2024 NFL Mock Draft: Patriots Pick 'Explosive' TE

ESPN has the New England Patriots selecting Georgia tight end Brock Bowers with the No. 12 overall pick in its early 2024 mock draft.

Since Rob Gronkowski's departure, the tight end position has posed a challenge for the New England Patriots.

To tackle this issue, ESPN's most recent 2024 mock draft predicts that the Patriots will use the No. 12 overall pick to select Georgia tight end Brock Bowers. ESPN highlights Bowers' potential to fulfill the crucial role of a playmaker for the Patriots offense.

"Quarterback Mac Jones is in desperate need of pass-catching options, and Bowers would be a dynamic target," ESPN reasons. "He is a 6-4, 230-pound game-changer who is physical at the catch point. Bowers is also a run-and-catch threat, privy to turning short catches into explosive scoring plays... He has the ability to unlock another dimension of the playbook for any NFL offense."

After this season, the Patriots will almost certainly be in the tight-end market. Tight end Hunter Henry, who signed a three-year, $37.5 million contract in 2020, is approaching the final year of his deal and likely hasn't been productive enough to indicate New England's intention of bringing him back. Additionally, tight end Mike Gesicki was brought in to lighten Henry's load, but he was only signed to a one-year contract.

Bowers could potentially provide the much-needed explosive playmaking element that has been absent from the Patriots' tight end position since Gronkowski's departure. In his first two seasons with Georgia, he has already amassed 119 receptions for 1,824 yards and 20 touchdowns. Additionally, he has rushed for 165 yards with four touchdowns, all while winning back-to-back national championships.

While the Georgia product appears to be an ideal fit for the Patriots, another season similar to the last two could significantly increase his draft value and potentially place him out of reach for the Patriots unless they find themselves among the league's worst teams.

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