Coming off of a disappointing 4-13 season followed by a lackluster first wave of free agency, the New England Patriots will head into arguably the most important draft in the history of the storied franchise.
Next Thursday, the Patriots will begin the draft with eight total selections, with premium choices towards the top of each round. Each of the Patriots first six picks is currently slated to be within the top four selections of their respective round, along with an extra sixth-rounder via Jacksonville and owning the Bears seventh-round draft selection (albeit, not having their own pick in the final round).
With the draft being right around the corner - and the Patriots still having numerous positions of need - here is my ranking on how needed each position is:
1: Quarterback
For success in the National Football League, teams need an elite quarterback. The post-Brady era of Patriots quarterbacking has been, to put it kindly, lackluster. From Cam Newton to Mac Jones to Bailey Zappe, the Patriots have been unable to find a true long-term replacement to kickstart a hopeful Super Bowl run.
New England's quarterback room consists of Jacoby Brissett, Bailey Zappe, and Nathan Rourke. While Brissett has been a proven respectable starter in the NFL, he is more-so slotted into a bridge-quarterback/backup role, in hopes of an eventual rookie quarterback taking over.
The Patriots current quarterback room is certainly not full of entirely bad players, as Brissett and Zappe have shown that they can be capable starters (at times), but there is a lack of a long-term solution and/or above-average starter. Expect New England to select a QB in the first round of this year's draft.
Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe. Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images
2: Wide Receiver
The Patriots receiver room is mostly the same as last year's unit, which ranked towards the bottom of the league. The group is headlined by Kendrick Bourne, who is coming off a torn ACL, and DeMario Douglas.
New England struck out in free agency on the top-tier receivers, with many of the high-ranking receivers opting to re-sign with their team, or having the franchise tag placed on them. The only potential number-one receiver that the Patriots had a chance on was former Jaguars wideout Calvin Ridley, who inked a 4-year deal worth $92m with the Tennessee Titans. Afterwards, the Patriots signed K.J. Osborn to a 1-year deal.
De-facto GM Eliot Wolf told reporters Thursday that the team has had trade talks with other organizations regarding veteran receivers. In a group currently headlined by receivers who should realistically be number-two or number-three options, with an additional heavy emphasis on slot receivers, the Patriots need to pursue a number-one caliber "X" receiver.
3: Offensive Tackle
Specifically, the Patriots need a left tackle. New England re-signed Mike Onwenu to a three-year deal, ensuring protection on the right side of the offensive line. However, after letting Trent Brown walk in free agency, the Patriots have a desperate need for a left tackle.
Eliot Wolf told reporters that the team's current projected left tackle is Chukwuma Okorafor, a free agency signing who has had NFL success, but has not played on the left side of the offensive-line since college.
With the likelihood of the Patriots selecting a rookie quarterback, the question marks at the left tackle position are certainly not encouraging. The protector of a right-handed quarterback's blindside, New England cannot head into the season with Okorafor and Vederian Lowe as the team's best left tackles.
4: Tight End
The Patriots currently only have three tight ends rostered: Hunter Henry, Austin Hooper, and La'Michael Pettway. Henry has been the team's best tight end for a few years now, and is a good headline to an otherwise lackluster group. Both of the Patriots backup tight ends from last season - Pharaoh Brown and Mike Gesicki - left the team in free agency.
Hooper, who signed a 1-year deal with the Patriots in March, could serve as a solid depth piece and has had success as a pass-catcher in the NFL; however, his blocking skills leave a lot to desired. Additionally, Pettway spent the final few weeks of last season on both the Patriots practice squad and 53-man roster, but does not project to be a longtime solution for the team.
The Patriots need to draft a tight end who can play primarily as a blocker, filling the role left by Pharaoh Brown. The team could benefit from adding one through the draft, and signing an additional tight end as an undrafted free agent. While Hunter Henry is a solid starter, the depth behind him is lacking.
Patriots tight end Hunter Henry. Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images
5: Running Back
After an impressive 2022 campaign, Patriots bell cow running back Rhamondre Stevenson had a bit of a slower 2023-24 season, missing five games and averaging a full yard per carry less than the previous season. Behind him is free agency signing Antonio Gibson and depth pieces with Kevin Harris, JaMycal Hasty, and Ke'Shawn Vaughn.
Stevenson is the team's clear-cut number one running back, but concerns may be there due to his health. Gibson is expected to fill the role as a pass-catcher for the Patriots rather than a true runner. With that, New England is missing a true runner to play with Rhamondre Stevenson to help take off of his workload.
With the potential of getting a solid option on Day-3 of the draft, the Patriots should look to add an extra running back before the season begins. If Stevenson's injury continues to bother him, the current state of the running back room would be scarily thin.
6: Kicker
After trading up in the fourth round of last year's draft for Chad Ryland, the Patriots may need to draft one again. Ryland beat out veteran Nick Folk in a Training Camp battle, leading to Folk being traded to the Titans for a 2025 seventh-round pick.
Ryland showed flashes at times. The highlight of his season was a 56-yard game-winning field goal on Christmas Eve against the Broncos. Ryland's strong leg gives him potential to be the long-time kicker for the Patriots. Unfortunately, Ryland struggled with his accuracy this past season.
Ryland connected on just 16 of his 25 field goals (64%), with one of his misses coming from a 35-yard shank on a potential game-tying attempt at the end of regulation. While Ryland may still be the answer, the Patriots should look to bring in another kicker as competition in case Ryland continues to struggle.
7: Cornerback
In what has been a consistently solid positional group for the Patriots, the team could use an extra boost at the cornerback position. More specifically, the room could use another veteran in a room full of young players. While Jonathan Jones has spent the entirety of his 8-year career with the Patriots, an additional veteran is needed.
Blue-chip cornerback Christian Gonzalez showed flashes of elite ability, locking down some of the NFL's top receivers before suffering a season-ending torn labrum. In addition, both Marcus Jones and Isaiah Bolden are extra young players coming off of season-ending injuries. Alex Austin also impressed during his time towards the end of the season in New England.
After letting Myles Bryant walk in free agency, the Patriots need another veteran in a room full of young talent. My pick? A reunion with former Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore, who is still unsigned as a free agent.
8: Edge Rusher
Despite this being one of the Patriots most talented positions, the Patriots are lacking edge rushers for the future. The group is currently highlighted by Matthew Judon, who has blossomed into an All-Pro caliber player with the Patriots. However, Judon is entering a contract-year and will be turning 32 years-old before the regular season begins. Additionally, Judon is coming off an a season-ending injury suffered early last season.
After Judon, the Patriots still have plenty of edge rusher talent with Josh Uche and Anfernee Jennings who both re-signed during the off-season. However, Uche is only inked on a one-year deal and Jennings is more successful as a primary run defender.
The Patriots likely will have a very solid room of edge rushers this upcoming season. However, with Judon and Uche each heading into a contract year, the future of their room could be in jeopardy. The Patriots should pick up some young talent at the edge rusher position to help bring some insurance to the future of the group.
Patriots edge rusher Matthew Judon. Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images
9: Safety
The Patriots two starting safeties may be the best safety duo in the NFL. Jabrill Peppers and Kyle Dugger have each proven themselves as impressive talents who should be a part of the Patriots secondary for years to come.
After having the transition tag placed on him, Dugger signed a four-year deal with the Patriots. On the flip side, Peppers is entering a contract year and is expected to be an extension candidate in the coming months. The rest of the Patriots safety room consists of primary specialists, with Jaylinn Hawkins, Brenden Schooler, and Joshua Bledsoe rounding out the room.
New England also drafted Marte Mapu in the third round of last year's NFL Draft, who is expected to play a box safety/linebacker hybrid role. With a lack of depth and young talent, the Patriots could look to add to a top-heavy safety room.
10: Defensive Line
Defensive line is, in my opinion, where the line is drawn between "should" and "should not" draft. Christian Barmore is already one of the best interior defensive linemen in the league, and Davon Godchaux has similarly been a top-tier run stuffer on the defensive line. After releasing Lawrence Guy in February, there could be questions about the team's depth at the position.
However, Daniel Ekuale has been a solid option for the Patriots on the defensive line, and free agent signing Armon Watts is expected to be an additional solid depth piece. The Patriots also have solid options at defensive end with Deatrich Wise Jr. and Keion White.
Other pieces such as Sam Roberts and Jeremiah Pharms Jr. have potential to be solid rotational/depth pieces for the Patriots. While an extra undrafted free agent (or two) would be helpful signings, the Patriots defensive line should mostly be set in stone for the upcoming season.
11: Linebacker
The Patriots linebacker room may not be star-studded, but each player has succeeded in their respective roles. Ja'Whaun Bentley has been a pivotal piece of the Patriots defense for years, and Jahlani Tavai had a breakout season last year and should be a starter for years to come.
After losing Mack Wilson Sr. in free agency, the Patriots signed Sione Takitaki to fill a similar role as a rotational piece. Depending on how Marte Mapu is used, he could rotate in as a linebacker as well.
Overall, the Patriots have solid starters and depth pieces at the linebacker position. While they may benefit from picking up an undrafted free agent, the Patriots should be confident in their 2024-25 linebacker room.
Patriots linebacker Ja'Whaun Bentley. Photo by Winslow Townson/Associated Press
12: Interior Offensive Line
After multiple players suffering injuries, the Patriots interior offensive line in 2023 was a bit questionable. However, the unit impressed in the latter half of the season. Cole Strange looked the part once he got healthy following an injury before the season. Despite suffering another injury towards the end of the year - which is expected to hold him out through most of the offseason - Strange should be the future left guard of the Patriots for years to come.
At center, David Andrews is still playing at an elite level and is headed into possibly his final season of an impressive career. At right guard, Sidy Sow is expected to be the starter after he had a great string of games to end his rookie season. Alongside Sow, the Patriots drafted two other interior linemen early on Day-3 of the draft last year with Atonio Mafi and Jake Andrews
The Patriots ultimately have a well-rounded interior offensive line group, with Strange, Sow, Mafi, and Jake Andrews all being solid young talents, David Andrews being an established veteran, and free agent signings Nick Leverett and Michael Jordan being solid depth pieces.
13: Long Snapper
Not much to say here. Joe Cardona is very good at his job.
Cardona has been with the Patriots since 2015 and has only missed three games in his career, all of which came in 2023. Cardona is still performing at a high level and the Patriots should not waste a spot on the 90-man Training Camp roster for an additional long snapper.
14: Punter
The Patriots should have a long-term answer at punter with Bryce Baringer. Baringer was one of the best punters in the NFL last season and could be a Pro-Bowl punter this upcoming season.
With a lackluster offense, the Patriots need a great punter. Luckily, they already got one.
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