• Why Jayden Daniels is the right pick for the Patriots: Daniels had the best 2023 season of any quarterback in this draft. The rest of New England's offense is a work in progress, but this pick is a cornerstone to build around.
• New England could double-dip at receiver: UCF's Javon Baker and Rice's Luke McCaffrey are potentially high-impact players on Days 2 and 3.
• Draft and trade for yourself: Try PFF's Mock Draft Simulator — trade picks and players and mock for your favorite NFL team.
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The New England Patriots’ identity rebuild started when Tom Brady left in free agency, and it has now fully plunged into a new world with Bill Belichick no longer the head coach. As Jerod Mayo begins to build this team and this roster his way, here’s what his first draft could look like.
ROUND 1, PICK 3: QB Jayden Daniels, LSU
This is no secret: The Patriots are in desperate need of a quarterback to truly believe in. They have been in this state since Tom Brady‘s departure. Sure, some moments gave them hope, but the Mac Jones pick in 2021 ultimately proved to be a flop.
Jayden Daniels — or Drake Maye, if we’re being honest — gives the Patriots the chance to believe. If you were just looking at tape from 2023, Daniels had the best season of any quarterback in this draft. The rest of New England's offense is a work in progress, but this pick is a cornerstone to build around.
ROUND 2, PICK 34: T Kingsley Suamataia, BYU
Suamataia, a former five-star offensive tackle recruit, committed to Oregon out of high school but eventually transferred closer to home at BYU, where he started at right tackle in 2022 before moving to the left side of the line in 2023. The Patriots have Michael Onwenu at right tackle, but left tackle was a revolving door and a disaster last season — a position in desperate need of some high talent and consistency.
Suamataia will take some time to develop, as he is still learning the nuances of hand placement and truly holding onto blocks instead of just standing and shoving defenders in front of him with his strength and athleticism. But selecting him and Daniels together could lead to a high-reward pairing.
ROUND 3, PICK 68: WR Javon Baker, UCF
Stop me if you’ve heard this before: The Patriots have one of the least talented receiver rooms in the NFL. Demario Douglas was a nice find as a sixth-round pick last season, but they still need at least one or two more legit options for their new quarterback.
Baker was a four-star recruit and originally played at Alabama for two years before transferring to UCF. He has all-around athleticism to get off the line of scrimmage fast with a quick release and fast footwork, then can open it up to threaten vertically. He is a highly competitive player who isn’t afraid to go up for contested catches, but he does lack the strength to be a consistent winner there at the NFL level (though he can still give you those “wow” moments). Baker can be a WR1 for New England next year while likely a WR2 in the long run with more receiver upgrades in the following years.
ROUND 4, PICK 103: S Calen Bullock, USC
The Patriots have a stud in Kyle Dugger and a hybrid safety/linebacker in Marte Mapu. They also have Jabrill Peppers, but he is in the last year of his deal. New England may opt to select a true backend free safety coverage player at some point this draft, and Calen Bullock would be a wise choice in that case.
Bullock is a roll of the dice. He weighs just 188 pounds (2nd percentile for a safety) and has a big problem with consistency when tackling ball carriers. But the impact potential of his coverage ability is so alluring. He has legit ball skills to come down with interceptions, and he has the range to get from center field to the sideline on time. If the Patriots want to run more single-high stuff, drafting Bullock at the beginning of Day 3 is a good investment.
ROUND 5, PICK 137: WR Luke McCaffrey, Rice
I would not be shocked if the Patriots decided to double-dip at wide receiver in this draft. McCaffrey might not be as big as his Super Bowl champion dad, Ed, or as explosive as his All-Pro running back brother, Christian, but he is a good, versatile athlete who understands how to win with nuance at the position.
He originally came into college football as a quarterback, playing at Nebraska before transferring to Rice. McCaffrey developed his skills as a full-time receiver over the past two seasons and was very productive. He places above the 50th percentile for height but well below the 50th percentile for length and weight. Still, he makes up for it with reliable hands and in how he creates separation through subtle ways of winning at the position. Plus, he can be fun for some trick plays on wide receiver passes.
ROUND 6, PICK 180: RB Kimani Vidal, Troy
Vidal is a rocked-up, explosive athlete, but his vision for space needs to speed up for him to earn a rotational role in the NFL.
ROUND 6, PICK 193: LB Jaylan Ford, Texas
Ford projects as a high-energy depth linebacker as a MIKE who could be a consistent contributor on special teams.
ROUND 7, PICK 231: T Donovan Jennings, South Florida
Jennings was a good pass-blocker in college, earning an 82.0 PFF pass-blocking grade and allowing just 18 total pressures from 459 pass-blocking snaps. He's not as good a run-blocker as you would like for someone his size, but he has draftable skills.
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