Sitting at a 2-9 record this season, all the attention is turned towards the 2024 NFL Draft. With their continued losing streak, the New England Patriots are on track to earn a top draft pick. And heading into Week 13, they currently have the third overall pick. 

The consistent struggles mean that the Patriots have a lot of draft needs, but there are some that are more important than others. 

The team is expected to look completely different next season and that could include the head coach. So with a rebuild, the team will look for young talent that can develop and help get the organization back to it's winning ways. 

Five biggest needs for the Patriots

Quarterback

This one is a no-brainer. Mac Jones has been the Patriots starter for three years since being drafted, but this season has proven that he is not the answer. 

Jones has now been benched four times, having been replaced by Bailey Zappe. And Zappe really hasn't done that much better. The Patriots also have Will Grier and Malik Cunningham on the roster, but neither have been given a real opportunity during the games. 

As of right now, the Patriots have the third pick, and that puts them in prime position to grab one of the top quarterbacks. While USC's Caleb Williams is currently expected to go first overall, there are plenty of other names. 

UNC's Drake Maye is set to be the next quarterback off the board, but the Patriots could also take a serious look a LSU's Jayden Daniels, who can provide the team with a skillset they are not used to. 

While a rookie quarterback might not immediately fix all the problems surrounding the Patriots, it will set them on a better path than they are currently on. 

Wide receiver

The Patriots let Jakobi Meyers go after the 2022 season, opting to sign JuJu Smith-Schuster instead. And that has proven to be a really big mistake. 

Along with Smith-Schuster, the Patriots have DeVante Parker, Tyquan Thornton, Kayshon Boutte, Demario Douglas, and Jalen Reagor on the active roster. On the practice squad, they also have T.J. Luther and newly signed receiver Mathew Sexton.

Besides Douglas, none of these players have truly stood out and have proved to be a real threat for New England. While you can blame the quarterback situation for a lot of it, there have been plenty of dropped passes this season that could have altered the outcome of the game. 

The best receiver available will be Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr., but it's unlikely he will even make it out of the top two. But there have been some crazy catches made during the college football season, so that means there are plenty of prospects for the Patriots to keep an eye on. 

Offensive tackle

Trent Brown is going to be a free agent after this season, and it doesn't seem likely that he will come back. And with that, they will need another top tackle. 

Brown's injuries have shown how weak the depth chart is behind him, so they need to plan for the face of the offensive line after he leaves. And Mike Onwenu, who has also been playing tackle this season, is done with his rookie contract at the end of this season. 

That's two key members of the offensive line they may be without, so the draft will be very important when looking for tackles.  

Running Back

Ezekiel Elliott is on a one-year deal with the Patriots, but with the way the season as gone, there aren't many who can see him coming back. 

While they have Rhamondre Stevenson, another top running back on the depth chart will be important. As we've seen this season, the Patriots have had success when splitting reps between the two. And with a potentially rookie quarterback, the run game may become all the more important as he navigates the NFL. 

Linebacker

With Ja'Whaun Bentley and Josh Uche set to be free agents after this season, the Patriots could be in need of another top linebacker. While they have Matthew Judon, the linebacker's injury this season has shown just how valuable he truly is. And to get someone to play alongside him who is just as dangerous could be what the Patriots defense needs.