New mock projects Patriots trade back into first round to jump AFC East rival

The Patriots are arguably the biggest question mark at pick No. 3 in the 2024 NFL Draft.

New England needs a quarterback, but it also has several other needs it must address, which is why some believe the team will opt to trade down on April 25.

NFL.com's Gennaro Filice is not among them, however, as he projects the Patriots will stand pat at No. 3 and trade back into the first round to jump their AFC East rival.

In Filice's latest mock draft, he first has New England selecting LSU QB Jayden Daniels.

"New England could probably trade this pick for a bounty, but to what end," Filice writes. "Time to jump-start the Patriots with a new breed of quarterback, one who can provide microwave offense to a roster that sorely lacks firepower."

The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner could do exactly that as a dynamic, dual-threat quarterback. In 2023, Daniels threw for 3,812 yards and 40 touchdowns and rushed for 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns.

However, what Filice believes New England does next would start head coach Jerod Mayo's new era off with a bang.

The Patriots then strike a deal with the Cardinals for pick No. 27, jumping the receiver-needy Bills and landing Texas wide receiver Adonai Mitchell.

"When's the last time the Patriots had a true "X" receiver in his prime," Filice writes. "Mitchell's still a little rough around the edges, but he could grow into a star as Jayden Daniels' main man on the perimeter."

Mitchell's draft stock has been rising since his impressive NFL Scouting Combine performance, which was highlighted by his 4.34-second 40-yard dash.

The 6-foot-2, 205-pound wide receiver could create a dangerous duo with the strong-armed Josh Allen after proving he could take the top off the defense in 2023, posting 55 receptions for 845 yards (15.4 yards per catch) and 11 touchdowns.

Pairing that with stealing him from Buffalo, which is in dire need of wide receiver help after trading four-time Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs, would cap off a strong Day 1 for New England's new regime.