Here is the New England Patriots' full 2024 draft class
The New England Patriots went into the 2024 NFL draft with the clear intention of filling the many holes in their roster, most notably on the offensive side of the ball.
In fact, they waited until the sixth round to take a defensive player. That strategy alone should be more than enough to convince the masses that times really have changed in New England.
This clearly is no longer a Bill Belichick-run football team.
They kick-started the draft by grabbing their quarterback of the future, and then spent all of Day 2 and most of Day 3 selecting the necessary offensive pieces to help him succeed. This was honestly a solid first-time draft for de facto general manager Eliot Wolf and head coach Jerod Mayo on paper.
They got the big-ticket pick at No. 3 and addressed multiple needs, while also finding great value in the process.
Here is the full 2024 NFL draft class for the Patriots:
Round 1, No. 3: Drake Maye, quarterback, North Carolina
Breakdown: It’s a new era for the Patriots with Maye under center. Going after the quarterback was really the only sensible option with a draft pick this high. Even if Maye doesn’t start right away, the Patriots’ future is strapped to the rocket ship attached to Maye’s cannon of an arm.
Round 2, No. 37: Ja'Lynn Polk, wide receiver, Washington
Breakdown: Polk is said to be an incredible playmaker at receiver, but some might have been too enamored with Rome Odunze to pay attention. He isn’t a speedster but he’s tough in traffic with ridiculously strong hands to finish catches that might seem impossible to some. After getting a quarterback, the Patriots made sure to get him a solid offensive weapon.
Round 3, No. 68: Caedan Wallace, offensive tackle, Penn State
Breakdown: The Patriots need help at offensive tackle, and they should get a solid boost with Wallace in the mix. Even though Wallace played at right tackle during his run at Penn State, he’s versatile enough to swing to the left side to give New England more options after losing Trent Brown. That versatility is likely why he was taken at No. 68.
Round 4, No. 103: Layden Robinson, guard, Texas A&M
Breakdown: One of the most important mission statements for the Patriots was fortifying the offensive front for their rookie quarterback. They continued to work toward that goal by snagging a fierce blocker with great upside. More consistency probably would have had Robinson going much sooner on the draft board.
Round 4, No. 110: Javon Baker, WR, UCF
Breakdown: Even though New England failed to land a veteran outside receiver, they might have hit on a major steal here with Baker. He’s said to be an explosive playmaker on the outside with unrivaled confidence on the field. If he can put everything together at the next level, he could be a difference-maker for the Patriots right out of the gate.
Round 6, No. 180: Marcellas Dial, cornerback, South Carolina
Breakdown: The Patriots got their one and only defensive player in the draft. Dial is said to be feisty in coverage with incredible make-up speed when receivers get away from him. He’s a solid project player at a clear position of need for New England.
Round 6, No. 193: Joe Milton, quarterback, Tennessee
Breakdown: This is a draft pick from one of our earlier projections. Milton’s arm talent is simply too good not to take a flier on him in the sixth round. Granted, he has a lot of work to do behind the scenes, but there are few quarterback with his build and throwing power.
Round 7, No. 231: Jaheim Bell, tight end, Florida State
Breakdown: The Patriots closed out the draft by addressing another position of need at the tight end position. Bell is a jack-of-all-trades tight end capable of lining up at both receiver and in the offensive backfield as a fullback. He’s a versatile playmaker who clearly flew under the radar in this draft.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Here is the New England Patriots' full 2024 draft class
