Get to know New England’s draft class, one selection at a time.
The 2024 NFL Draft is underway, and the New England Patriots started it off with a bang — selecting their quarterback of the future with the third overall selection in the first round. While the Drake Maye pick naturally steals the headlines due to its transformative nature, the team is far from done restocking its team through this year’s draft.
Let’s therefore meet all the players they decided to bring aboard, one selection at a time. First off, naturally, pick No. 1.
1-3 QB Drake Maye (North Carolina): Maye is a legitimate franchise quarterback prospect due to his rare combination of size, athleticism and arm talent. While there are areas he needs to improve in order to reach his full potential, there is no denying that his ceiling is high. He might be a bit of a gamble at No. 3 overall, but Maye’s upside is too enticing and worth investing in. | Report | Analysis | Profile | Instant grade
2-37 WR Ja’Lynn Polk (Washington): The Huskies’ No. 2 wide receiver behind first-round pick Rome Odunze last season, Polk is coming off a productive senior campaign that saw him catch 69 passes for 1,159 yards and nine touchdowns. Lining up both inside and outside the formation, he offers solid size and a well-rounded skillset at a position of need. | Report | Analysis | Profile | Instant grade
3-68 OT Caedan Wallace (Penn State): A well-built and experienced offensive tackle, Wallace is making the jump to the pros after serving as a four-year starter for the Nittany Lions. While playing virtually exclusively at right tackle, the Patriots are getting a player with a versatile skillset who is expected to also factor into the left tackle mix. | Report | Instant grade
With their first three selections in the book, the Patriots still have five others to work with. The next will come at No. 103 overall in the early fourth round.