The Patriots and Eliot Wolf have a franchise-altering decision to make over the next month.
Either the team will stay at No. 3 and likely select a quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft, or they’ll trade down to collect more assets and try to fill more roster holes. It’s a decision that could have major ramifications for Wolf and new head coach Jerod Mayo.
If the Patriots were to move down, many have pointed to Minnesota as a logical trade partner. The Vikings hold two first-round picks (No. 11 and No. 23) and would very likely need to include more assets to trade up to No. 3.
If the Patriots stand pat, they’ll likely pick quarterback Jayden Daniels or Drake Maye. But what happens if they do trade down? Who would they target? Appearing on MassLive’s Eye on Foxborough podcast, ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper identified three logical targets for the Patriots at No. 11.
“At the left tackle spot, Olu Fashanu, from Penn State, would be in the mix. J.C. Latham, who played right tackle, but athletically could go to left tackle, would be a possibility at that point. I think from the offensive line standpoint, there will be some guys.”
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In this scenario, it’s unlikely, Kiper says, that the Patriots would have a chance to draft the top-three receiver prospects Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, or Rome Odunze. All are expected to go within the top 10. Although the top left tackle prospect, Joe Alt, is also expected to go in the top 10, the Patriots could trade down and land a starting offensive lineman.
On Tuesday, Trent Brown signed with the Cincinnati Bengals, which leaves the Patriots without an experienced left tackle.
Another option for the Patriots would be to trade down and still draft a quarterback at No. 11.
“You’d be getting into the mix at that point with the elite guys gone. Then you get into, is J.J. McCarthy going to be there? Probably not,” Kiper said. “If he’s there at 11, it’d be the end of discussion. Then you get into Bo Nix from Oregon or Michael Penix Jr. from Washington. Both Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr. will be there. I had Nix going to Denver and Penix being an early second, could be a trade to get into the late first. The reason he’s dropped a little bit is the four injuries – shoulder and knee – and the struggles in that National Title game.
“Bo Nix, I (mocked) to Denver because I saw comparisons in my own mind watching him to Drew Brees. I thought Sean Payton might see that, so I went with a hunch there.”
As Kiper said, if the Patriots trade down, they could target a new left tackle (Fashanu or Latham) or still try and draft a quarterback such as Nix. In this hypothetical scenario, the Patriots could still target a wide receiver later in the first round at No. 23.
According to Kiper, this is considered a strong receiver draft class even after the big three of Harrison, Nabers, and Odunze.
“Then you get into a variety of guys who played slot and outside,” Kiper said. “Brian Thomas is the big-bodied, outside, downfield threat. Tracks the deep ball – 17 yards per catch, 17 touchdowns. Xavier Worthy can be a slot or outside – 160 pounds but ran a 4.21.
“There’s a lot of other receivers – Malachi Corley is great after the catch. He’s a second-rounder. Ricky Pearsall, Florida, moving up. Ladd McConkey, Keon Coleman is one of the toughest players to evaluate because he’s a heck of a player but ran a 4.61. You saw him at the gauntlet run great. Puka Nukua ran a 4.57 but had a great gauntlet and became a great receiver so many Keion Coleman benefits from that. There’s going to be some receivers in the mix.”
