The new Patriots regime will seek to stamp their own identity when it comes to player personnel. However, as they attempt to distance themselves from ‘The Patriot Way,’ one Bill Belichick characteristic might stick — hazy front office job titles. New England has yet to tab one sole individual as general manager but it has been widely assumed that director of scouting Eliot Wolf has been serving in a de facto capacity. The latest buzz on the ground at Senior Bowl from within the scouting community was that Wolf could seek to bring in well-respected executive Alonzo Highsmith, whom he worked closely with in Green Bay (2012-17), to help oversee with the personnel decision-making process.
Owner Robert Kraft has indicated that New England will operate with a collective front office voice leading up to the draft. The choir group also includes director of player personnel Matt Groh and head coach Jerod Mayo. With Wolf atop the totem pole, we can assume that his philosophy will share a great deal of influence from some of his father’s famous beliefs. Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Ron Wolf was a three-time Super Bowl Champion, as a member of the Raiders, Buccaneers, Jets and, most famously, the Packers. He preached several notable principles that could reflect the way New England identifies Patriots players moving forward.
During his time in Green Bay, which is where he enjoyed much of his success, the elder Wolf was a big advocate of grooming homegrown talent. While he did utilize free agency to patch holes that needed fixing, overall he placed a strong emphasis on drafting and developing from within. In addition, Wolf constantly drafted quarterbacks, even when it was not needed. In fact, between 1992-99, despite having Brett Favre as his starting quarterback, he selected a signal-caller in seven out of eight drafts. The younger Wolf also nabbed a Super Bowl ring during his time in Green Bay under then-GM Ted Thompson, who was first hired by his dad.
While the full NFL Draft selection order has yet to be announced, we do know that New England currently holds the No.3 overall pick and quarterback should be in heavy consideration. In addition, the Patriots are slated to select No.34 overall in round two and No.68 overall in round three. Indeed, there are plenty of needs littered around the current roster—New England must significantly upgrade talent at multiple positions if they are to get back to playoff contention.
With the all-star games completed, the first leg of draft season is in the books. The NFL Scouting Combine is up next at the end of the month, followed by the pro day circuit in March. There’s sure to be plenty of moving and shaking leading up to the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit. In the meantime, we have attempted to identify who some of the Patriots' prime targets could be in this year’s draft based on philosophy, needs, scheme and fit.
FIRST ROUND TARGETS - No.3 OVERALL
Finding a bonafide franchise quarterback on a rookie deal with a cap-friendly contract is the ultimate ingredient to becoming a contender in the NFL and sustaining success. With mid-tier quarterbacks such as Kirk Cousins and Baker Mayfield expected to command an excess of $40M per year and an illustrious QB Class of 2024, New England is on the clock to find their new face of the franchise.
Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU – One could state a case for Daniels as the top quarterback in this year’s crop. He made tremendous strides in his overall development during his time in Baton Rouge over the past couple of seasons. Blessed with great size, astute pocket poise, a strong arm (one of the best deep ball throwers in college football this past season) and the ability to extend plays with his athleticism, Daniels should be ‘thee’ prime Patriots target. Unless he goes No.2 overall, in which case Drake Maye of North Carolina would become an appreciable consolation prize.
Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame / Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State – Moving forward with Mac Jones would mean the Patriots must shore up their offensive line. That decision would likely lead to the selection of who they prefer best at left tackle, Alt or Fashanu. Building from the inside out is a sound philosophy for constructing a winning organization. However, in this scenario it should be recommended to go against this belief due to the rare opportunity of landing a quarterback who can transform this organization back into perennial winners.
Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State – If New England decides to take an alternate course and go with a veteran signal-caller on a discount deal such as Russell Wilson, then providing him a lethal weapon would suddenly become top priority. Wilson is much more mobile than Jones and the tackle position is relatively deep. Harrison is viewed as an immediate impact player and is a more polished product than his father was coming out of Syracuse. He would instantly become the most talented wideout New England has seen since Randy Moss.
SECOND ROUND TARGETS - No.34 OVERALL
The struggling passing attack didn’t fall squarely on the struggling play at quarterback. New England sorely lacks explosive playmakers on offense and they are expected to address this need early on in the draft. Below are a few targets who could be available, plus a wildcard option in the mix.
Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas – Will he be the fastest man in Indy? Some have suggested that Worthy could threaten the forty-yard dash combine record held by John Ross (4.22). More of a satellite player, Worthy is at his best operating in space on screens and end-arounds. He’s a threat to take it the distance any time he touches the ball, something the Patriots lack.
Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina – An all-purpose dynamo, Legette accumulated 1,459 total yards this past season and set a school-record with 29.4 yards kick return average in 2022, including a 100-yard return for touchdown. He showed off an extended route tree during Senior Bowl week, showcasing his ability to lineup inside, or outside and play multiple roles.
Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia – No one in Mobile displayed more speed and burst than McConkey, who possesses insane change of directions skills—he has been clocked as fast as 23mph! An ankle injury limited him to just nine games this past season but the Senior Bowl was a great reminder to scouts that he can separate as good as any wideout in the draft.
Mike Sainristil, CB, Michigan – Should New England decide to turn in the hometown card, while also filling another major need at cornerback, Sainristill would solidify the nickelback spot on defense. A converted wide receiver, the Everett High School star emerged as a lockdown corner and team captain for the national champion Wolverines.
THIRD ROUND TARGETS - No.68 OVERALL
With the first two selections expected to be some sort of offensive combination, the Pats will be in position to add some defensive ammunition for their new headman Mayo in the third round. There are needs at all three levels of the defense, here’s a few potential candidates that team brass could target on Day Three.
T’Vondre Sweat, DT, Texas – Generously listed on the Longhorns website at 363 pounds (he refused to weigh-in at the Senior Bowl), Sweat is a situational player capable of making a huge impact at nose tackle. Built like a freight train, it’s rare to see a big man that agile and powerful, as Sweat is a force to stop in his tracks--he simply overpowered opposing linemen in Mobile. With Davon Godchaux entering the final year of his contract, Sweat would be a great boost in the middle of the defense and could make a seamless transition as successor.
Payton Wilson, LB, North Carolina State – If you compare the measureables of Wilson to that of Mayo when he was coming out of Tennessee, they stack up very favorably. There are several expiring contracts coming up on the roster at linebacker after this upcoming season. Wilson plays with his hair-on-fire, covers an immense amount of ground and owns the potential to be a defensive field general in the middle of the defense for years to come.
Max Melton, CB, Rutgers – There’s sure to be some good value at cornerback in the early-to-mid rounds. Melton is instinctual and deceptive, with the ability to bait quarterbacks into interceptions, plus the versatility to play boundary or slot at the next level. The current Patriots area scouts are still very familiar with the New Jersey territory and they have found much success through the Rutgers pipeline in the past.
DAY THREE TARGETS
There is a bountiful group of offensive tackles in this year’s draft class, so New England may opt to wait until the final day before loading up on offensive linemen. The depth of the Patriots linebacker unit also needs solidifying. Look for prospects who possess versatility as a theme you can expect to see. Another factor worth considering in the later rounds are utilizing draft picks on players who tend to be viewed as higher-rated prospects but may have seen their stock slip due to recent injury, or character—many times, this is how ‘gems’ are discovered.
Matt Goncalves, OT, Pittsburgh – A season-ending injury relegated Goncalves to just three games this season; all at left tackle. However, he appeared in 830 snaps the prior year, starting on both the left and right side. Still limited, Goncalves attended the East-West Shrine Bowl to conduct interviews, where he informed teams that his foot will be healed in time for the start of training camp. It’s worth noting that new offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt is a Pitt alumni and having a utility swing tackle would be a huge coup.
Kiran Amegadjie, OT, Yale – Prior to a season-ending quad injury in October, the large and in charge Amegadjie looked to be trending towards a potential top 100 overall selection. The All-Ivy League standout has been a staple at left tackle the past two seasons but he has also started games at guard for the Bulldogs, which may eventually be his best spot in the NFL. Look for Amegadjie to outplay many of his counterparts who are chosen ahead of him.
Christian Mahogany, OG, Boston College – It was hard not to notice Mahogany at the East-West Shrine Bowl. His domination should have warranted an invite to the Senior Bowl. He missed all of the 2022 season due to a torn ACL but there seems to be zero concerns whatsoever after watching him anchor, pivot and pull. Mayo and staff have been spotted quite a bit at Chestnut Hill, so they are well aware of the skill-set that Mahogany owns—it would surprise no one if he blossomed into a longtime pro.
Ben Sinnott, TE, Kansas State – A capable pass-catcher, sound route runner and reliable blocker, Sinnott had a strong Senior Bowl week minus some drops. He will get knocked down a few pegs on draft boards due to his lack of measureables and limited athleticism. However, Sinnott has some nasty to him and outplays his size—a true finisher as a blocker, Sinnott is the best combo tight end (catch/block) in this year’s draft. His stock seems to be on the ascend, so he would need to be under consideration early on Day Three.
Jackson Mitchell, LB, UConn – Playing quarterback of the defense under NFL-experienced head coach Jim Mora in Storrs, Mitchell possesses quick-witted reaction skills, along with the versatility to play MIKE or WILL. He’s strictly business, prepares like a pro and could be a late-round draft diamond. Playing in their own backyard, no one should be more familiar with Mitchell than New England, which would make for a perfect pairing.
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