Way-too-early New England Patriots 2024 NFL Draft preview

The 2024 NFL Draft is April 25-27 in Detroit. Here is the first-round order, per Tankathon. 

The Patriots haven't been playoff threats — let alone Super Bowl contenders — for the past few seasons. A rebuild will take time to yield positive results, but New England has the No. 3 pick in the draft and is well-positioned to start the process this offseason with new head coach Jerod Mayo, who replaced the legendary Bill Belichick. 

2023 record: 4-13 | First-round pick: No. 3 | Team needs: QB, WR, OL

Potential first-round picks: Drake Maye, QB, UNC; Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU; Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

Overhauling the 31st-ranked scoring offense will be a priority for New England this offseason, but there are several ways to accomplish this goal. However, the team should acquire a new quarterback considering Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe combined for only 3,392 passing yards, 16 touchdowns passes and 21 interceptions in 2023. 

The draft is rich with quarterbacks, and New England could very well make it out of the first round with promising talent in Maye or Daniels. Maye, the ACC’s passing leader in each of the past two seasons, made 80 big-time throws in his collegiate career, the most among any first-round draft prospect since 2020, according to Pro Football Focus. 

Maye is mobile, but Daniels' running ability has game-changing potential and could immediately make an offense that lacks talent far more formidable. The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner is the only player in FBS history to reach 12,000 passing yards and 3,000 rushing yards in his career.

Even so, with the fourth-most cap space in the NFL ($78.1M) and several intriguing veterans set to hit the open market, should the Patriots go the stop-gap route at quarterback? Either Kirk Cousins or Baker Mayfield could provide competent quarterback play for New England as it continues to rebuild its roster.

In turn, this would likely allow the Patriots to select at third overall Harrison, the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison Sr. and arguably the most talented player in the draft. The addition of Harrison (1,211 yards and 15 TDs in 2023) would immediately provide an edge to a receiving corps that was led by rookie sixth-rounder DeMario Douglas' 561 yards in 2023.