The New England Patriots went into the 2024 NFL Draft needing to upgrade their offense at a few key positions, and after making eight picks, it's fair to say de facto general manager Eliot Wolf and his staff did a pretty good job.
The headliner, of course, was taking North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye with the No. 3 pick in the first round. Maye has elite physical talent, including a rocket arm, good size and strong athleticism. He has the potential to be a franchise cornerstone, with some experts comparing him to a Justin Herbert-like quarterback.
The Patriots made a meaningful effort to get Maye some help in the middle rounds. They drafted two wide receivers -- Washington's Ja'Lynn Polk in the second round and UCF's Javon Baker in the fourth round -- and two offensive lineman. New England also added an exciting quarterback talent in Tennessee's Joe Milton in the sixth round, and a versatile tight in Florida State's Jaheim Bell in the seventh round.
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After using their first three picks on defense last year, the Patriots selected just one player on the side of the ball -- South Carolina cornerback Marcellas Dial -- in this draft.
How did experts rate the Patriots' 2024 draft class?
Here's a look at our insider Phil Perry's pick-by-pick grades, followed by grades from the national media.
Charles McDonald, Yahoo! Sports: A-
Bleacher Report NFL Scouting Department: A
Trevor Sikkema, Pro Football Focus: B+