Patriots Big Board: The 50 best fits in the 2024 NFL Draft

From Drake Maye to Travis Glover, a look at some of the names to watch in this year’s draft.

The 2024 NFL Draft is shaping up to be a franchise-altering one for the New England Patriots. Coming off a 4-13 season as the owners of the third overall selection, they are in position to seriously kickstart their rebuild in Year 1 after the Bill Belichick era.

What they will end up doing is still anybody’s guess, but by now you probably have absorbed every bit of information you could find on that and all other things Patriots draft. We here at Pats Pulpit have also not shied away from throwing a lot your way, from positional previews and in-depth player profiles, to weekly mock drafts, to our pre-draft meetings tracker.

Frankly, it’s been a lot. In order to make all of this a little more palpable, we decided to head into the kitchen, and cook something up — a smorgasbord of draft information, if you will: our annual Patriots Big Board looking at prospects from the top of the first round all the way to rookie free agency.

The board features the 50(-plus) players who we believe are the best fits for New England this year. So, without further ado, let’s dive straight in.

Hope you are hungry for some reading.

Round 1

1. QB Drake Maye (North Carolina): The former Tar Heel sliding to No. 3 would be the ideal scenario for the Patriots in this draft. Maye has a terrific blend of size, arm talent and athleticism at the position who led all of college football with 78 big time throws over the last two years. He has all the traits and upside of a potential franchise quarterback. | Draft profile

2. WR Marvin Harrison Jr. (Ohio State): Harrison is one of the best wide receivers to come out of college in quite some time with a rare combination of elite athleticism and NFL pedigree. He does all the same things as his father, Marvin Harrison Sr., does on the football field, but does them at 6-foot-3 and 209 pounds (as opposed to 6-foot-0, 185). | Draft profile

3. OT Joe Alt (Notre Dame): At over 6-foot-8 and 321 pounds, Alt looks like he has been built in a left tackle factory. He combines prototypical size with smooth footwork, lower-body flexibility, an impressive feel for leverage and pad level, a powerful punch to stun pass rushers and move bodies in the running game, advanced hand placement, and a natural feel for defensive line games. The Notre Dame product would be a Day 1 starter at left tackle. | Draft profile

4. WR Malik Nabers (LSU): Explosiveness is the name of the game for Nabers, who posted over 1,500 yards and 14 touchdowns for the Tigers last season. Nabers clocked a 4.35-second 40-yard dash at LSU’s Pro Day and is nearly impossible to handle after the catch as he forced 30 missed tackles en route to pilling up 589 yards after the catch. His game-breaking ability could result in him challenging Harrison Jr. for the first receiver off the board. | Draft profile

5. QB Jayden Daniels (LSU): The reigning Heisman Trophy winner dominated the college football landscape last season as he posted 103 (!) explosive plays, 50 total touchdowns and nearly 5,000 all-purpose yards. His straight-line speed and mobility may be his superpower, but Daniels took major strides as a passer and features an excellent deep ball. However, concerns remain about his pressure-to-sack rate and skinny frame. | Draft profile

6. WR Rome Odunze (Washington): At 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, Odunze has all the tools to become an elite outside receiver at the next level. He’s a fluid route runner with 4.45-second speed and features exceptional body control. He may be the third receiver off the board in this draft, but that is no knock on his abilities and potential.

7. QB J.J. McCarthy (Michigan): Perhaps the most polarizing prospect in this year’s class, McCarthy enters the draft with the third-best winning percentage (.964) by a quarterback in college football history and fresh off a National Championship victory. His ceiling, however, is a great debate as he played in a Jim Harbaugh offense that prioritizes running the football. But, McCarthy’s traits could lead to him becoming a quality starter on his rookie contract with even more untapped potential within. | Draft profile

8. OT Olu Fashanu (Penn State): Fashanu might not be as far along in his technique than Alt, but he has ideal size (6’6”, 312) and length (34” arms) at the tackle position to pair with an impressive lower body/footwork as a former basketball player. His Ohio State tape was the worst of his career, but his youth and high-end traits project him as a long-term starting left tackle. | Draft profile

9. WR Brian Thomas Jr. (LSU): Despite measuring in at almost 6-foot-3 and 209 pounds at the Combine, Thomas is as effortless a mover on the football field as you will ever see. While not the most sudden runner, he can get up to speed quickly, cover considerable ground with his strides, and challenge defenses vertically seemingly without much of an effort — bringing legitimate deep threat potential. | Draft profile

10. OT Amarius Mims (Georgia): If you’re looking for an offensive tackle with all the physical traits, Amarius Mims is the answer. He is the complete package in terms of build and length, ranking in the 90-plus percentile in several categories: his combination of height (91), weight (94), wingspan (97), arm length (95), and hand size (97). But, Mims was on the field for merely 803 offensive snaps — 359 of them in the eight games he started — during his college career. The small sample size may be worth the risk for a team like New England. | Draft profile

11. WR Adonai Mitchell (Texas): Mitchell has all the talent to be a true difference maker at the receiver position with his rare combination of size (6’2”, 205 pounds) and athleticism (9.99 Relative Athletic Score). Despite that, he wasn’t overly productive throughout his collegiate career while his effort level seemed to dip at times. At 21 years old, the ability may be worth betting on, however. | Draft profile

12. TE Brock Bowers (Georgia): The top tight end option in this year’s draft is simultaneously one of the best pure receivers available. He is as explosive a pass catcher as you will find at his position, and a dynamic mismatch nightmare. He is on the smaller side at 6-foot-3, 243 pounds, but plays with considerable physicality and is no liability as a blocker either — far from it.

13. OT Troy Fautanu (Washington): Fautanu could probably start every position along the offensive line and play at a high level. While projected to have the highest ceiling on the interior due to a lack of height and natural length, he does possesses the athletic skillset to be a factor at his college position of left tackle as well if asked to be.

Missed the cut: ED Laiatu Latu (UCLA), ED Dallas Turner (Alabama), ED Jared Verse (FSU), CB Kool-Aid McKinstry (Alabama)

Round 2

14. OT Tyler Guyton (Oklahoma): Another offensive tackle prospect with all the traits but lack of experience. Guyton possesses elite physical tools with his long 6’7” frame and 34-plus inch arms while boasting a strong athletic profile as a former basketball player. But, his technique remains a bit raw as he started just 14 games at tackle over his college career. | Draft profile

15. WR Ladd McConkey (Georgia): McConkey is not what the stereotypes might suggest he is at the wide receiver position. Despite being a silky smooth route-runner with plus change of direction ability, McConkey’s 4.39-speed allows him to challenge defenses vertically as well. He should be an immediate contributor and a quarterback’s best friend as long as he can stay healthy — a concern after missing games in 2023 and weighing in at 186 pounds. | Draft profile

16. WR Xavier Legette (South Carolina): A freakish athlete at the receiver position as Legette recorded a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at 221 pounds. He is a force to bring down after the catch and can eat up defensive backs vertically. Growing up a quarterback, however, Legette is a late bloomer at the position and is still stiff and inconsistent as a route runner. | Draft profile

17. OT Kingsley Suamataia (BYU): Suamataia checks basically every box you want in terms of profile for an NFL offensive tackle. He has the height, arm length, and is an incredible athlete at the position — similar to his cousin Penei Sewell. Suamataia also has experience as a starter from a young age on both ends of the line. He must be more consistent moving forward, but has tons of appeal as a long-term investment. | Draft profile

18. QB Michael Penix Jr. (Washington): The Heisman runner-up had an outstanding year for the Huskies as he threw for nearly 5,000 yards and 36 touchdowns en route to a National Championship appearance. His arm — we are talking about his left one, mind you — might be as good as anybody’s in this class: he has a quick release, throws with velocity, throws with touch, can drive the ball, and is an excellent deep-ball thrower, all despite some mechanical inconsistencies. But, the injury history (four season-ending injuries), struggles under pressure and his ball placement on touch throws and accuracy on tight-window passes are concern. | Draft profile

19. WR Keon Coleman (Florida State): Measuring 6-foot-3 and 213 pounds, Coleman is a well-built wide receiver prospect who is capable of making low-percentage receptions and shifting the odds on 50/50 balls in his favor. Despite a 4.61-second 40-yard dash, Coleman plays faster in-game but is a poor separator — leading to comparisons of N’Keal Harry coming out of Arizona State. | Draft profile

20. OT Jordan Morgan (Arizona): Morgan is a well-rounded offensive tackle prospect who is a well-developed both as a pass protector and a run blocker. He offers a good frame and sturdy build, and combines it with some impressive baseline athleticism as well as an advanced technical toolbox, outstanding footwork, and explosion out of his stance. However, his 81 3/8-inch wingspan, 32 7/8-inch arm length rank only in the 38 and 9 percentile for offensive tackle prospects, perhaps leading to a shift to guard at the next level. | Draft profile

21. WR Ricky Pearsall (Florida): An exceptional athlete and crafty route-runner, Pearsall brings a high-level of toughness and competitiveness to any wide receiver room. While he can win downfield, Pearsall is at his best feasting underneath and over the middle of the field. He also had tremendous hands and ball-tracking ability as he had just six drops throughout his entire collegiate career. | Draft profile

22. WR Xavier Worthy (Texas): Blink and you’ll miss Worthy as he ran a record-breaking 4.21-second 40-yard dash at the Combine. But, Worthy is more than just a track star as he is also an advanced route runner who knows how to manipulate defenders to his advantage. His 165-pound frame will raise eyebrows, but his speed will undoubtedly make an impact in the NFL. | Draft profile

23. OT Patrick Paul (Houston): Paul is a massive tackle prospect with a 6-foot-7, 331-pound frame that features 36-plus inch arms. His long arms and massive range make him a challenge for opposing pass rushers to get around, and he has shown that he knows how to use this to his advantage. Despite making 44 collegiate starts, Paul has some technique work to iron out — with his hand usage and accuracy of his initial punch being atop the list. | Draft profile

24. WR Troy Franklin (Oregon): Franklin will stand out most for his speed and ability to threaten defenses down the field, but don’t let that take away from his route running. He’s a savvy route runner with a variety of releases against press coverage who is good at using his leverage and using his routes to pick defenders to help his teammates. His frame — which triggers Tyquan Thornton comparisons — may be a concern as he weighed in at 176 pounds with 8 3/4-inch hands. | Draft profile

25. QB Bo Nix (Oregon): Starting a combined 61 games between his stints at Auburn and Oregon, Nix is one of the most prolific quarterbacks in college football history. He also is a sharp processor who can quickly and accurately get rid of the ball while taking calculated risks. There are questions about his ceiling and ability to push the ball downfield on a consistent basis, but he is as steady a QB as they come.

Missed the cut: DB Cooper DeJean (Iowa), WR Roman Wilson (Michigan), TE Ja’Tavion Sanders (Texas)

Round 3

26. DB Mike Sainristil (Michigan): A former wide receiver, Sainristil has great ball skills as he tallied seven interceptions and 20 pass deflections over the past two years for the Wolverines. The Everett, MA. product also isn’t afraid to bring the physicality despite his 5-foot-9, 182-pound frame. He should be a valuable and versatile piece to any secondary at the next level.

27. WR Malachi Corley (Western Kentucky): A physical slot receiver despite his 5-foot-10 frame, Corley is known for his run-after-the-catch ability. Operating mainly out of the slot, Corley lives in the underneath area of the field (he had an average depth of target of 6.1 yards in 2023) where his quickness shines to make defenders miss — while he’s also not afraid to go through them.

28. WR Ja’Lynn Polk (Washington): Polk’s athletic profile won’t blow anyone away, he has all the making of a receiver who will play a key role in an NFL passing attack. Playing from either out wide or in the slot, Polk has good hands and strong ball skills — as well as the toughness to operate over the middle of the field. | Draft profile

29. TE Ben Sinnott (Kansas State): The 6-foot-4, 250-pound Sinnott posted one of the highest Relative Athletic Scores in the pre-draft process at 9.73. It shows on the field as Sinnott is a smooth and effective mover, with the necessary quickness and agility to make efficient cuts or adapt his body position both as a receiver and when on the move as a blocker. | Draft profile

30. OT Blake Fisher (Notre Dame): The “other” Notre Dame offensive tackle, Fisher joined the Fighting Irish as their left tackle before an injury in his first game opened the door for Joe Alt to take over. Since then, he settled in at right tackle and developed into a quality prospect in his own right. While not the same well-rounded prospect as his first-round teammate, Fisher has the developmental tools to become a future left tackle himself. | Draft profile

31. OT Roger Rosengarten (Washington): While he played right tackle at Washington, Rosengarten spent the past two years as a blindside protector for the lefty Michael Penix Jr. During that time, Rosengarten was not credited with a single sack allowed as he brings the fight to opposing rushers. While he has a plus athletic profile, his height and weight are both below average. | Draft profile

32. WR Jalen McMillan (Washington): The third Washington receiver in our top-50, McMillan has drawn comparisons to a more athletic Jakobi Meyers in the pre-draft process. He has more explosiveness to threaten defensive backs vertically than Meyers, but lacks the contested catch skills with a skinnier frame (6’1”, 197-pounds). | Draft profile

33. WR Jermaine Burton (Alabama): Averaging 18.0 yards per reception in college, Burton and his 4.45 40-yard speed has tons of talent at the receiver position. He’s an excellent deep threat due to his vertical speed and tracking ability, while Burton also had a zero percent drop rate in his final season at Alabama. However, their are character concerns as he struck a female Tennessee fan after a game during a field storming. He also tallied 10 penalties while in college with multiple conduct penalties and seemed to lack effort at times. | Draft profile

34. OT Kiran Amegadjie (Yale): Amegadjie looks like he is a “build your own offensive tackle” kit: he has the size and athleticism as well as the foundational technical basis to become a long-term starter at left tackle, but needs to be assembled first. That process will need some time but could yield promising results.

35. CB Cam Hart (Notre Dame): Standing at 6-foot-3, 202 pounds, Hart is a well-built cornerback prospect who knows how to use his length to his advantage along the perimeter. While he ran a 4.5-second, he may struggle with some more advanced route runners as his short-area movements are rather stiff. | Draft profile

36. WR Brenden Rice (USC): At 6-foot-2 and 208 pounds, Rice offers good size to succeed as a perimeter target at the next level. Despite his build, he is surprisingly quick in and out of his breaks to create some separation. Although, Rice is not overly explosive into the base of his routes and lacks a true second gear to get past defenders. | Draft profile

Missed the cut: ED Austin Booker (Kansas | Draft profile), CB Khyree Jackson (Oregon | Draft profile), CB Max Melton (Rutgers), RB Jaylen Wright (Tennessee), S Kamren Kinchens (Miami), CB Kris Abrams-Draine (Missouri), QB Spencer Rattler (Oklahoma)

Round 4-7/Undrafted free agency

37. WR Javon Baker (Central Florida): Baker is an explosive wide receiver who offers serious big play potential as well as some of the best body control in the draft. His athleticism does not stand out, but there are flashes to work with as a X-receiver with early starter potential. | Draft profile

38. S Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (Texas Tech): Taylor-Demerson is a rangy and experienced defensive back who offers the speed, acceleration and quickness to serve as a sideline-to-sideline defender at the next level. His tackling is suspect, but he has all the tools to play a centerfield role at the next level. | Draft profile

39. WR Devontez Walker (North Carolina): One of Drake Maye’s favorite targets last season, Walker is a project. He has the build and physical skill to become a starting wide receiver at the NFL level, but his game lacks nuance and technical refinement. Those will not come overnight, meaning that patience is the key to his NFL outlook. | Draft profile

40. RB Audric Estimé (Notre Dame): Estimé is a throwback running back that doesn’t win with elite agility or speed, but rather with a mix of power, vision and an impressive contact balance. He best projects as an early-down option with limited value in the passing game, but would be a good fit for a team placing a premium on pounding the ball. | Draft profile

41. TE Theo Johnson (Penn State): Johnson is an outstanding athlete for a 6-foot-6, 259-pound tight end who can run away from defenders on crossers and seam routes and offers a massive reach to vacuum passes out of the air. His limited college production and a legal history are potential red flags, but Johnson’s top notch athletic traits and versatility make him an intriguing prospect. | Draft profile

42. TE Jared Wiley (TCU): Not only does he stand at at over 6-foot-6 and 249 pounds, Wiley also has a massive catch radius that allows him to haul in throws outside his frame and to outreach defenders at the catch point. His blocking is far from where it needs to be, but he does have the makings of an all-around player at the tight end position. | Draft profile

43. TE Tip Reimann (Illinois): Reiman is a relatively one-dimensional player, and there are questions whether he will ever take the next step as a receiver. However, he possesses NFL-caliber blocking prowess and combines it with the athleticism to possibly develop into a legitimate receiving option as well. | Draft profile

44. OT Javon Foster (Missouri): At 6-foot-5 with 34-plus inch arms, Foster has ideal size and length to handle the tackle position at the next level. He plays to his size as well and also has some nastiness to him to take the fight to his opposition. While not the most athletically gifted tackle, he has the traits and experience to be a worthwhile developmental prospect. | Draft profile

45. WR Luke McCaffrey (Rice): A former quarterback who made the move to wide receiver, McCaffrey will naturally draw comparisons to ex-Patriots wideout Julian Edelman. They are different types of players with a different transitioning background, but both possess undeniable talent: in McCaffrey’s case — just like Edelman’s — you just want to get him on the field and figure it out from there. | Draft profile

46. OL Tanor Bortolini (Wisconsin): Bortolini is like a poor man’s version of Troy Fautanu without the left tackle experience. He has, however, started games all over the rest of the offensive line during his four-year career at Wisconsin. He projects as a valuable do-it-all backup with some starter upside.

47. RB Dylan Laube (New Hampshire): An older prospect who will turni 25 during his rookie season, Laube has a high number of touches on his six-year college résumé. That said, he has a knack for making positive plays as runner, receiver and return man, and projects to work well as a multi-faceted, change-of-pace back at the next level.

48. WR Bub Means (Pittsburgh): Means has more to offer than a history of playing under Patriots assistant wide receivers coach Tiquan Underwood. He also brings an intriguing skillset to the table due to his explosiveness and ability to line up outside the numbers. He checks all the size/speed requirements in receivers that Green Bay drafted during Eliot Wolf’s tenure. | Draft profile

49. S/RB Sione Vaki (Utah): A potential three-way contributor, Vaki might be the most versatile player in this year’s draft. At least early on his career, however, he is expected to primarily focus on working as a safety and special teamer rather than as a running back. While there are questions about his ceiling, Vaki has the potential to become a rotational option and core kicking game contributor early on in his career. | Draft profile

50. OT Travis Glover (Georgia State): Glover is not a top-tier athlete at the tackle position and may struggle with NFL speed along the edge. That said, he improved each year throughout his college career and had impressive performances in both the Hula Bowl and then against higher competition at the Senior Bowl. With a continued upwards trajectory Glover could become a top swing tackle who can start when needed to. | Draft profile

Missed the cut: LB Cedric Gray (North Carolina), CB Renardo Green (Florida State), ED Jalyx Hunt (Houston Christian), CB Decamerion Richardson (Mississippi State), S Dominique Hampton (Washington), OT Caedan Wallace (Penn State), CB Myles Harden (South Dakota), S Jaylin Simpson (Auburn), WR Jamari Thrash (Louisville), OL Matt Goncalves (Pittsburgh), TE Jaheim Bell (Florida State)