The Patriots hit all-time low.
The excellent news? They’re already positioning themselves for a rebound.
Under new coach Jerod Mayo, the Pats have overhauled a training workers that oversaw one of many league’s worst offenses final season. Their entrance workplace is now led by longtime outsider turned director of scouting Eliot Wolf, a former govt in Green Bay and assistant GM for the Browns. The Patriots are projected to carry the third-most cap area within the league heading into free company, and are at the moment armed with vital draft capital, beginning with the No. 3 total choose.
However the Pats proceed, the stakes are vital.
The franchise hasn’t gained a playoff recreation in 5 years, and proprietor Robert Kraft mentioned he hopes their first-round choose positions the crew “beautifully” for years to return. To put the Patriots again on observe, the Herald is publishing a every day collection with 5 offseason fixes that cowl the draft, free company and training.
No. 5: Restock the offensive sort out place
No. 4: Maximize front-office flexibility
No. 3: Revamp the receiving corps
No. 2: Enhance the go protection
The previous saying goes a crew with two quarterbacks has none.
But what if that crew begins with none?
Last season, Mac Jones misplaced his means, and Bailey Zappe proved to be no higher than a backup. The Patriots chewed up and spit out a half-dozen third quarterbacks throughout the 12 months. It’s time for an overhaul.
The Patriots should discover their quarterback of the longer term on this upcoming draft and signal a veteran to assist the group as a mentor, tradition driver and, probably, a bridge starter. The icy dynamic between Jones and Zappe quietly damage each gamers final 12 months, when neither threw his full assist behind the opposite as a starter. That, in flip, hurts the crew.
On to 2024.
As for the draft, you understand the names by now. One of USC’s Caleb Williams, North Carolina’s Drake Maye and LSU’s Jayden Daniels can be accessible at No. 3 total. Based on present projections, and Williams’ season-long standing because the top-ranked prospect on this class, the Pats are anticipated to decide on between Maye or Daniels.
At 6-foot-4 and 230 kilos, Maye’s most typical professional comparability has turn into Justin Herbert. He boasts plus mobility elite arm expertise, each by way of uncooked energy and off-platform means. Thanks to a decline in surrounding expertise, Maye’s numbers got here down final season from a 2022 marketing campaign that includes 4,293 yards, 37 touchdowns and 7 interceptions.
Daniels is an exceptionally correct dual-threat prospect with questions on his body at 6-foot-4 and 210 kilos. He protects the ball properly and threw probably the most harmful deep ball in school soccer final 12 months. Daniels is coming off a traditionally nice season highlighted by a 71.7% completion share, 40 touchdowns and 4 interceptions.
If Eliot Wolf’s entrance workplace believes each are succesful franchise quarterbacks who can lead the Patriots again to the Super Bowl, elevate teammates and constantly rank within the high 10 at their place, pull the set off on the leftover passer. No quantity of picks or gamers acquired in a commerce down may match the worth of including a authentic beginning quarterback. The Pats can patch most of their offensive roster holes in free company and later within the draft.
The quarterback means the whole lot. It was no accident Jones’ downfall coincided with the Patriots’ undoing. The energy of the quarterback is second to none.
Jerod Mayo reportedly hires two new Patriots coaches, together with ex-New England WR
The time to strike is now. The Patriots don’t have any inner choices. Down the highway, the 2025 draft class seemingly has a weak quarterback crop.
If not Maye or Daniels, choose Washington’s Michael Penix. If not Penix, bat round creating Oregon starter Bo Nix. Nix is a uncooked prospect with plus athleticism and lesser accuracy than Penix, one other multi-year starter and 23-year-old school participant. Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy and Tulane’s Michael Pratt are different early-round names to know.
Whomever the Patriots draft come April, they need to have already got signed a veteran backup in free company. Jacoby Brissett is the apparent selection, a identified locker-room chief and fringe starter who performed underneath new Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt in Cleveland. Brissett is well-regarded within the Patriots locker room.
“I have a lot of respect for Jacoby as a player and as a man. Wherever he goes and whatever’s asked of him and whatever responsibility he’s had with the team, he puts his best foot forward,” Pats exterior linebacker Matt Judon mentioned in 2022. “And that doesn’t matter whether or not he was right here or in Indy or with Miami, each time he will get within the recreation he produces, like he’s proper now.”
Minnesota’s Kirk Cousins tasks as a long-shot signing, however would immediately improve the complete offense and characterize the crew’s finest quarterback since Tom Brady left. Reports point out Baker Mayfield is headed again to Tampa Bay, and Ryan Tannehill will head to Pittsburgh, the place he would reunite with former offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. Tyrod Taylor, Marcus Mariota, Joe Flacco and Gardner Minshew are among the many different free brokers accessible with beginning expertise.
Source: www.bostonherald.com