Despite their last-minute victory against the New York Jets on Sunday, the Patriots have had a rough start to the season.
Underperforming their woefully low expectations, New England is tied for the third-worst record in the NFL and currently holds the number-three pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. In their rebuilding state, next year’s draft and the budding young talent have been the most compelling pieces of the 2024 campaign so far. The Patriots’ weak roster has made way for several rookies to get significant opportunities, including their third overall pick Drake Maye. Let’s take a look at Maye and other key members of the 2024 rookie class, grading them on their performance through eight weeks of their first NFL season.
Drake Maye, QB
Drafted: First Round, Third Overall
Grade: A
Maye finally got his opportunity to start against Houston after five weeks of lethargic offense led by veteran Jacoby Brissett. Maye’s first start, while marred by some costly turnovers, showcased his incredible physical ability and inspired optimism for his ability to handle NFL-level competition. Maye completed layered throws with anticipation and pace, elevating the weapons at his disposal. He introduced the threat of the deep ball into the offense on a long touchdown strike to LSU product Kayshon Boutte, something that Brissett never was able to do.
Maye showed improvement in his second start, finishing 26-37 with 276 yards and two touchdowns in their loss to the Jaguars in London. He took care of the football and only took two sacks behind a dreadful offensive line, showing his ability to extend plays with his legs and scramble for first downs. Given the challenging circumstances he was thrown into, Drake Maye was nothing short of impressive in his first two starts. In his third this past Sunday, he started hot with a long touchdown run before having to exit the game due to a concussion. While the Patriots are not competitive this season, Maye’s development is worth keeping an eye on, as he has shown all the qualities of a potential franchise quarterback for New England as they work to bolster his supporting cast in the coming years.
Ja’Lynn Polk, WR
Drafted: Second Round, 37th Overall
Grade: C-
Polk has struggled in recent games and has come under serious fire for it. On top of media scrutiny, Coach Jerod Mayo has called out Polk for drops, citing a “mental hump.” The rookie receiver quickly refuted these claims, stating that he is “not dealing with mental problems at all” and that he has “the best hands in the league.” Fellow rookie Drake Maye echoed this sentiment in his defense of Polk, owning responsibility for Polk’s struggles and reiterating the need for growth and camaraderie for the young duo.
Polk is a promising young talent who has all the makings of a number-one receiver in the NFL. Mental hump or not, he has shown the ability to separate and make difficult catches on the outside. Polk was inactive for Sunday’s game against the Jets due to a concussion. When he returns to the field, Polk will look to limit the drops and continue building a strong relationship with Maye. There is still plenty of hope for him to right his wrongs and become a key piece of the offense moving forward.
Javon Baker, WR
Drafted: Fourth Round, 110th Overall
Grade: N/A
Baker flashed his electric style of play in training camp, attracting lots of attention and anticipation for his rookie campaign. Unfortunately, we have only seen the UCF product appear in two games this season, logging six offensive snaps total. Reports suggest that Baker has had trouble catching the football and learning the playbook.
Other reports on Sunday suggest that Baker had a “hiccup” regarding team curfew in London, which may have contributed to the rookie not being available for that contest.
Should Baker ultimately emerge from New England’s crowded receiver room, his relationship with Maye will likely be a key reason why. The two met back in 2019 when Maye and Baker were both committed to play at Alabama. For now, Baker is just “being patient” and waiting for an opportunity.
Coach Jerod Mayo
Grade: D
I could not forget about Coach Mayo, who has had a less-than-stellar start as an NFL head coach. From blowout losses to media mishaps, Mayo is certainly experiencing some growing pains in his first year. His most widely recognized decision was going to the podium and bashing his squad’s character following their loss to Jacksonville, where he called the team “soft.”
If Mayo hopes to have success in the NFL, he must learn to handle the media with more grace. He has not been dealt the best hand, but as former Coach Bill Belichick pointed out in response to Mayo’s “soft” comment, the Patriots have gone from a solid defense in 2023 to one of the league’s worst in 2024 with very little change in personnel.
It is hard to grade a coach based on just one season, never mind eight games. However, the NFL is cutthroat, and Patriots fans expect to win. Until things turn around in New England, there will always be questions regarding Mayo and his direction for the team. Mayo’s Patriots will look to build on Sunday’s big AFC East victory next week against fellow first-year head coach Brian Callahan and the struggling Tennessee Titans.
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