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2024 NFL Draft live updates: Patriots select WR Ja’Lynn Polk with pick No. 37

The Patriots addressed their top position of need in Round 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft, taking Drake Maye No. 3 overall.

Heading into the second and third rounds on Friday night, there are still major holes to fill. Arguably New England’s two biggest remaining needs are wide receiver and offensive tackle. Picking high in both rounds, the Patriots have a chance to address both those positions before the end of the night.

As it stands, New England holds picks No. 34 and 68 overall for Friday night. That could change due to trades, though; there are rumors swirling about the Patriots being interested in one of the San Fransisco 49ers star receivers.

Who will the Patriots pick in Round 2? Follow along below for live updates, and view all of New England’s draft selections here.

8:37 p.m.: WR Adonai Mitchell finally comes off board at pick 52

Adonai Mitchell was projected by most draft experts to be a first-round pick in a stacked WR class. Once Thursday came and went without his name called, the assumption became that Mitchell would be one of the first receivers off the board in Round 2.

Instead, he had to wait a little longer, before the Indianapolis Colts used pick No. 52 on the wideout.

7:52 p.m.: Drake Maye reacts to Patriots WR pick

The Patriots wasted no time adding another weapon for newly-drafted QB Drake Maye. And in turn, Maye didn’t waste any time voicing his excitement over that pick.

Maye took to X (formerly Twitter) to respond to the draft selection of WR Ja’Lynn Polk. “Stud!! Let’s work,” Maye said in his post, followed by a fire emoji.

7:37 p.m.: Patriots select WR Ja’Lynn Polk No. 37 overall

Rather than trading back into the first round for a receiver, New England did the opposite, trading back from No. 34 to 37. The Patriots still wound up with a top-end WR prospect in Ja’Lynn Polk.

Detroit native, Michigan product and current Patriot Mike Onwenu made the pick for New England.

7:23 p.m.: Patriots trade No. 34 overall pick to Chargers

As it turns out, New England won’t be sitting at 34. The Patriots traded down to pick 37, and now also have pick 110.

7:16 p.m.: Round 2 begins, Bills select WR Keon Coleman

The NFL Draft officially resumed, and the Buffalo Bills used the first pick of Round 2 on WR Keon Coleman.

The Patriots are now on the clock at 34.

5:30 p.m.: Latest Patriots trade rumors

Once the 49ers drafted WR Ricky Pearsall No. 31 overall on Thursday night, NFL insiders such as NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport suggested that move could be due to San Fransisco preparing to trade one of its wide receivers.

On Thursday night, Brandon Aiyuk’s name was tossed around as the WR that could be traded, and New England reportedly inquired about him. On Friday, though, different reports suggested Deebo Samuel was more likely to be traded, according to Boston Sports Journal’s Mike Giardi. The Patriots were initially reported as an interested team, but Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz followed up the report with another, stating the Patriots were “unlikely” to trade for Samuel.

More NFL Draft coverage

Here’s why the NFL draft order changes slightly after the first round, and what it means for the Patriots

Bill Belichick, current and former Patriots, NFL players react to New England picking Drake Maye at No. 3

Why C.J. Stroud thinks Drake Maye is the most NFL-ready quarterback in the draft

2024 NFL Draft: Here’s everything that happened in Round 1

Bill Belichick’s draft analysis on Pat McAfee Show was top-of-the-charts stuff

MORE NFL DRAFT

It must have been so strange for Bill Belichick to not be in a war room after 50 seasons coaching in the NFL and 24 in charge of the Patriots.

But during his spin as an analyst on Pat McAfee’s rollicking draft show Thursday night, which streamed on ESPN+ and YouTube among other services, he was prepared as if he were still running a team.

The result requires a minor amendment from me.

I’ve written a couple of times that Belichick would be excellent on television. Turns out he already is.

After a couple of decades of wondering what Belichick really thought about the annual assortment of NFL draft prospects, it was beyond compelling to finally find out.

Belichick’s gravitas and knowledge are unparalleled, but the question was how forthcoming he would be.

Draft experts typically cushion every criticism of first-round picks while favoring if-all-goes-right analysis that inevitably leads to virtually every prospect being compared to an established star.

Would Belichick fall into the same pattern? Oh no.

Belichick’s role among McAfee (likable despite talking like a sentient monster truck) and his kooky cast was to analyze each first-round pick with preloaded clips, similar to a more conventional broadcast’s approach.

He did so with matter-of-fact bluntness, candor, praise, and even hints of disgust at times. It was reminiscent of those rare glimpses we’d get behind the Patriots curtain on a Belichick-approved NFL Films documentary now and then.

Some of his former players thought so too, with amusement. Devin McCourty tweeted, “If you played for Bill and want to be back in team meetings but not worry about your bad plays showing up on the film, then turn on the @PatMcAfeeShow this is GOLD.”

Added Tedy Bruschi, “Love seeing Bill covering the draft! All of his pauses are where he would usually drop F Bombs.”

Belichick was particularly frank when it came to his former employer’s selection at No. 3, North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye.

“He makes some big plays like this,” said Belichick as Maye threw a touchdown pass in a game against Clemson. “This is an amazing play, where he throws going backward, and puts the ball on the money. Those are highlight plays that you really like from Maye.”

“That’s as open as [receivers are] going to get in the NFL,” Belichick said of a play where Maye held the ball too long. “You’ve got to deliver it in there. He’s kind of quick to bail out of the pocket. He’s going to have to hang in there a little longer and find those receivers.”

Belichick seemed especially down on Maye’s footwork, a well-known flaw for the 21-year-old quarterback.

“You can see here his feet are all over the place,” he said. “Never resets his feet, never really gets set to throw. Gets strip-sacked. Too much hopping around.”

He also seemed to take a dig at Maye, who has often said that Bills quarterback Josh Allen is one of his role models.

“Drake compares himself a lot to Josh Allen; he’s been doing that for quite a while. We’ll see about that,” said Belichick, who was sometimes reluctant to praise Allen when coaching the Patriots. “I think there are some similarities in terms of the size and athleticism. Josh Allen’s a pretty special player.”

Belichick did say Maye is “a kid who can make all the throws.” Thank goodness he didn’t say, “It’s nothing Matt Patricia and Joe Judge couldn’t fix.”

(It’s worth noting that Belichick’s pal Nick Saban raved about Maye on the ABC broadcast. “I have a lot of respect for this guy. This guy is wired right. He is wired right,” said Saban, who noted that Maye decommitted from Alabama after Bryce Young committed. “I should be mad at him,’’ he joked.)

Belichick had more praise for Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who went 10th to the Vikings.

“There’s not much to not like about McCarthy,” said Belichick, mentioning that McCarthy probably needs to gain weight. “This guy has a quick release, he can get the ball out, he reads coverages well, he’s just got a lot more experience than, uh …”

A.J. Hawk, McAfee’s comically stoic sidekick, interrupted Belichick before he could finish the thought. Was he going to say Maye?

Belichick actually had McCarthy as the No. 17 prospect on his big board revealed early in the broadcast. His top five were Southern Cal quarterback Caleb Williams, Louisiana State quarterback Jayden Daniels, Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., Louisiana State receivers Malik Nabers, and … Maye.

Given that it was somewhat of a contradiction given his analysis of Maye and McCarthy, I wish McAfee had asked him whom he would have taken had he been making the call at No. 3.

We’ll never know what he would have done. But we know what he thinks, and that made for a terrific show, even if we’re officially at the “this guy again?” stage regarding Oz the Mentalist appearances on NFL programming.

Belichick seemed to genuinely enjoy himself, and by the end of the first round, I found myself wishing he’d put out an annual draft guide to accompany his upcoming book project.

At least we’ll be seeing him more. McAfee revealed at the end of the broadcast that Belichick would be joining his show on Mondays, presumably during the season.

Belichick is already committed to regular appearances on ESPN’s “ManningCast” on Monday nights, another excellent fit for his personality and expertise. It would be satisfying to see him connect with NFL Films for a project here and there.

After Monday, this much is certain: We’d better enjoy Belichick on television while we can.

His straightforward analysis and insight will be a recurring reminder to NFL owners that the most knowledgeable football mind on the planet is available to coach their team. The first time Belichick dissects the Cowboys this year, Jerry Jones probably will attempt to hire him the next day.

Patriots select Washington WR Ja’Lynn Polk with No. 37 pick in 2024 NFL Draft 

The Patriots have added a new pass-catching target for Drake Maye. 

With the No. 37 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Patriots selected Washington wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk — giving them another potential playmaker on a revamped offense.

Polk lined up all over the field for a Michael Penix-led offense in 2023, catching 69 balls for 1,159 yards and eight touchdowns. Polk has good size at 6-foot-1, 203 pounds, and was able to pick apart defenses as the Huskies’ No. 2 wideout behind Rome Odunze. 

The Patriots originally were set to pick No. 34 overall, but they traded that second-round selection and their No. 137 overall pick to the Chargers — moving down three spots in the second round but also gaining the No. 110 pick. Los Angeles used that No. 34 selection to add Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey. 

Along with turning a fifth-round selection (No. 137) into a fourth-round pick (No. 110), the Patriots were still able to add value in a versatile and tough wideout like Polk.

“Wideout with good size who posted a productive final season to build upon during the draft process,” NFL Draft analyst Lance Zierlein said of Polk. “Polk might not have the early acceleration to overtake and stack NFL press corners. He also lacks ideal suddenness getting in and out of his breaks as a route runner. He runs routes with consistent pace — including through his stems and turns — which can create some freedom.

“However, Polk shines once the ball goes up. He can carve out space near the boundary, catch with strong hands when contested and track and finish when he heads deep. Polk’s speed proved slightly below average at the NFL Scouting Combine, but his other numbers were strong enough for him to receive consideration starting late on Day 2 of the draft.” 

After adding Polk, the Patriots will be back on the clock with the No. 68 pick in the third round. 

Watch: Drake Maye’s brothers send new Patriots QB heartwarming video message after being drafted

MORE DRAKE MAYE

The Patriots’ new quarterback, Drake Maye, was presented with a video message from his three brothers after getting drafted third overall on Friday night.

Expecting words of encouragement and praise from older brothers Beau, Cole, and Luke, the trio pranked him with a hilarious video using only a handful of words.

“Pretty boy,” Cole said to start the message.

“Overrated,” Luke followed up with.

“A [expletive],” Beau said directly into the camera with a smile on his face.

The simple phrases, a reference to a viral clip from ESPN’s 2011 documentary called “The Fab Five”, come from 1990s Michigan basketball players Juwan Howard, Ray Jackson, Jimmy King, and Jalen Rose explaining how they feel about rival Duke player Christian Laettner.

The short but hilarious video message left the youngest Maye keeled over in laughter.

“Are y’all serious? Are you serious?” Maye said with a big smile on his face. “I was getting emotional for a sec, but I’m laughin’ now. Who let ‘em say that?”

The three brothers, all of whom played Division I sports, did record a real, meaningful video for Maye to watch after being selected by New England. 

“We really want to just talk to you about just how proud we are of you and just what you’re about to embark on your life, man,” Luke said to begin the video. “This is a really special moment for you, for our family, and we couldn’t be happier as three of your best friends, guys who have been through a lot with you.

“We’re just very proud of you and just want you to know how much we support you and how much we’re there for you moving forward.” Luke plays professional basketball overseas and played the sport under Roy Williams at UNC for four years.

“Your whole life you’ve been looking up to us, both physically and metaphorically,” Cole said next, fumbling his words a bit, which made Drake laugh. “…It’s pretty special to see what you’ve done over the past couple years and what you’ve worked to your entire life. I couldn’t be happier for you and at times I find myself smiling when I think about what you’ve done and how you carry yourself and how you compete out on the field. 

“It’s exactly what mom and dad always talked about: Being the nicest guy off the field, but when you step between those lines, it’s game on. I think you’ve embodied that and I’m really proud as a brother. God, I can’t wait for the next chapter.” Cole won the 2017 College World Series as a member of the Florida Gators.

“God, it feels like just the other day we were eight and nine sleeping in the same bedroom, but now here we are,” Beau said as the final speaker. “Super happy for you. I can’t say enough good things about you, man. I’m your biggest fan. … I’m excited to continue to watch you play. I think I speak for all of us when I say there’s nobody that we’d rather have represent our family in a new city, on a new team, meeting new people, than you, man. 

“You’re humble, you’re a competitor, you’re a great guy. … I’m fired up. I am fired up. Happy for you man, just continue to be you. That’s all I can say, continue to be you.” Beau played basketball at UNC in 2022-23.

Drake was visibly emotional while listening to his brothers’ kind messages.

“Oh, man. Are y’all serious? First off, you gotta learn how to talk in front of a camera. They’re all rookies,” he said upon the video ending. “I love you guys. I appreciate all the support. I’m glad we got to spend this moment together. … Y’all been the three best older brothers I could ask for. … Love you guys, and that message was awesome, man. Made my night.”

2024 NFL Draft: Here are all of the draft picks the Patriots hold

The Patriots enter next week’s NFL Draft holding the third overall pick, the team’s highest in decades. Exactly who New England intends to take—or whether or not director of scouting Eliot Wolf decides to trade it—remains an intriguing mystery.

The NFL Draft starts at 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 25. As the days count down, Patriots fans will be left to wonder whether or not New England will select a quarterback (and if so, which one). Beyond the first round, however, the Patriots also have several other selections to keep an eye on.

Here’s a full list of the Patriots’ 2024 draft picks:

Round 1: QB Drake Maye, UNC (3rd overall)

Round 2: WR Ja’Lynn Polk, Washington (37th overall) via Chargers

Round 3: (68th overall)

Round 4: (103rd overall)

Round 4: (110th overall) via Chargers

Round 6: (180th overall)

Round 6: (193rd overall) via Jaguars

Round 7: (231st overall) via Bears

Looking beyond the first round, the Patriots hold a fairly high second-round pick, choosing 34th overall. In the past, New England has used this pick successfully. The Patriots have selected 34th two other times in team history, using it to draft three-time Super Bowl champion safety Patrick Chung in 2009, and three-time Pro Bowl linebacker Steve Nelson in 1974.

In the third round, the Patriots hold the 68th overall pick. This has only been a spot New England has drafted in on one other occasion: 1964, when the then-Boston Patriots took offensive guard Len St. Jean, who made one Pro Bowl in 1966.

Among the other Patriots picks, one notable name from a previous draft that stands out is quarterback Bailey Zappe, who was picked 137th overall in 2022 (New England holds the 137th pick in the fourth round of this year’s draft).

5 must-watch movies & TV shows streaming right now

Welcome to Boston.com’s weekly streaming guide. Each week, we recommend five must-watch movies and TV shows available on streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Disney+, HBO Max, Peacock, Paramount+, and more.

Many recommendations are for new shows, while others are for under-the-radar releases you might have missed or classics that are about to depart a streaming service at the end of the month.

Have a new favorite movie or show you think we should know about? Let us know in the comments, or email [email protected]. Looking for even more great streaming options? Check out previous editions of our must-watch list here.

Movies

“7 Days in Hell”

You should definitely head to the theaters to see the sexy new tennis drama “Challengers” (filmed in Boston!) this weekend. (Read our full review of the erotic romp here.) But if you’d rather watch over-the-top tennis entertainment at home, Andy Samberg’s 2015 mockumentary “7 Days in Hell” is just the ticket. Inspired by the Isner-Mahut match at the 2010 Wimbledon tournament that took more than 11 hours to complete, Samberg and “Game of Thrones” star Kit Harrington play two tennis pros stuck in a seven-day match. Tennis legends like Serena Williams and John McEnroe lend an air of authenticity to the absurdity, which is anchored by talking heads like Fred Armisen, Lena Dunham, Jon Hamm, and June Squibb playing the Queen of England.

How to watch: “7 Days in Hell” is streaming on Max.

“King Richard”

Speaking of tennis, this biopic of the Williams sisters —or rather, their father, Richard Williams — will forever be associated with its star, Will Smith, slapping Chris Rock at the Academy Awards. And that’s a shame, because Smith gives an Oscar-winning performance as a dad whose dedication to his daughters Venus (Saniyya Sidney) and Serena (Demi Singleton) treads the line between inspirational and pathological. Considering that the real-life Williams sisters served as executive producers, it’s a surprisingly raw look at the sacrifices and tough love required to raise generational talents.

How to watch: “King Richard” is streaming on Netflix.

TV

“Dead Boy Detectives”

While Neil Gaiman fans wait for the second season of “The Sandman” to arrive, Netflix has gone ahead and adapted another of the English writer’s comic books into a series with “Dead Boy Detectives.” Edwin and Charles play two ghosts who decide to remain on Earth to solve mysteries with the help of the living. While digging into the paranormal weirdness is all good and fun, Death himself is hot on the boys’ tail, hoping to drag them back to Hell. Gaiman’s blend of gothic, comic, and macabre energy is put to good use once more — though if you haven’t watched “The Sandman” already, you should probably do so, since this show is set in the same universe and features a couple of overlapping characters.

How to watch: “Dead Boy Detectives” is streaming on Netflix.

“Knuckles”

Paramount has built a surprisingly robust franchise on the shoulders of Sonic the Hedgehog, the speedy, chili dog-eating video game star voiced by Ben Schwartz. Ahead of December 2024’s “Sonic the Hedgehog 3,” the studio is giving a series spinoff to Knuckles (Idris Elba), the brooding echidna warrior who went from villain to ally in “Sonic the Hedgehog 2.” There’s no Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey) in this edition. Instead, one of Eggman’s associates (Rory McCann, “Game of Thrones”) seeks to harness Knuckles’ power.

How to watch: “Knuckles” is streaming on Paramount+.

“Sugar”

“Sugar” isn’t so much a modern film noir as it is a direct homage to the heyday of the genre in the 1940s. Colin Farrell plays the hard-boiled detective, who tells us in a steely voiceover about his new case, the search for the missing granddaughter of a Hollywood producer (James Cromwell). Creator Mark Protosevich, has made Farrell’s detective a movie buff, and he casually mentions all the L.A. noirs that this series pays tribute to throughout the eight-episode season. It’s a little distracting, but Farrell and his sidekick (Amy Ryan, “The Office”) are total pros, and keep the show moving.

How to watch: “Sugar” is streaming on Apple TV+.

Excitement mounts among Argentinian soccer fans for Lionel Messi’s New England debut

Ana Videla Sola Montoya remembers Argentina’s 2022 World Cup win fondly.

Four million people flooded the streets of her home city, Buenos Aires, she recalled. Argentina is a “very difficult country to be living in,” fraught with high rates of inflation and unhappiness, according to Montoya, an Emerson College student. But after the World Cup, “everyone was happy,” she said.

At the center of it all? Lionel Messi.

The international soccer sensation, argued by many as the greatest of all time, is the focus of many Argentinian football fans’ fervor.

“Messi is kind of like our God over there,” Montoya said.

Revolution fans had better start praying. Messi will make his New England debut Saturday evening, when his MLS club, Inter Miami, takes on the Revs, who sit at the bottom of 15 teams in the Eastern Conference standings. The 36-year-old — fresh off a $20.4 million-per-year contract with Miami — has brought unprecedented attention to professional soccer in the US, and especially in Boston, where football, baseball, and basketball reign.

Excitement around the big match, and Messi’s debut, is mounting — especially among local fans with ties to Argentina, where Messi isn’t merely a soccer star, but a cultural hero.

“I’d die for that man, even though he doesn’t know me,” said Lao Mengelle, 24, who was born in Buenos Aires but moved to the US at a young age and now lives in the North End, working as an insurance broker.

Mengelle has a tattoo dedicated to Messi — an image of a “five of cups” tarot card, which is used in truco, a card game popular in South America. The tattoo commemorates when, before Argentina’s 2021 Copa America championship win against Brazil, Messi, playing the game with teammates, correctly guessed the five of cups before blindly pulling a card — an omen the team would go on to victory.

Lao Mengelle has a tattoo of a “five of cups” tarot card, a nod to a card game played by Messi and his teammates before they won the 2021 Copa America tournament.

After Argentina secured another international trophy in the 2022 World Cup, further fulfilling the “five of cups” prophecy, Mengelle got the symbol inked on his right arm.

“He brings me joy,” Mengelle said of Messi. “He also makes me very upset at times, watching him play. But I’ve always been a fan of him, will always support him no matter what he does, and he’s just a shining light for our country at all times.”

Arlo Valiela, another fan with Argentinian roots, said he follows Messi’s career “wherever he goes.”

Valiela, a Northeastern University student and data analyst, was a Barcelona FC fan growing up because of Messi, bonding over games with his grandfather and other family members. When Messi played at Paris Saint-Germain FC, he tracked that team, too. And since Messi signed his MLS contract, likely to close out his professional career in the US, Valiela has kept tabs on Inter Miami as well — even though he follows the MLS only “casually,” he said.

“If you ask me one Revolution game I care about this year, I care about this one,” Valiela said.

For Valiela, the connection between being Argentinian and being a Messi fan is “one to one,” he said. “It’s so inherent.”

Although Valiela doesn’t consider himself “one of the crazy ones,” he said, Messi fandom is ingrained in his personal and family life.

“Whenever I get the chance to see or support or watch, that’s something that I really enjoy doing,” Valiela said. “I’m just beneath [the level of] face paint and screaming at a TV.”

Lao Mengelle (left) and Arlo Valiela pose for a portrait in their Argentina soccer kits before playing pick-up soccer in Boston.

These fans aren’t the only ones excited about Messi. His debut has generated “unprecedented levels of interest,” said Cathal Conlin, vice president of marketing and fan engagement for the New England Revolution.

Saturday’s game is expected to sell out all 65,000 seats in Gillette Stadium, slated to set the record for the highest-attended Revolution game — a stark jump from the usual attendance at Revolution games, which falls somewhere in range of 20,000 fans, Conlin said.

Demand is high, and the few tickets left aren’t cheap. Typically, tickets to a regular season match sell in the $20 range. On Ticketmaster as of Friday, the cheapest seats for the game against Messi are going for around $250 — and those are the nosebleeds.

“I’ve never seen a Revolution game with that sort of pricing on the secondary market,” Conlin said. “It has been just off the charts since the schedule was released.”

Conlin said interest in the Revolution has been on the rise in the past five years, during which the club has seen a 43 percent growth in attendance. An uptick in sales for season tickets, multi-game packages, and individual games because of Messi’s spot on the schedule has certainly added “gas on that fire,” Conlin said.

And the Revolution is doing everything it can to retain new fans.

“It’s a missed opportunity if we don’t take this 65,000-person crowd and at least convert some of the people in attendance into regular Revolution fans,” Conlin said.

Some local fans will skip out on the big crowds Saturday and instead gather in homes and restaurants to enjoy authentic Argentinian food and watch Messi with friends and family.

Che! Empanada, a restaurant with locations in Worcester and Newton, will stream the game on its in-house televisions and offer special deals for the occasion (buy six empanadas, get two free).

Owner Albie Alvarez-Cote said the restaurant even serves an empanada called “the Messi” — beef, bacon, and cheddar cheese wrapped and baked in homemade dough.

“It’s a favorite,” Alvarez-Cote, 58, said. “Argentinians adore him.”

Even though she has been loyal to the Revolution, having served empanadas to players at club events, Alvarez-Cote thinks the home team will forgive her for cheering against them, just this once — after all, how could she not root for Messi?

“[For] Argentinians, you are almost born into your team … Football is a way of life,” she said. “It’s in the blood, the soccer.”

Red Sox’ Triston Casas offers update, clarification on rib injury, says he’s confident he’ll play again in 2024

Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas gave an update regarding his rib injury on Friday, offering both good and bad news.

Casas, who was placed on the 10-day injured list on Sunday with a fractured left rib, called his ailment something else when speaking to reporters at Fenway on Friday: Torn cartilage.

Boston originally called the ailment a rib strain after Casas left the team’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday. He suffered the injury while taking a hard swing in the first inning. He exited the game after drawing a walk and was replaced defensively.

Casas’s latest diagnosis doesn’t shorten or extend his recovery timeline or change when he’ll be back on the field, the 24-year-old said. That schedule, however, isn’t set in stone.

He could begin cardio activity in anywhere between three and nine weeks, Casas said. Nine weeks from now is the end of June, perhaps slotting him for a post-All-Star break return, if he were to follow that particular timeline.

Despite being unsure of when exactly he’ll return to the diamond, Casas said he expects to play again in 2024.

Since being sidelined, Bobby Dalbec has primarily started games at first base for the Red Sox. Dalbec is batting 0.77 with a .143 on-base percentage through 17 games.

Dalbec is easily the best option available on the team to replace Casas at first base, but Boston is surely missing Casas’s bat. Before getting hurt, Casas was batting .244 with a .344 OBP on the year. He hit six home runs and logged 10 RBI over 22 games. Not to mention, was heating up at the plate following a cold start.

Watch: What will Drake Maye bring to the Patriots?

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Bill Belichick, current and former Patriots, NFL players react to New England picking Drake Maye at No. 3

It’s a new era in Foxborough as the Patriots welcomed Drake Maye to Foxborough Friday, hours after the team selected the UNC quarterback third overall in the NFL Draft.

The highly-anticipated pick comes after months of speculation that New England would add a young quarterback to their roster for the 2024 season. While Maye hasn’t been promised a starting spot over veteran QB Jacoby Brissett, the arrival of the signal-caller promises a refreshed regime under new head coach Jerod Mayo.

Round 1 of the NFL Draft promised excitement and it delivered. Here’s how Patriots Nation reacted to New England’s No. 3 pick:

Former Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman

Houston Texans’ quarterback C.J. Stroud called Maye the ‘most NFL-ready’ QB in the draft

Longtime Patriots head coach Bill Belichick offered his analysis of Maye

Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne

Ex-NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III

Patriots linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley

Patriots cornerback Isaiah Bolden

Former Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel