Pats Football Now
Patriots Football Now continues to provide updates and rankings on potential New England Patriots targets in the 2024 NFL Draft. There have several NFL mock drafts so far and “Weekley Wednesday” seven-round Patriots mock drafts.
Wide Receiver is a position of strength in this year’s draft. It is also a position the Patriots will likely try to target early. They reportedly made a strong effort to sign Calvin Ridley in free agency, so there is no question Eliot Wolf is looking to bolster the unit. Although taking a wide receiver at No. 3 overall would be a shock, nearly nothing beyond that would be.
Several wide receivers will hear their names called early on Thursday night. But others will be available on Day 3 or as undrafted free agents who are capable of making a name for themselves as professionals. A look at the various tiers of wide receivers in the 2024 NFL Draft…
Marvin Harrison Jr. (Ohio State), Rome Odunze (Washington), Malik Nabers (LSU)
These three players are all listed among my Top 10 overall prospects. Some years top receiver prospects have incredible athleticism or great production in college. These three receivers are all the total package in that regard. Harrison Jr. has been on people’s draft radar for so long that some have picked him apart to the point of falling out of love with him. He remains WR1 on this board. Odunze’s strength gives him a slight edge over Nabers here, though all could be gone in the first six picks overall. Nabers was the best wide receiver in college football last season. They are all elite and any of them would be the No. 1 wide receiver on draft boards in most years.
Brian Thomas Jr. (LSU), Adonai Mitchell (Texas)
Thomas Jr. and Mitchell grade a notch above the next tier. Both should be solidly in Round 1. Either would be a Day 1 starter in the NFL. If either (Michell in all likelihood) falls toward the bottom of Round 1 the New England Patriots will seriously consider a trade up from No. 34 to add the Longhorns receiver.
Xavier Legette (South Carolina), Troy Franklin (Oregon), Roman Wilson (Michigan), Ladd McConkey (Georgia), Ricky Pearsall (Florida), Keon Coleman (Florida State), Jermaine Burton (Alabama)
The gap from the top to the bottom of this list is a bit wider. While there is a chance some of these players could be unavailable when New England is on the clock at No. 34, others could still be available in Round 3. All of these players received second-round grades here. Legette borders on a Round 1 grade, though having only one good season (albeit a great one) is a bit scary. Franklin has the requisite production and measurables, but his slim physique is cause for concern. Again, any of these wideouts will make someone happy in Round 2, but they all come with questions preventing them from being...
