All eyes presently are on what the New England Patriots will do with their No. 3 average pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
But what the franchise does after that selection will be just as important.
Due to their lackluster 4-13 season, the Patriots will also have a excessive second-round pick, which will allow New England to gain top talent at a function of need.
The Boston Herald’s Andrew Callahan sees the Patriots probably addressing their wide receiver function with No. 34 pick. Callahan has the Patriots taking Ladd McConkey with the decision in his latest mock draft, however greater importantly, dropped a note on New England’s activity in the Georgia wideout.
“The 22-year-old rose up draft boards earlier this month, when teammates voted him the first-rate vast receiver on the American Team at the Senior Bowl,” Callahan wrote. “The Patriots took notice. Assistant instruct Troy Brown served as McConkey’s offensive coordinator on the American Team, and a number of top executives have been on hand to scout prospects.”
It’s convenient to see why the Patriots are drawn to McConkey. The 6-foot, 185-pound averaged 6.3 yards after the seize this past season, per Callahan, and projects to be capable to play in the slot and on the outside. He also has ride fielding punts.
McConkey starred the closing two seasons in Georgia’s offense. As a redshirt sophomore, he recorded fifty eight receptions for 762 yards and seven touchdowns to help the Bulldogs win a national title at some stage in the 2022 season. McConkey’s numbers dipped this previous season due to an ankle injury as he tallied 30 receptions for 478 yards and two touchdowns in nine games.
NFL Draft expert Daniel Jeremiah, who had lots of thoughts this week on the Patriots with the draft two months away, doesn’t have McConkey jumping into the first round in his cutting-edge mock draft.
There’s still masses of time for McConkey to see his draft inventory rise, in particular at the upcoming NFL Scouting Combine. But he already seems to be on the Patriots’ radar. New England will just have to see if he’ll be accessible at the begin of the 2d round.
