What the Patriots will do in the 2024 NFL Draft is a big question. They’re going to get a high pick, it just remains to be seen exactly where they’ll fall on the draft board once the regular season comes to an end.
New England would certainly benefit from a change at quarterback, but it’s just one of many issues. The Patriots also need some help on offense. While many believe whoever is in charge — whether that’s Bill Belichick or someone else — will draft a quarterback, one former Patriots linebacker wouldn’t take that route.
On the latest episode of “Eye On Foxborough,” Rob Ninkovich joined MassLive’s Karen Guregian to discuss where the team’s priorities should be come the 2024 draft.
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“I don’t think it’s so bad. It gives you some flexibility. I don’t know if I was really hot on the top two picks. So if you’re gonna have No. 4, you’re still gonna get a great football player,” Ninkovich said. “And you can let the teams in front of you — you think the Bears are gonna draft a quarterback No. 1 overall? I don’t know. … So I think you let those teams figure it out. And then you could take a step back and see what else the rest of the league is gonna do.”
If it was up to Ninkovich, he wouldn’t be so fast to draft Caleb Williams or Drake Maye.
“I would definitely look at a game breaker. I’d look at a receiver. If (Marvin) Harrison Jr. is there — which he might not. If you’re the top two teams and you have a quarterback you probably want to get a playmaker,” he said. “But all I know is this: It doesn’t matter if you have Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, the best quarterbacks ever. If you can’t protect them, and you don’t have a guy to throw to, you’re in trouble. So you gotta protect the quarterback and you gotta have somebody to throw to.
“So if I had the controls, I would go after a big-time target or I would go after the best tackle in the draft. And then you could find a great quarterback in the second or third round.”
Ninkovich also added that there will be quarterbacks available on the free agent market in the offseason.
What the Patriots will do at quarterback is one of their biggest questions going into 2024. The team could look very different come next season, but answers will begin to come to light once the draft rolls around.
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