Under new leadership, the Patriots are a draft and develop team.
In Eliot Wolf’s first offseason, as the team’s new executive vice president of player personnel, he brought in an offensive-heavy draft class. Led by Drake Maye, this is one of the most exciting rookie classes in recent memory.
Considering the Patriots are coming off a 4-win season, there’s room for young players to not only make the initial 53-man roster but also make an impact in their first NFL season.
All eyes will be on Maye, and for a good reason, but this rookie class has a chance to be transcendent for Wolf and new head coach Jerod Mayo. Of course, one way for young players to develop rapidly is for them to play right away.
Whether or not that happens with Maye remains to be seen, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see multiple rookies help the Patriots in their first season. Here’s a look at five Patriots rookies who could make an impact this season and ones who could win jobs this summer in training camp:
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Drake Maye
When it comes to the team’s long-term future, Maye should have the most impact. If he develops like the Patriots hope, the team will have found its next franchise quarterback. The Patriots understand this, which is why Maye might not start this fall. The team is trying to take time with him to protect its investment.
That being said, Maye could beat out Jacoby Brissett for the starting quarterback job. This spring, the rookie completed 73% of his passes (56-of-77) in team drills. He also had three interceptions. Brissett completed 59% (54-of-92) with no interceptions. The veteran was also going up against the first-team defense.
Ja’Lynn Polk
The Patriots drafted Polk in the second round because they think he can make an impact. The wide receiver had a very strong minicamp and ended that week with a highlight-reel touchdown from Maye. Polk has a chance to start from Day 1 – if he can beat out the competition.
The rookie from Washington is a smart, savvy route runner with solid hands. He has competition from Kendrick Bourne, K.J. Osborn, and DeMario ‘Pop’ Douglas, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him shoot up the depth chart and make an impact on Day 1. The Patriots are looking for reliable receivers and the hope is they found one in Polk.
Caedan Wallace
Plans change in the NFL all the time. When the Patriots drafted Wallace, they envisioned developing him as a left tackle behind Chukwuma Okorafor. They were impressed with him enough this spring that come minicamp, Wallace was playing right tackle with the first-team offense. In those moments, Michael Onwenu moved from right tackle to right guard. That was a surprise (especially after Onwenu signed a massive deal in free agency).
The team has been impressed with Wallace’s athleticism and football IQ. If they think he can start at a tackle right away, that will make this third-round pick a draft steal. The Patriots must fix their offensive line. At the end of minicamp, it looked like Wallace could be in line for a starting spot immediately.
Javon Baker
Baker doesn’t lack confidence. The fourth-round pick said he’s going to make “people in wheelchairs stand up” in his introductory press conference this spring. The wide receiver then went out in minicamp and walked the walk.
In the second open OTA session, Baker made multiple highlight-reel catches over different defensive backs. In that practice, he looked like the type of deep threat the Patriots have sorely lacked. Baker, however, missed most of the spring with an unknown injury. The rookie needs to get healthy, but if he practices like he did on that day, he’ll have a chance to make an immediate impact. The Patriots have a lot of numbers at receiver but lack a true deep threat. Maybe Baker’s that guy.
Marcellus Dial
The Patriots only defensive player of their 2024 NFL draft class, Dial has a chance to make an impact in this talented defense. Last season, the Patriots relied heavily on Myles Bryant. The slot cornerback played the fourth most defensive snaps in New England (74.8% of the team’s plays). This offseason, Bryant signed with the Houston Texans.
The Patriots will have a battle in training camp for their next slot cornerback. Marcus Jones will head into camp as the favorite, but Dial has a chance to win this job. He had 28 passes defended and three interceptions over the last two seasons at South Carolina.