NFL Draft Q&A: New England Patriots intel, needs and more

The 2024 NFL Draft is April 25-27 in Detroit, and the New England Patriots, who will be one of the most intriguing teams to follow, are slated to make their first selection at No. 3 overall. 

In preparation for the draft, we're answering some of the biggest questions regarding the Patriots.

What venue will the draft be held at and who will televise the event?

The 2024 NFL Draft will be held in the heart of downtown Detroit, surrounding Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza. ABC, ESPN and NFL Network will televise the event, which can also be streamed on platforms including ESPN+, NFL+, Hulu + Live TV and Fubo.

As mentioned, the 2024 NFL Draft will begin on April 25, with the first round officially beginning at 8 p.m. ET. The second and third rounds are on April 26, starting at 7 p.m. ET, while the fourth through seventh rounds will be held on April 27 at noon ET.

How has the Patriots’ offseason unfolded so far? 

After naming Jerod Mayo as the successor to six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach Bill Belichick, the Patriots entered free agency boasting the second-most cap space in the NFL. However, de facto GM Eliot Wolf didn't spend heavily this offseason, mostly using his funds to re-sign several veterans including OL Mike Onwenu, though he added QB Jacoby Brissett and WR K.J. Osborn on smaller deals.

Although the team's free agency results weren't what fans had hoped for, the draft was always going to be the most important component of New England's offseason and the start of its rebuilding process. 

How many picks do the Patriots have? 

Due to the trades that sent WR N'Keal Harry and QB Mac Jones to Chicago and Jacksonville, respectively, New England owns eight selections in the 2024 NFL Draft. Here is a complete list of the Patriots' draft picks:

• Round 1: No. 3 overall

• Round 2: No. 34

• Round 3: No. 68

• Round 4: No. 103

• Round 5: No. 137

• Round 6: Nos. 180 and 193

• Round 7: No. 231 

What are the Patriots’ biggest positional needs entering the draft? 

Quarterback, wide receiver and offensive line. 

If Wolf wants to invest a majority of his draft picks in offensive talent, it'd be hard to blame him. New England averaged the fewest points per game last season (13.9) and ranked 30th in total yardage. Drafting a quarterback would be an ideal way to kickstart the rebuild, but the Patriots will have to use their picks in later rounds to surround that prospect with better talent. 

Who could the Patriots target in the first round?

LSU QB Jayden Daniels: The 23-year-old enjoyed a record-setting breakout season in 2023, leading the nation in total offense (412.2 yards per game) on his way to winning the Heisman Trophy. Daniels' dynamic rushing ability makes him arguably the most intriguing quarterback prospect in this year's draft and would provide a much-needed boost to a Patriots offense lacking quality talent if the team selects him. 

UNC QB Drake Maye: Despite being more of a raw prospect than Daniels, Maye may offer the highest upside of any quarterback in the class other than USC's Caleb Williams. The former Tar Heel threw for 7,929 yards, 62 touchdowns and 16 interceptions over the last two seasons while rushing for 1,147 yards and adding 16 scores on the ground.

Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy: If the Patriots can't land their preferred target between the aforementioned quarterbacks and aren't fond of the option available at pick three, perhaps they move down a few spots to net additional draft capital and select McCarthy. While the national champion is one of the biggest wild cards in the draft, he went 27-1 as a starter at Michigan and has the intangibles teams desire in a quarterback. 

Which prospects could be in play for the Patriots later in the draft? 

Oregon WR Troy Franklin: A fringe first-round pick, a lackluster showing at the NFL Scouting Combine might result in Franklin, who New England has hosted on a top-30 visit, falling to its 34th pick. He may not have shined at the "underwear Olympics," but Franklin is one of the most productive wideouts in this draft, finishing third in the FBS in touchdowns (14) and sixth in receiving yards (1,383) last season.

Notre Dame OT Blake Fisher: The 6-foot-6 tackle started opposite projected top-10 pick Joe Alt over the past two seasons, allowing eight sacks and six QB hits in that span. According to Lance Zierlein of NFL Network, one AFC executive believes the potential third-round pick is "more naturally talented" than Alt, though not as technically sound or consistent.