With nine games left in the New England Patriots’ 2024 season, it’s widely expected that Jerod Mayo’s team won’t make the playoffs. While fans are eager to see rookie quarterback Drake Maye’s development, there’s little else to be optimistic about this year.
Instead, the focus has already shifted to next year’s draft, where New England could secure a high pick. If the season ended now, the Patriots would hold the third pick, and Pro Football Focus predicts they’d choose Arizona wide receiver Tetiroa McMillan in their latest mock draft.
PFF’s Trevor Sikkema highlighted McMillan’s potential, noting that in eight games this season, McMillan recorded 57 catches for 982 yards (leading the Big-12) and five touchdowns.
Over his first two years at Arizona, he amassed 129 receptions for 2,104 yards and 18 touchdowns in 25 games.
Though it’s unlikely New England would use a high pick on a receiver—considering they’ve only done so once since 2000 (N’Keal Harry in 2019)—the slightly altered leadership in Foxboro could take the chance.
However, the Patriots would need to strengthen their offensive line through free agency, a challenging task in itself.
Adding a true top-tier receiver would benefit not only Maye but also the rest of the offense, as it would draw more favorable matchups for other players.
“This pick doesn’t directly address the Patriots’ immediate needs, especially their struggling offensive line, which ranks as the league’s lowest-graded unit. But McMillan, at 6-foot-5, is an exceptional talent, drawing comparisons to Mike Evans.
Given New England’s extended rebuild, a player of McMillan’s caliber is a rare find, and the offensive line can be addressed later.”
