Patriots

2024 NFL Draft: Here’s everything that happened on Day 3

New England continued to reinforce its offense, using seven of its eight total picks on that side of the ball.

Drake Maye isn't the only QB the Patriots drafted this weekend. (AP Photo/ Butch Dill)

April 27, 2024

Day 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft has come and gone.

The Patriots stuck to the same script they used on Night 1 and 2: reinforce the offense. Of the eight overall draft selections New England had in 2024, seven were used on offensive players. Those included two quarterbacks, two receivers, two linemen and one tight end.

Here’s what happened in Rounds 4-7:

6:19 p.m.: Patriots select TE Jaheim Bell with final scheduled pick of 2024 draft in the 7th round

The Patriots took their seventh offensive player in this draft by selecting tight end Jaheim Bell with the 231st overall pick. Bell, who played for Florida State last season, rounds out New England’s scheduled draft picks in 2024.

4:44 p.m.: Patriots snag another QB, Joe Milton III, in the sixth round

In a somewhat surprising and intriguing move, New England double-dipped at the quarterback position, taking Joe Milton with pick No. 193. Milton will likely slot in as the Patriots’ third string QB behind Drake Maye and Jacoby Brissett.

4:15 p.m.: Patriots draft CB Marcellas Dial with 6th round pick

New England has a defensive back reinforcement on the way in South Carolina’s Marcellas Dial. The Patriots used pick No. 180 to add to their defensive back depth, after drafting offensive players with their first five picks.

3:50 p.m.: Quarterbacks coming off the board, with Patriots division rival nabbing one

After six quarterbacks were drafted in the first 12 picks, no quarterback was taken again until the 150th pick. The Saints drafted South Carolina’s Spencer Rattler, who some believed might have been a Day 2 pick.

Later in the fifth round, the Jets drafted Florida State’s Jordan Travis. Whether he’s New York’s succession plan for Aaron Rodgers or just more added depth for the Jets, Travis is one of the more interesting prospects in the draft. He was statistically one of the best college quarterbacks over the last couple seasons, but suffered a brutal leg injury toward the end of the 2023 season.

2 p.m.: Drake Maye already has a connection with Javon Baker

The newest Patriots receiver shared with reporters that Maye reached out to him as soon as he was drafted, saying he, Maye, fellow rookie receiver Ja’Lynn Polk are “gonna bring back the winning mentality that everybody likes in Boston.”

Maye and Baker actually worked out together a few years back, when Baker was at Alabama while Maye was committed to the Crimson Tide.

12:36 p.m: Patriots draft Javon Baker

The Patriots added another receiver, drafting Javon Baker, a 6-foot-1, 208-pound wideout out of UCF, with the 110th overall pick Saturday.

Baker was an explosive receiver for the Golden Knights in 2023, recording 52 receptions for 1,139 yards and seven touchdowns. His 21.9 yards per reception led the nation among players who recorded at least 30 catches.

“Looking for a big play? Look no further than Javon Baker,” ESPN’s Field Yates said of Baker on the network’s draft broadcast. ” … All you’ve got to do is throw the football up to Javon Baker and let him cook. Over the last two years, only Rome Oduzne has more receiving yards on fades or go route concepts. In the red zone, his catch radius is terrific.”

The Patriots select Central Florida WR Javon Baker with their additional fourth-round pick (No. 110):

🏈 6-foot-1, 202 pounds

🏈 48 games, 24 starts

🏈 117 catches, 2,051 yards, 13 TDs

🏈 5 catches of 50+ yards in 2023

🏈14 drops over last 2 seasons
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) April 27, 2024

One area of concern for Baker is his drops, recording seven in the first eight games last season. However, he didn’t have any in the final five games of last year.

The Patriots drafted Washington wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk in the second round on Friday.

12:16 p.m.: Patriots select Layden Robinson

The Patriots drafted Layden Robinson, a 6-foot-4-inch, 302-pound guard out of Texas A&M, with the 103rd overall pick Saturday.

Layden Robinson: 1 sack allowed in 2023 on 401 pass block snaps 🧱 pic.twitter.com/BHTdwKz3DM
— PFF NE Patriots (@PFF_Patriots) April 27, 2024

Robinson allowed one sack in 691 snaps in 2023 and played all 38 college games at right guard. Consistency is an area of emphasis moving forward.

“You expect Layden Robinson to be a dominant performer week in, week out,” Mel Kiper Jr. said. “There were some games you said, ‘Boy, this guy’s exciting. He’s going to be a starter in the NFL.’ Other games, he was disappointing to me.”

11:40 a.m.: Top available players entering final day

There are a handful of standout players still on the board at positions of need for the Patriots on the last day of the draft. Oregon’s Troy Franklin, USC’s Brenden Rice, and UNC’s Devontez Walker are just a few of the names at wide receiver who are expected to be drafted Saturday.

Iowa State cornerback T.J. Tampa is viewed as one of the best available players remaining. Arizona’s Tanner McLachlan and Texas’ Ja’Tavion Sanders are possible options for the Patriots at tight end. Kentucky’s Ray Davis, Clemson’s Will Shipley, Tennessee’s Jaylen Wright, and Oregon’s Bucky Irving are among the best available running backs.

9:52 a.m.: Julian Edelman shares a message.

Former Patriots star Julian Edelman, who was drafted in the seventh round in 2009, encouraged those who are picked Saturday to maximize the opportunity.

“Make yourself valuable in every part of the game,” Edelman wrote. “We had a saying in Foxboro. ‘The more you can do.'”

The late rounds of draft are special to me. It’s where I was taken by the @Patriots and it’s where guys like me had to start to earn a roster spot. Take advantage of every opportunity. Make yourself valuable in every part of the game. We had a saying in Foxboro. “The more you can… pic.twitter.com/wCIGJzmTyo
— Julian Edelman (@Edelman11) April 27, 2024