After the 2024 NFL Draft, hot takes and predictions for Patriots rookies
The rebuilding of the New England Patriots will center on Drake Maye.
The 2024 NFL draft saw the North Carolina product selected third overall, and it is anticipated that he will play early in the league.
The Patriots are aware that not every first-round quarterback will pan out, as evidenced by the unsuccessful Mac Jones experiment. Jones is one of four quarterbacks selected in the first round of the 2021 draft who are no longer with their original team.
During training camp, Maye will have the opportunity to learn from Jacoby Brissett in New England, but the on-field action might not be as noteworthy as some fans might anticipate.
This is a Patriots squad, after all, that upgraded at wide out just once via the NFL draft. Maye might not have enough support from the supporting cast to have a successful debut season.
During the NFL season’s first half, Drake Maye struggles.
Maye’s situation is not as great as that of Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels.
Williams joins the Chicago Bears ready to contend for a postseason spot, and Daniels might succeed in Washington under offensive coach Kliff Kingsbury.
It might take Maye some time to catch up to the other top-three picks in the 2024 NFL draft in terms of development.
Kendrick Bourne, K.J. Osborn, Tyquan Thornton, Demario Douglas, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Ja’Lynn Polk make up Maye’s wide receiver group.
Because there isn’t a standout wide receiver in that group, Maye may have to depend more on backup running back Antonio Gibson and tight end Hunter Henry in the passing game.
The lack of a wide receiver on the New England roster like to D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen, or Terry McLaurin could impede Maye’s development until he finds his comfort zone in the Patriots offense.
On the depth chart, Ja’Lynn Polk is ranked second among wide receivers.
Given the way the depth chart is arranged, Ja’Lynn Polk might have an instant impact on the offense.
Douglas should be the Maye’s primary target coming into Week 1 after he demonstrated a lot of promise in the second part of the 2023 campaign.
Thornton hasn’t demonstrated the skill set necessary to move up to one of the top slots on the depth chart, and Bourne and Smith-Schuster underwhelmed the previous season.
After a 1,159-yard, nine-touchdown campaign at Washington, Polk joins New England. He might be just what the Patriots need to invigorate their group of wide receivers.
Polk will be useful in the Patriots offense and have a strong rookie campaign, even though he might not be mentioned in discussions for Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Layden Robinson Struggles for the First Position
selection in the fourth round Layden Robinson appears to be the lone third-round draft choice with immediate starting potential.
Robinson and Sidy Sow should square off for the starting position at right guard, which is now the sole available slot on the offensive line.
In the offseason, Chukwuma Okorafor was signed to fill a tackle position opposite Mike Onwenu, who elected to remain in free agency.
Jake Andrews slots in at center, with Cole Strange likely to start at left guard.
Robinson and Sow will now compete for the position of right guard. Caedan Wallace, a third-round selection, will probably start the season as a reserve tackle.
The remaining draft selections ought to serve as reserve players in 2024 with an eye toward possibly seeing action.