New England Patriots > Patriots Blog
(PHOTO: SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network / USA TODAY NETWORK) Now that the dust has settled on Free Agency and most of the top name players are signed, we are left with an underwhelming roster of players for the New England Patriots. The way that Free Agency played out is textbook similar to the “Packer Way” professed by Eliot Wolf’s father, Hall of Fame GM Ron Wolf. This is also very similar to way that Bill Belichick handled Free Agency by letting the big names sign for extravagant contracts, then pick up the scraps.
Three factors hurt the Patriots:
1.) Inexperienced Head Coach Jerod Mayo nonchalantly let it slip that the Patriots were about to “burn some cash”. That was just the opposite of what Wolf did. Free Agents knew the Patriots had money to burn and were either holding up the Patriots for more money or using them to boost offers from other teams.
2.) Wolf re-signed core Patriots players to reasonable contracts, including the one signed by Michael Onwenu. They didn’t overpay for WR Calvin Ridley who received a ridiculous contract by Tennessee.
3.) Each team received an early Christmas present, another $30M per team in cap space. That meant that all the top Free Agents were Franchised Tagged. That left the remainder of the Free Agent class as mediocre. The Patriots weren’t overpaying for mediocre talent like they did in 2021. I give Eliot Wolf credit for that restraint. The Patriots $100M in cap space meant nothing, because very team had excess money to spend.
4.) Foxborough is not a destination NFL players want to move to. Is cold and rainy and Foxborough is in the middle of nowhere. The team does not have a QB (Jacoby Brissett is just a stop gap and he is not drawing anyone to Foxborough).
5.) There is the Millionaires tax in Massachusetts. If Oakland was offering Jacobi Meyers $15M, then the Patriots would have to make their offer $16.5 to make it even because of the Millionaires Tax.
The Patriots still need a QB, OT and a stud WR.
I am using the NFL Mock Draft Database simulator for this mock.
3. TRADE New England Trades 2024: Round 1, Pick 3 to Arizona
Receives 2024: Round 1, Pick 4. Round 3, Pick 90, Round 5, Pick 162, Round 7 Pick 243
4. Jayden Daniels QB LSU
34. Ladd McConkey WR Georgia
68. Kiran Amegadjie T Yale
90. Dominick Puni T Kansas
103. Jalen McMillan WR Washington
137. Mason McCormick G/C South Dakota State
TRADE New England Trades2024: Round 5 Pick 162 to Buffalo
Receives 2024: Round 6, Pick 196, and Round 6, Pick 204
180. Jalyx Hunt EDGE Houston Baptist
181. Dallin Holker TE Colorado State
193. Tip Reiman TE Illinois
196. Joe Milton QB Tennessee
204. Keith Randolph DL Illinoi
231. Issac Gurendo RB Louisville
243. Qwan’tez Stiggers CB Toronto Argonauts
3 – TRADE New England Trades 2024: Round 1, Pick 3 to Arizona
Receives: 2024: Round 1, Pick 4. Round 3, Pick 90, Round 5, Pick 162, Round 7 Pick 243
This was a no-brainer trade. Bothe Maye and Daniels were on the board and according to the “Packer Way” Eliot Wolf accumulated more draft capital.
4 – Jayden Daniels QB LSU
I highly doubt that Daniels will last until the 4th pick. With both Maye and Daniels available I chose the Heisman trophy winner. More likely this pick would be JJ McCarthy.
34- Ladd McConkey WR Georgia
He is one of my favorite players in the draft and he ran a 6.82 3-cone drill at his Pro-Day which would have been third best amongst the Wide Receiver group at the Combine. His Combine 40 was 4.39 and he runs very disciplined routes. During the Senior Bowl practices, he could not be covered. His release off press man coverage is incredible.
68- Kiran Amegadjie OT Yale
Amegadjie played as an unknown commodity in the Ivy league. If he was in a Power 5 conference, he would be a 1st round pick. At 6’5”, 323 lbs he ran a 5.1 40 at the Combine. I would prefer that he didn’t start as a rookie, but the Patriots may be forced to use him because of their failure to secure a legit starting Left Tackle. I don’t see Chukwuma Okorafor as a starting Left Tackle.
90- Dominick Puni OL Kansas
Double up on Tackles. I like Puni’s toughness. He is a nasty O lineman that can play both Guard and Tackle. I would have him as a swing tackle.
103 – Jalen McMillan WR Washington
He was the 3rd receiver in the Huskies offense. In the National Championship McMillan had 6 catches for 33 yards and a TD. As Junior, he had 71 catches for 1040 yards and 8 TDs. His Senior year was up and down due to injuries as he only played 9 games. At the Combine the 6’1”, 197 lbs McMillan ran a 4.47 40 and a 6.94 3-cone drill. The only Patriots receiver who ran under 7.0 was Pop Douglas.
137 – Mason McCormick IOL South Dakota State
Functional strength and power are the keys to McCormick’s game. He played well at the East West Shrine Bowl and looked good against Power 5 players. He played for the FCS National Champion South Dakota State. The 6’4” 309 lb. lineman is projected as a Guard in the NFL. He worked at Center during the practices of the Shrine Bowl and that is where I would like to see him play as a backup to David Andrews. He ran a very good 5.08 40 at the Combine.
162 – TRADE New England Trades 2024: Round 5, Pick 162 to Buffalo
Receives: 2024: Round 5, Pick 163, 2024: Round 6, Pick 196, 2024: Round 6, Pick 204
163 – Jalyx Hunt EDGE Houston Baptist
What a journey for Hunt. He started as a Safety at Cornell, but he didn’t like the weather in the Northeast. He transferred to Houston Baptist and switched positions to a hybrid DE / S. in 2022 he had 7 sacks and followed that up with 8 in 2023. The just turned 22-year-old was invited to play in both the East West Shrine game and the Senior Bowl. The 6’4” 252 lb EDGE player was invited to the Combine and posted a 4.62 40-yard dash. He also posted a 37” Vertical Jump and a 10’8” Broad Jump. Hunt has very long arms (34 3/8”). The O-linemen at the combine wish they had his long arms. The ceiling for Hunt is very high and he has only scratched his potential. He is not polished now but given good Pro coaching he could be something special.
180 – Dallin Holker TE Colorado State
The 6’3” 237 lb TE led all college football TE’s in receptions. His 40 time was a disappointing 4.78, but he put up a great 6.83 3-cone drill. That 3-cone time is an indicator of his ability to change direction. Remember only Pop Douglas was under 7.0. In 2023 Holker had 64 catches.
193 – Tip Reiman TE Illinois
It’s a double down on the TE position. I like Reiman as a run blocker at 6’5” 271lbs., 4.64 40-yard dash and a 7.02 3-cone drill. Reiman was underutilized at Illinois. He showed very well at the At the combine he also bench pressed 28 reps of 225 lbs, He was the only TE to lift at the combine. His Relative Athletic Score was 9.93 which is excellent.
196 Joe Milton QB Tennessee
This is a tidbit I learned from Scot Pioli. Don’t be surprised if Eliot Wolf drafts two QBs in this draft. Milton is a protypical big armed NFL Prospect. He is very raw but has huge hands and a cannon for an arm. The 6’5”, 235 lbs Milton had the strongest arm throwing the ball at the combine. This could give competition to both Daniels and Zappe. Milton’s strength of character may be even more important than his strong arm. It’s hard to measure a player’s heart (Tom Brady), but Milton is such a high character guy you can’t help but root for him.
204 – Keith Randolph Jr. DL Illinois
Randolph is bit on the light size at 6’4” 296 lbs. He did run a 5.15 40-yard dash at the Combine. His play at the Senior Bowl stood out. In his 5 seasons at Illinois, he can get pressure on the QB in terms of pressure and averaging about 4 sacks his last three seasons. He is described as quick-footed, difficult to move and has the flexibility to be a disruptive player who can play all the positions on the D-line. A nice depth piece on the interior.
231 – Isaac Guerendo RB Louisville
He burst on the scene as a Senior at Louisville. The 6’ 221 Lb back ran a 4.33 40-yard dash at the combine. His RAS was 9.98 at the Combine with an impressive 41.5” vertical and 10’9” broad jump. A converted WR, the transfer from Wisconsin rushed for 810 yards on 132 carries for an impressive 6.1 yards per carry with 11 TDs. He also caught 22 passes for 234 yards. One drawback is that he has small hands. He would be a developmental piece and competition for Kevin Harris in camp.
243 – Qwan’tez Stiggers CB Toronto Argonauts
Stiggers story is remarkable. He was set to play at D II Lane college when COVID hit and cancelled the season. His father was in auto accident and eventually died. He was suffering from depression and never returned to college ball. Eventually he played in something called Facebook: Fan Controlled Football (FCF), an indoor, semi-pro, seven-on-seven football league housed in Atlanta. A scout from the Toronto Argonauts from the Canadian Football League saw him play and called him up for a tryout up north. He stuck, turning into the starter and the CFL’s Most Outstanding Rookie in 2023. This is from the kid who never played college ball! His accomplishments didn’t go unnoticed by scouts in the states. He received an invitation to the East West Shrine game and dominated the competition. The 5’11.3” 203lbs CB held his Pro Day on Friday and he ran a 4.47 40-yard dash, 36.5 Vertical jump and 10’ 8” Broad Jump. He already has 7 top 30 visits lined up with NFL teams. I believe he spoke with the Patriots coaches at the East West Shrine game.
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Not to pick nits, but Oakland wasn’t a great example of the perils of the state income tax, since California has the highest state tax burden in the country. I’d be ecstatic if they get McCarthy, I’m terrified of Daniels who looks like Mac Jones 2.0 to me.
My bad, Im old and still think the Raiders play in Oakland. They are in Las Vegas and Nevada doesn’t have an income tax.