New England Patriots - NESN.com
The vibes in New England are high, and understandably so. The Patriots should be excited about the work they did in NFL free agency and the 2025 draft.
However, don’t let those moves distract you from the distinct possibility that Mike Vrabel’s side won’t be a very good football team this season. And much of those potential struggles could be due to a lingering difficulty to put up points.
Yes, Drake Maye and company should be an improved group in 2025. But that’s not a high bar to clear, as the Patriots offense was a complete trainwreck in its lone season under Jerod Mayo and Alex Van Pelt. New England’s offense probably will be hard-pressed to be actually formidable this season, and the Foxboro Faithful received a reminder of that unfortunate expectation via a recent ESPN exercise.
The Worldwide Leader put out a fantasy football mock draft in wake of the actual NFL draft last weekend. The Patriots didn’t have their first player picked until Round 8 when TreVeyon Henderson was selected 71st overall. The rookie running back was one of four New England offensive players taken in the 160-pick draft, joining Stefon Diggs (No. 77), Rhamondre Stevenson (No. 89) and Maye (No. 135).
We’re very aware that fantasy football bears no impact on what happens between the white lines on Sundays. That said, ESPN’s mock highlighted the reality that the Patriots still lack truly elite offensive playmakers. Most playoff hopeful teams — let alone Super Bowl contenders — have at least one on the roster.
We also acknowledge that Maye has a chance to make everyone around him that much better. After all, the 22-year-old was a Pro Bowler (if you want to call it that) as a rookie and will have far better guidance in Year 2. But those coaches nonetheless will be new to the young signal-caller, who also will be behind a new-look offensive line that isn’t littered with experience. There’s also the possibility of the dreaded “sophomore slump” that tormented so many QBs before Maye.
So, while New England should move forward in 2025, the steps might be limited.
