Patriots make clear their areas of need
Four picks on Day 3 used on the offense
FOXBOROUGH — If there were any lingering questions about how Patriots de facto general manager Eliot Wolf and coach Jerod Mayo felt about New England’s offense, the pair made their thoughts abundantly clear Saturday.
The Patriots added four more offensive players on Day 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft, a reflection of the team’s need to revamp that side of the ball after a dreadful display last season.
The team entered Saturday already having selected three offensive players in quarterback Drake Maye (No. 3 overall), wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk (No. 37), and offensive tackle Caeden Wallace (No. 68). Now, guard Layden Robinson (No. 103), wide receiver Javon Baker (No. 110), quarterback Joe Milton (No. 192), and tight end Jaheim Bell (No. 231) join them.
The only defensive player the Patriots took this year was South Carolina cornerback Marcellas Dial with the 180th pick. This year marked the first time since 1969 that the Patriots used each of their first five picks on an offensive player.
“We had more holes on the offensive side of the ball,” Mayo said. “Defensively, we feel pretty good about the players that we have. We feel good about some of those players taking a leap here in their second and third year. We were pretty comfortable about that.”
New England’s decision to prioritize the offense should come as no surcatches, prise, after the unit finished at the bottom of the NFL in several statistical categories last season. The Patriots ranked 29th in the league in total passing yards (3,392), tied for last in average points per game (13.9), and tied for last in average red zone trips per game (2.1).
By drafting two quarterbacks, two offensive linemen, two wide receivers, and a tight end, the Patriots addressed three major positions of need.
At quarterback, Milton rounds out the position with Maye, veteran Jacoby Brissett, 2022 fourth-round pick Bailey Zappe, and Nathan Rourke. Because of Milton’s size (6 feet 5 inches, 235 pounds) and athleticism, some draft analysts projected he could make a position switch to tight end. But Milton said Saturday that transition “will never happen.”
Mayo seemed more open to using Milton in a variety of ways, but noted that the Patriots drafted him as a quarterback.
Milton spent three seasons at Michigan before transferring to Tennessee, where he also spent three seasons. Last year, his lone season as a full-time starter, Milton threw for 2,813 yards, 20 touchdowns, and five interceptions, with a 64.7 completion percentage. His arm strength is especially intriguing, as he effortlessly threw the ball 74 yards at his Pro Day.
With five quarterbacks on the roster, the Patriots will have to pare down the group. Zappe seems to be the most likely option as a trade candidate.
“We’ll see how all the dominoes play out,” Mayo said. “At the same time, you want to have a strong room. I would say, the way it looks now, we have a very strong room.”
On the offensive line, the Patriots now have two potential starters in the mix. Wallace will compete for the job at left tackle, while Robinson will compete to play guard. Robinson, 22, was a three-year starter at right guard for Texas A&M, but said he would be comfortable on the left.
Both of New England’s starting guard spots seem in flux, as Michael Onwenu’s switch to right tackle seems permanent and left guard Cole Strange’s knee injury could sideline him at least to start the season. Among those competing with Robinson for snaps at guard will be three members of the 2023 draft class: Sidy Sow, Atonio Mafi, and Jake Andrews.
Mayo noted that the Patriots have several offensive linemen with flexibility to play in multiple spots across the line, so they will likely experiment with a variety of combinations.
“We’re in the business of bringing in good players and breeding competition,” Mayo said. “When it’s all said and done, we want to put the best five guys out there and see what happens.”
At receiver, the Patriots didn’t add a traditional No. 1 option but certainly weaponized the position with Polk and Baker. Both players bring physicality, pride themselves on making contested and can stretch the field as a deep threat.
On targets that traveled more than 20 air yards last season, Polk logged 14 receptions for 567 yards and five touchdowns, according to Pro Football Focus. Baker registered 15 catches for 574 yards and four touchdowns on such targets. Meanwhile, the Patriots last season ranked 31st in the league in passing plays of more than 20 yards (34).
Polk and Baker join a crowded wide receiver room with K.J. Osborn, Kendrick Bourne, DeMario Douglas, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Tyquan Thornton, Kayshon Boutte, and Jalen Reagor. At least three of those players will not make the 53-man roster.
Much remains uncertain for New England’s offense, which will also be led by a completely new coaching staff. Up next for the team is rookie minicamp May 10 and May 11, followed by its first organized team activity practice May 20.
Of the 11 offensive players that started Week 1 in 2023, three are already off the team (quarterback Mac Jones, tight end Mike Gesicki, and left tackle Trent Brown). At least another two have their roster spots in jeopardy (Smith-Schuster and right tackle Calvin Anderson).
How everything shakes out remains to be seen, but New England’s actions through the draft indicated the Patriots know they have to make significant changes to the offense — and are prepared to do so.