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2024 nfl draft

Resetting the draft board: 11 players to watch for the Patriots in Rounds 2 and 3

NFL Draft: Who the Patriots could be targeting
WATCH: Reporter Nicole Yang breaks down who New England needs and the names that fans should be watching.

FOXBOROUGH — The first round of the NFL Draft is in the books, but the real fun is just starting.

Now that the Patriots have their quarterback in Drake Maye, I’d expect them to go after two other positions of need on Days 2 and 3: wide receiver and offensive tackle.

In no particular order, here are 11 players still on the board who could interest New England over the next couple of days:

Wide receiver Ladd McConkey, Georgia: The 6-foot, 186-pounder out of Georgia didn’t have overwhelming numbers this past season — 30 catches, 478 yards, 2 receiving TDs — but his quick feet and peerless route-running ability has made scouts see him as an NFL prospect. Drawbacks include back and ankle injuries, which impacted his college production, as well as the fact that the Patriots already have multiple options in the slot. But he would certainly offer another intriguing layer to the New England passing game.

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Wide receiver Troy Franklin, Oregon: Another target with some size, the 6-2, 176-pound Franklin had an impressive 2023, finishing with 81 catches for 1,383 yards (a whopping 17.1 yards per catch) and 14 touchdowns. (He set a school record with 25 receiving touchdowns in his college career.) A speedster with a lean frame, he could theoretically end up pushing Tyquan Thornton if New England decides to make him a Day 2 or 3 selection.

Wide receiver Adonai Mitchell, Texas: After playing two seasons at Georgia, the 6-2, 205-pound Mitchell had 55 catches for 845 yards last season with the Longhorns. Speed and fluidity are his hallmarks, and could play a sizable role in helping him see the field sooner rather than later.

Wide receiver Malachi Corley, Western Kentucky: Corley certainly isn’t a household name, but this 5-11, 215-pound pass catcher emerged as a serious playmaker, finishing the 2023 season with 79 catches for 894 yards and 11 touchdowns. Corley, who finished with back-to-back first-team All-Conference USA honors, is a physical receiver who can bully opposing defensive backs. Toss in a rep as a bit of a gadget guy who averaged 5.8 yards per carry in college, and you have the makings of an intriguing prospect.

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Wide receiver Tez Walker, North Carolina: Want to make your rookie quarterback as comfortable as possible? Add one of his college wide receivers to the mix. Walker is a 6-2, 193-pounder who’s a home-run hitter — he had a career average of 30.7 yards per catch on his touchdown receptions. Last year, he had 41 catches for 699 yards and seven touchdowns.

Wide receiver Bub Means, Pitt: There’s a lot to like about Means as a Day 3 possibility, right down to the fact that he was coached by New England assistant Tiquan Underwood at Pitt. A big body (6-1, 212 pounds) with good speed, he had 41 catches for 721 yards and six touchdowns last season with the Panthers. He’ll have to find a space in what could be a crowded receivers’ room, but his background with Underwood and part-time work as a punt returner could work in his favor.

Wide receiver Keon Coleman, Florida State: This former college hooper (he played at Michigan State) is another big target — 6-3, 213 pounds — with excellent ball skills. He led FSU with 50 catches for 658 yards and 11 receiving touchdowns last season, but don’t sleep on his value as a special teamer: He ranked third in the FBS with 300 punt-return yards.

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Offensive tackle Patrick Paul, Houston: Paul, who started 39 games the past three seasons at left tackle for Houston and was a team captain in 2022 and 2023, brings a wealth of experience to the position. The 6-7, 331-pounder could be a solid addition to a team that needs depth at the spot.

Offensive tackle Kingsley Suamataia, BYU: The 6-6, 325-pounder has started at left and right tackle as a collegian, and started 10 games on the left side last year. He yielded just two sacks and was landed second-team All-Big 12 honors.

Running back Dylan Laube, New Hampshire: If this was 2014, Bill Belichick would have staked out his front lawn. This do-everything overachiever who plays like a bulked-up version of Danny Woodhead is a 5-10, 206-pounder who led FCS in all-purpose yards last season (209.5 yards per game), was No. 2 in touchdowns (18) and points per game (10.8), and third in kick return average (31.1 yards per return). He’s Day 3 at the earliest, but is still an intriguing prospect because of his quickness and skill set.

Defensive back Mike Sainristil, Michigan: A local product who grew up rooting for the Patriots, Sainristil could be a Day 2 or 3 choice for a New England team looking to add a dose of youth to the secondary. The 5-9, 182-pounder, who played at Everett before winning a national championship with the Wolverines, Sainristil established a rep as a smart defender who finished with six interceptions last season.

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Christopher Price can be reached at christopher.price@globe.com. Follow him @cpriceglobe.