The New England Patriots finally landed a top-tier receiver in free agency with the Stefon Diggs signing, but that doesn't mean their work is done at the wide receiver position.
From a production standpoint, the Patriots had one of the worst receiving corps in the NFL last season. Adding Diggs to the mix obviously makes things better, but one man isn't going to solve all of their issues overnight.
Along with adding help at left tackle, the Patriots need to ensure that second-year quarterback Drake Maye has the necessary firepower to compete next season. Diggs was the first domino to fall in their efforts to improve at the wide receiver position.
The next one will likely come in the 2025 NFL draft. New England has a pick in every round but the sixth this year. Here's one wide receiver for every round for the Patriots in the draft:
First round: Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona
Tetairoa McMillan isn't a burner on the outside, but the knock on his speed has been greatly exaggerated. He's a big play waiting to happen in pads. At the very least, he's a dynamic athlete with strong hands and great ball-tracking abilities. Drake Maye simply needs to throw the ball into the air and let McMillan handle the rest.
Second round: Jayden Higgins, Iowa State
Jayden Higgins is a pro-ready wideout who can step into an NFL offense and contribute right out of the gates. He's a big-bodied wide receiver with a great understanding of leverage and footwork to make himself a consistent target. If the Patriots wait until the second round to get a wide receiver, Higgins could be a top target for the team.
Third round: Jaylin Noel, Iowa State
Jaylin Noel is one of the more underrated wide receivers on the draft board. However, teams might regret missing out on him when they see him in action on the field. Noel is an electric player with the game-breaking speed to stress opposing defenses. He's a legitimate home run threat every time he's on the field.
Fourth round: Isaiah Bond, Texas
Isaiah Bond is a savvy route-runner with the ability to burn defenders with his speed on the outside. But this Texas wide receiver is no one-trick pony. Bond is a technician on the field who uses his footwork more than straight-line speed to separate.
Fifth round: Jaylin Lane, Virginia Tech
Jaylin Lane is an absolute nightmare for opposing defenses with the ball in his hands. Even if he isn't on the field immediately, he could contribute right out of the gates on special teams. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels would also have fun using him to create offensive mismatch plays to put even more stress on opponents.
Seventh round: Ja'Corey Brooks, Louisville
Ja'Corey Brooks is one of my favorite dart targets on the board as a possible seventh-round pick. At this point, teams are throwing darts in hopes of finding a diamond late in the draft. Brooks has the desired size for an NFL wide receiver and great contested catch ability.
He lacks the separation speed on the outside, but he could dramatically improve his game by putting on more size and becoming more physical to win jump-ball situations.
This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire:
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