The New England Patriots have officially completed their first draft of the post-Belichick Era, and now it’s time to hand out grades to see how they did. After a failed 2023, the Patriots entered the 2024 NFL Draft knowing they couldn’t possibly fix all the issues with their roster in just one offseason. With that in mind, New England prioritized getting the best player available at each pick and building the foundation upon which the next great roster will be built.
New England Patriots Draft Grades: A New Franchise Savior?
First Round (3rd Overall): Drake Maye, QB
For the first time since 2019, the Patriots might legitimately have an elite quarterback. Even during his promising rookie year, Mac Jones was never going to be anything more than ‘fine’. Maye is a little rough around the edges, but the quarterback’s ceiling is higher than anyone else’s in this class – and yes, that includes Caleb Williams. Justin Herbert faced similar criticisms when entering the NFL Draft, but time proved that most of his so-called flaws were caused by his atrocious supporting cast. Perhaps the same can be true for Maye, as his collegiate receivers appeared to be actively sabotaging him at times. However, even if he does need time to develop, all of the 21-year-old’s mechanical flaws are fixable and Jacoby Brissett is more than capable of handling short-term starting duties.
Patriots Draft Grade: A+
Second Round (37th Overall): Ja’Lynn Polk, WR
On paper, Ja’Lynn Polk is the perfect receiver for Drake Maye, and both players have similar strengths. Maye excels at pushing the ball downfield and squeezing the ball into tight windows, and Polk is at his best making plays down the field. The biggest question here is whether Polk’s style of play will translate to the next level. At 6′-1″ and 203 pounds, Polk isn’t the biggest player and his 4.52 40-yard dash is nothing special. He made the most of his gifts to outmuscle collegiate cornerbacks, but will that work against the bigger, faster, and stronger players he’ll face in the NFL?
Patriots Draft Grade: B-
Third Round (68th Overall): Caedan Wallace, OT
The Patriots have always marched to the beat of their own drummer, and that trend continued with the selection of Caedan Wallace. After spending his collegiate career on the right side, New England will make him responsible for protecting Drake Maye’s blindside. He’s at his best in pass protection, which is a good thing for a team with a young quarterback, but his smaller build, unremarkable arm length, and pedestrian athleticism cap how good he can be at tackle. In a worst-case scenario, he can probably be a reliable guard.
Patriots Draft Grade: C
Fourth Round (103rd Overall): Layden Robinson, G
The Patriots continued to surround Drake Maye with support on Day 3 of the NFL Draft. Layden Robinson’s ceiling is through the roof, but he’ll need to improve his technique and consistency to win a starting job. New England has a long history of developing offensive linemen, and Robinson can sit behind the interior trio of Sidy Sow, David Andrews, and Cole Strange in the short term.
Patriots Draft Grade: B
Fourth Round (110th Overall): Javon Baker, WR
The Patriots didn’t have the resources to get a top wide receiver, so they’re throwing everything at the wall and seeing what sticks. Just like with Polk, Baker’s strengths perfectly align with Drake Maye, as the UCF product excels at creating separation at the deep and intermediate parts of the field. While drops are a bit of a concern, he has a lot of impressive traits and should be a welcome addition to this passing attack.
Patriots Draft Grade: A-
Sixth Round (180th Overall): Marcellas Dial, CB
After fixating on the offense, New England finally invested in the defensive side of the ball. Marcellas Dial isn’t going to be a fit for every scheme, but he’s at his best in man coverage, which makes him a great fit for the Patriots. The presence of Christian Gonzalez and Jonathan Jones ensures that Dial won’t handle a major role as a rookie, so he should have some time to clear up his technique issues.
Patriots Draft Grade: B+
Sixth Round (193rd Overall): Joe Milton, QB
The Patriots are sick and tired of physically limited quarterbacks. Joe Milton is essentially the antithesis of Bailey Zappe and Mac Jones, as the Tennessee product has arguably the strongest arm in the entire draft – and that includes Drake Maye. The only problem is that, at this point in his career, Milton is nothing more than a strong arm. As a thrower, he’s a less-developed Ryan Mallett with the athleticism to truck defenders in the open field. He’s a long-term project but a fine third option on the depth chart.
Patriots Draft Grade: B-
Seventh Round (231st Overall): Jaheim Bell, TE
Jaheim Bell was a great tight end in college, but he lacks the size to play a true in-line role as a pro. Additionally, he’s not quite athletic enough to be a glorified slot receiver. If he’s going to succeed at the NFL level, he might need to embrace a James Develin role as a fullback and pseudo-gadget player.
Patriots Draft Grade: C+
