Impact players are found at the top of the NFL Draft. It is important to hit on early draft selections, in order to help maintain a payroll balance, ideally with a blend of veteran and young players, which typically creates the nucleus of most winning organizations. The New England Patriots own three selections inside the top 100 overall of the 2024 NFL Draft: picks No.3, No.34 and No.68.
When assembling a big board, the strategic process of identifying where value meets need tends to be what creates keen front-office decision-makers. Let’s examine how the 2024 NFL Draft positional big board value breaks down inside the 'Hot 100' and see if we can observe any clues that may shed some insight as to how the Patriots could assemble their thought process come April.
Overall, seven quarterbacks are listed in the top 100 rankings below. History has shown us that the vast majority of starting quarterbacks in the NFL hail from the first round. If New England wants to build around a rookie quarterback, it must stand pat at No.3. If they opt to trade down, which remains a possibility, it's important to note that the talent drops off significantly after the top 15-to-20 picks. Remaining in the top half of the first round in a trade-down scenario would be one key element. The fact that this draft features great depth at various positions, means there is value to be had on Day Two in the early-to-mid rounds.
No two positions hold greater worth in the Class of 2024 than the wide receivers [17] and offensive tackles [16] who make up 33% of the top 100 overall prospects. This is great news for the Patriots and expect them to address these needs during the first two days of the draft.
On the defensive side of the ball, there are strength in numbers at defensive tackle [13] and cornerback [12]. We know cornerback is one need that will be addressed via the draft and possibly in free agency as well. It'll be difficult to land a difference-maker on the edge, as there are only eight ranked in the 'Hot 100,' expect an early run on them in the first round. However, New England could look to add from the linebacker [8], or safety [3] group on Day Three of the draft, since these positions have been devalued in recent years.
While roster depth at running back [4] and tight end [3] will be two areas of need, don’t anticipate the Patriots utilizing any selections on those positions until the final day of the draft. Other positions that would fall into that category would likely include interior offensive lineman, as just seven guards and centers made the cut inside the top 100. We will continue to monitor the New England draft radar here at BSJ, your go-to source for Boston sports! Stay tuned.
Below is the entire 'Hot 100' NFL Draft prospects for 2024, courtesy of NFL Draft Bible:
Caleb Williams, QB, USC
Marvin Harrison Jr, WR, Ohio State
Joe Alt, Jr, OT, Notre Dame
Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
Jared Verse, ER, Florida State
Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
JC Latham, OT, Alabama
Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
Dallas Turner, ER, Alabama
JJ McCarthy, QB, Michigan
Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon
Kamren Kinchens, S, Miami
Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
Edgerrin Cooper, ER, Texas A&M
Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois
Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington
Graham Barton, C, Duke
Brian Thomas Jr, WR, LSU
Chop Robinson, ER, Penn State
Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
T’Vondre Sweat, DT, Texas
Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
Darius Robinson, DE, Missouri
Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota
Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
Laiata Latu, ER, UCLA
Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri
Adonia Mitchell, WR, Texas
Cooper Beebe, OG, Kansas State
Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
Zach Frazier, C, West Virginia
Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina
Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas
Kris Jenkins, DT, Michigan
Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona
Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon
Trey Benson, RB, Florida State
Payton Wilson, LB, North Carolina State
Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia
Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia
Caelen Carson, CB, Wake Forest
Leonard Taylor III, DT, Miami
Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE, Texas
Junior Colson, LB, Michigan
Max Melton, CB, Rutgers
Christian Haynes, OG, UConn
Patrick Paul, OT, Houston
Chris Braswell, LB, Alabama
Ricky Pearsall, WR, Florida
Jaylan Ford, LB, Texas
Maason Smith, DT, LSU
Roger Rosengarten, OT, Washington
Calen Bullock, S, USC
Kiran Amegadjie, OT, Yale
Braden Fiske, DT, Florida State
Cedric Gray, LB, North Carolina
Cam Hart, CB, Notre Dame
Bralen Trice, ER, Washington
Dominick Puni, OT, Kansas
James Williams, LB, Miami
Johnny Wilson, WR, Florida State
Christian Jones, OT, Texas
Jeremiah Trotter Jr., LB, Clemson
Jaylen Wright, RB, Tennessee
Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU
McKinnley Jackson, DT, Texas A&M
Nehemiah Pritchett, CB, Auburn
Javion Cohen, OG, Miami
Brandon Dorlus, DT, Oregon
MarShawn Lloyd, RB, USC
Ruke Orhorhoro, DT, Clemson
Braelon Allen, RB, Wisconsin
Spencer Rattler, QB, South Carolina
Trevin Wallace, LB, Kentucky
Blake Corum, RB, Michigan
Michael Hall Jr., DT, Ohio State
Roman Wilson, WR, Michigan
Elijah Jones, CB, Boston College
Javon Foster, OT, Missouri
Malachi Corley, WR, Western Kentucky
Marshawn Kneeland, ER, Colorado
Devontez Walker, WR, North Carolina
Cole Bishop, S, Utah
DeWayne Carter, DT, Duke
Christian Mahogany, OG, Boston College
Cornelius Johnson, WR, Michigan
Mohamed Kamara, ER,Colorado State
Walter Rouse, OT, Oklahoma
Ben Sinnott, TE, Kansas State
Myles Cole, DT, Texas Tech
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