NFL teams found impact players throughout the draft. Out of all the teams in the league, this AFC East team improved their offense the most through the draft.
This Team Improved its Offense the Most in the NFL Draft
Landing a Quarterback of the Future
Coming off a poor 2023 campaign, the New England Patriots entered this off-season with plenty of work to do on offense. That poor performance led to the team ending up with a top-three pick in the NFL Draft. With a new general manager and head coach in place, there was speculation that the team could eschew selecting a quarterback early and build through making trades in the draft. In deciding to stay put with the third overall pick, the Patriots selected their quarterback of the future in Drake Maye. The North Carolina product put together a strong resume in college and comes into the league with plenty of excitement.
While some expect Maye to sit and develop behind Jacoby Brissett, the Patriots rookie quarterback is talented enough to play from day one. At North Carolina, Maye was surrounded by offensive minds like Chip Lindsey, Freddie Kitchens, and Clyde Christensen. Although he showed inconsistencies at North Carolina, Maye comes into the NFL with all the tools and ability to be a quality NFL quarterback. For a team that needed a franchise quarterback, the Patriots made the most of their opportunity by drafting Maye.
Surrounding Maye with Weapons
Once the Patriots landed Maye, it became imperative that they surround him with weapons. Heading into the draft, finding a receiver was a pressing need for New England. At the top of the second round, the Patriots traded with the Los Angeles Chargers but still landed Ja’Lynn Polk. At the University of Washington, Polk had a prolific career. He was a master of the deep ball and will bring that down-field threat to New England. Maye is aggressive as a thrower and can make the deep throws look effortless. Adding Polk to the mix makes this offense immediately more exciting.
Once the team landed Polk, they double-dipped at receiver in the draft. Adding Javon Baker out of Central Florida gives the team another threat downfield, and the team got Baker at a good value in the fourth round. Baker began his career at Alabama before transferring to UCF and entered the draft cycle with plenty of hype. His game should translate well to what the Patriots are trying to do with Maye. By surrounding Maye with weapons right away, the Patriots put their offense in a position to improve dramatically.
Adding Big Guys
New England used their first five picks on the offensive side of the ball. With a solid group of players and a defensive-minded coach in place, the team was able to focus on building around Maye. In rounds three and four, New England prioritized adding big guys up front with the selections of Caedan Wallace and Layden Robinson. Wallace played offensive tackle at Penn State but could move to guard eventually. Robinson gives the team another interior offensive lineman with upside.
After adding weapons and blockers, the Patriots selected another potential weapon in Jaheim Bell. The former Florida State star has a range of skills that will make him useful at the next level. Bell is a solid blocker but can also contribute to the passing game. His skill set makes him a chess piece that the team can move around and find ways for him to impact the game. With Polk, Baker, and Bell, the Patriots found weapons for Maye who can impact the game in multiple ways. Adding big guys up front will make this offense the most improved heading into 2024.
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