Pats Pulpit
With the 2024 season over, let’s take a look at every contributor on New England’s roster.
The 2024 NFL season is officially in the rear-view mirror. For the New England Patriots it was deja vu from last year, as they finished 4-13 which resulted in head coach Jerod Mayo being fired.
With Mike Vrabel now in the building as the franchise’s next head coach, he will work with executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf on adding talent on both sides of the ball. They will have plenty of resources to do so as they are among the league leaders in cap space ($120+ million) and with the No. 4 pick in the NFL Draft,
The attention will now shift to those potential external additions New England can make this offseason to help get the team back on track. But first, let’s take a look back at those on last year’s team ahead of what could be some major roster turnover.
Drake Maye: After being the team’s best quarterback in the summer, Maye started his rookie season on the sideline as New England attempted to settle the situation around him. Taking over in Week 6, the rookie had plenty of intriguing flashes as he showcased the physical tools with both his arm and legs that led to him being drafted third overall. Despite winning just one game he started and finished, Maye showed the ability to elevate a poor supporting cast around him which leaves the future exciting for the young gunslinger (especially with no excuse for the team to not surround him with talent this offseason). He will need to cut down the turnovers — which often occurred late in games — after throwing an interception in seven straight games and losing six fumbles. Maye did see his turnover worthy-play rate fall to 3.5 percent (t-14th in football) and may be better in this area when he hopefully does not have to carry the entire offense. He has all the makings of a franchise quarterback, now comes the all-important year two next to Josh McDaniels.
Joe Milton III: New England’s sixth-round rookie quarterback spent most of the year as the emergency third quarterback, where he received plenty of praise for his work on the practice fields throughout the year helping mimic opposing QB’s, such as Anthony Richardson and Josh Allen, on the scout team. When Milton finally got his shot in Week 18 he impressed. Beyond showing the immense physical tools — recording the second fastest thrown in the Next Gen Stats era — the rookie seemed to take major strides with his accuracy and timing in the pass game. New England could have their backup for Maye next season or a legitimate trade asset.
Jacoby Brissett: The veteran quarterback was not lying when he went on the record this season to share how tough of a situation he dealt with as the original starting quarterback. Each of Brissett’s five starts featured a different offensive line...
