency. Say, Ronnie Stanley and Morgan Moses? Ok, let’s get started! Pat, you’re up first.

Round 1, Pick 3

Pat: The Patriots need a freak athlete at 3, so I have them taking ED Abdul Carter out of Penn State. To say that the Patriots’ pass rush has been anemic this year would be a compliment. The Patriots have 27 sacks through 13 games, good for sixth-worst in the NFL. If you take out their game against the Chicago Bears, they have only 18 sacks in 12 games — an average on 1.5 per contest.

That would be instantly improved with Carter, an explosive athlete out of Penn State. He has experience playing off the ball as a linebacker before being moved to the edge. The Patriots are in need of real athleticism and speed on defense, and Carter brings exactly that to the table. Guys like him don’t grow on trees, so you have to take one when you have the chance. The Patriots have that chance, and they need to take it.

Matt: For me, if Colorado’s WR/CB Travis Hunter is on the board, he has to be the pick. He’s the best player in this draft. Hunter has played over 700 snaps each on offense and defense so far this season, and he has a real argument to be the most talented prospect at both wide receiver and cornerback.

On defense, he’s an elite shutdown man corner with the ability to cover the best receivers in the game, top-tier ball skills to force turnovers, and a willing tackler who can mirror ball carriers and wrap up.

On offense, he profiles as an X-receiver who has seen massive growth this season in understanding how to stem his routes and manipulate defenders to find space. Pair that with his game-breaking speed and contested catch ability, and Hunter could easily become one of the best receivers in the NFL.

For the Patriots, I envision Hunter playing as a full-time starter on defense while being involved in packages on offense in his first year. Use him as a receiver on third and fourth downs, in the red zone, and in two-minute situations. Over time, as he develops, he may end up strictly on one side of the ball. For now, his stamina is one of his greatest athletic traits, and it would be a shame to not find a way to use it.

Round 2, Pick 40

Matt: New England’s defense has suffered at the second level this season with Ja’Whaun Bentley’s injury exposing a lack of depth in the linebacker corps. To fix that, we’re giving Dont’a Hightower another Alabama linebacker to develop: LB Jihaad Campbell.

The third-year Crimson Tide linebacker is versatile and athletic. He can play off the ball at middle linebacker, set up over the “A” gap, or work on the edge as a pass rusher. PFF gives him a 79.7 coverage grade this season as well, which could help fix an area of weakness for the Patriots this season.

Campbell is a young and flexible player with the tools to be turned into the man in the middle for the next wave of New England’s defense.

Pat: The Patriots might have handled the tackle position in free agency, but depth is always important, and it’s very unlikely they can sign two starters anyway. For that reason, I have the Patriots selecting OT Josh Conerly Jr. out of Oregon.

He put on a show in the Big Ten Championship Game against the Patriots’ first-round pick, Abdul Carter, and, although he’s lower than this on current big boards, I think his play in the CFP is going to bring him up the boards. He has to work on his play strength a bit, but the high school running back has the athleticism to play left tackle in the NFL. The Patriots need athletic and skilled players on the line, and Conerly will give them one at tackle.

Round 3, Pick 71

Pat: The Patriots have a lot of needs, but a big one is a second outside cornerback opposite Christian Gonzalez. CB Denzel Burke from Ohio State has the frame and athleticism to play that position, and he is a great tackler as well. Putting a player who can cover and contribute to run defense opposite Gonzalez is going to make the Patriots defense significantly better. I love the fit of Burke on this team.

Matt: The Patriots could use help at all five spots on the offensive line. Enter North Dakota State’s OL Grey Zabel.

The fifth-year lineman has played at every single spot on the line in college. He’s been the starting left tackle for the Bison this year after playing left guard and right tackle last year, and he played every spot but right guard in 2022.

The Bison have a diverse run scheme, and Zabel’s experience with it would make him a fantastic fit with Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt.

Round 3, Pick 78

Matt: Christian Barmore’s health issues exposed the lack of depth on New England’s defensive line behind Davon Godchaux, who turned 30 last month. At 320 pounds, Texas DT Alfred Collins offers the athletic traits to help build a wall on defense.

A five-year player for the Longhorns, Collins has steadily improved with each season. This year, he’s registered a career-high 89.8 PFF grade on defense, bolstered by his 89.1 run defense grade. His ability to eat up space and take on blockers should make life easier for Christian Barmore and Davon Godchaux next to him and the linebacker corps behind him.

Pat: The Patriots have a lot of young receivers, but most of them haven’t really separated themselves, so it makes a ton of sense to take another swing, even if they sign a player like Tee Higgins in free agency. That’s why I have them selecting WR Jalen Royals out of Utah State in the third round.

Royals was headed for a big final season at Utah State before he suffered a foot injury that ended his season back in October. He has accepted an invite to the Senior Bowl, but it’s unclear whether he’ll be playing there or just interviewing. I would assume he’ll be playing, though. He’s got great hands, is a good route runner, and has the speed to create explosive plays down the field.

The Patriots need more offensive weapons, and Royals looks like he has the potential to be one.

We only focused on the first three rounds in this mock draft, because the rest would be a crapshoot with the regular season not even in the books. With that said, here is the final tally:

Matt St. Jean: WR/CB Travis Hunter (1-3), LB Jihaad Campbell (2-40), OL Grey Zabel (3-71), DT Alfred Collins (3-78)

Pat Lane: ED Abdul Carter (1-3), OT Josh Conerly Jr. (2-40), CB Denzel Burke (3-71), WR Jalen Royals (3-78)

Which of the two scenarios would you prefer for the Patriots next spring? Please head down to the comment section to let us know.