Like every year, there are certain expectations of how the 2024 NFL draft board will play out, but all it takes is one unexpected move—one team zigging when everyone else zags—to shake everything up.
There are a plethora of quarterback talent with the top-three projected to go with the first three picks overall in most mock drafts. However, Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. might be the best overall player in the entire draft. So a team reaching for him earlier than expected could kick-start a domino effect of change down the board.
For a team like the New England Patriots, they need one of the top-three quarterbacks, a high-end wide receiver and one of the top offensive tackles in the draft. A team with so many needs and the option to trade down can be incredibly unpredictable in this situation.
In this mock draft scenario, the Patriots swing a trade with the Atlanta Falcons, another quarterback-needy team that could be looking for an opportunity to trade up on the board.
Here’s how things shook out: