The New England Patriots will officially usher in a new era in 2024 after moving on from head coach Bill Belichick. Expectations are low with the Patriots in the early stages of another post-Tom Brady rebuild. A successful campaign would mean both head coach Jerod Mayo and rookie quarterback Drake Maye establish themselves as long-term building blocks.
It became clear that Belichick was no longer capable of turning the Patriots around last season. A miserable 4-13 campaign, Belichick's worst single-season record as a head coach (including his Cleveland Browns tenure), incited change. Mayo was promoted as his replacement after auditioning for the role as the inside linebackers coach for the previous five seasons (2019-23).
The first shoe that needed to drop following Belichick's dismissal was admitting defeat on quarterback Mac Jones. Belichick was a part of the regime that hand-picked Jones as the next franchise quarterback with a 2021 first-round pick (No. 15 overall).
It became painfully obvious during the 2022 and 2023 seasons that Jones wasn't capable of living up to that billing. Mayo signed off on trading Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for a sixth-round selection earlier this summer. Thankfully, Belichick's 2023 Patriots were bad enough to set Mayo's tenure up for the future.
The Patriots selected Maye with the No. 3 overall pick. They also reunited with veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who previously played for them in 2016, by signing him in free agency one day after trading Jones to Jacksonville.
The early expectation is that Brissett, not Maye, will begin the regular season as the starting quarterback. Maye routinely worked behind Brissett throughout OTAs and minicamp and often struggled with ball protection. They'll likely both alternate with the starting offense during training camp.
At 21 years old and with limited experience at North Carolina, the Patriots appear committed to bringing Maye along slowly, particularly after the Jones experience went so poorly. Brissett's presence allows them to exercise patience, but it would be difficult to define the 2024 campaign as a successful one if Maye fails to supplant Brissett at some point.
He was drafted with a premium first-round pick to be the new franchise quarterback, and you'd like to see signs of him meeting that potential this season.
When analyzing the Patriots' roster, it becomes obvious that Mayo's regime remains in the early stages of their rebuild. A clear-cut No. 1 receiver has been elusive, though there's hope that rookie wideouts Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker could develop into big-time weapons.
The offensive line is an even bigger concern, and is perhaps why the Patriots will be cautious with Maye's reps. In truth, it's a jumbled mess. Two rookie blockers could claim starting roles in Layden Robinson and Caedan Wallace. With Cole Strange still on the mend nursing a knee injury, sophomores Atonio Mafi, Sidy Sow, and Jake Andrews are all in the mix for starting jobs as well.
The Patriots will likely field the youngest, most inexperienced offensive line in the league, and that's rarely a recipe for instant success. Protecting Maye from routine pressure will be taken into consideration.
Keeping Maye protected in bubble wrap all year long wouldn't be met with praise from a demanding fan-base though. Ensuring that Maye gets the right experience this season is Mayo's biggest challenge.
It'll be difficult to define the Patriots' 2024 season as a success if Maye doesn't prove more effective than Brissett by season's end.
