'24 Preview: New England Patriots
All Access Football previews the 2024 New England Patriots. All Access. All Football. All The Time.
Volume XXIV Edition XXVII | 2024 Preview: New England Patriots
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AFC EAST || 2023 Record: 4-13 || AAF Preseason Power Ranking: 25
Team Brass
Owner: Robert Kraft || General Manager: Eliot Wolf || Head Coach: Jerod Mayo || Offensive Coordinator: Alex Van Pelt || Defensive Coordinator: DeMarcus Covington || Special Teams: Jeremy Springer
2024 NFLPA Report Card || Overall Ranking (29 of 32)
Offense Rankings
Total Offense: 276.2 (30th) || Passing: 180.5 (28th) || Rushing: 95.7 (26th) || Points: 13.9 (T-31st) || Sacked: 48 (24th) || 3rd Down: 30.2% (T-30th)
Defense Rankings
Total Defense: 301.6 (7th) || Passing: 208.4 (11th) || Rushing: 93.2 (4th) || Points Allowed: 21.5 (15th) || Sacks: 36 (27th) || Turnover Differential: -11 (T-28th)
Top 10 Franchise Players
LB Matthew Judon (photo credit: New England Patriots)
DT Christian Barmore
C David Andrews
S Kyle Duggar
OT Chukwuma Okorafor
LB Ja’Whaun Bentley
S Jabril Peppers
OT Mike Onwenu
LB Anfernee Jennings
CB Jonathan Jones
Key Additions
QB Jacoby Brissett (Commanders) || RB Antonio Gibson (Commanders) || WR K.J. Osborn (Vikings) || TE Austin Hooper (Raiders) || OT Chukwuma Okorafor (Steelers) || LB Sione Takitaki (Browns) || S Jaylinn Hawkins (Chargers)
Key Losses
QB Mac Jones (Jaguars) || RB Ezekiel Eliiott (Cowboys) || WR/ST Matthew Slater || WR DeVante Parker (Eagles) || TE Mike Gesicki (Bengals) || TE Pharaoh Brown (Seahawks) OT Trent Brown (Bengals) || DT Lawrence Guy || LB Chris Board (Ravens) || LB Mack Wilson Sr (Cardinals) || CB Myles Bryant (Texans) || CB Jalen Mills (Giants) || CB J.C. Jackson
Breakout Players
OG Sidy Sow / OG Atonio Mafi - The Patriots leaned on a pair of Day 3 rookie guard sensations in Sow (13 starts), a fourth round pick and Mafi, a fifth round pick. Despite New England adding more rookie reinforcements via the draft, both players will be counted on to play an even larger role in ‘24 and Sow enters training camp slated to be the full-time right guard.
DE Keion White - On the contrary, the organization didn’t receive the same fulfillment from their first two selections from the 2023 NFL Draft. Should White, a second round pick, be able to show some signs of life in getting after the quarterback, it would make a strong defense even more stout.
CB Christian Gonzalez - The first round pick must become the CB1 he showed signs of prior to a season-ending injury sustained during the first month of his rookie season.
2024 NFL Draft Class
There’s a growing sense that Patriots owner Robert Kraft had a big role in the decision to select Drake Maye at No.3. He’ll likely begin as the backup to Jacoby Brissett. New England believes they got a steal in wideout Ja’Lynn Polk, although they traded out of the spot that landed Ladd McConkey, who was a much higher-rated prospect. It’s possible that fourth round pick Javon Baker makes a greater impact. Initial Overall Rookie Assessment: Medium Level Impact
Rd.1 No.3 - QB Drake Maye, North Carolina
Rd.2 No.5 - WR Ja'Lynn Polk, Washington
Rd.3 No.68 - OT Caedan Wallace, Penn State
Rd.4 No.103 - OG Layden Robinson, Texas A&M
Rd.4 No.110 - WR Javon Baker, UCF
Rd.6 No.180 - CB Marcellas Dial Jr., South Carolina
Rd.6 No.193 - QB Joe Milton III, Tennessee
Rd.7 No.231 - TE Jaheim Bell, Florida State
UDFA Watch
C Charles Turner, LSU
LB Jontrey Hunter
CB Mikey Victor
Top 10 Players Under 25
DT Christian Barmore (24)
QB Drake Maye (21)
CB Christian Gonzalez (21)
WR Ja’Lynn Polk (22)
WR DeMario Douglas (23)
OG Atonio Mafi (23)
K Chad Ryland (24)
WR Javon Baker (22)
S Marte Mapu (24)
TE Jaheim Bell (23)
Prediction
Vegas O/U Win Total: 4.5 - Pats muster up in rebuild, 7-10.