The Patriots have a wide receiver problem with no obvious fix
4 months, 2 weeks ago

The Patriots have a wide receiver problem with no obvious fix

New York Times  

— Initially, there wasn’t anyone open, so Drake Maye drifted to his right, then escaped the pocket altogether. GO DEEPER Buckley: No longer 'soft,' Patriots show pluck in bouncing back to top Jets Against the Jets, Patriots wide receivers dropped five of their 16 targets. It’s good to get a win, but there’s a lot to improve on.” Sunday’s game crystallized an unfortunate reality halfway through this season: The Patriots have a wide receiver problem, in the short and long term. GO DEEPER Jacoby Brissett gets his feel-good moment in Patriots' comeback win over Jets If they can’t sign or trade for a high-end wide receiver, they’ll have to draft and develop one. They’re the two receivers who are supposed to be most central to this rebuild, but neither has offered much hope so far, though coach Jerod Mayo indicated we could soon see more from Baker after he returned a kick 17 yards Sunday, his first touch in an NFL game.

Ball Yards Season Nfl Patriots Mayo Maye New England Baker Better Maybe Thornton Wide Receivers Boutte  ball  problem  patriots  maybe  receiver  fix  season  obvious  yards  nfl  better  wide  receivers

History of this topic

Patriots offseason: 5 enormous questions facing Jerod Mayo and company
3 months, 1 week ago

Patriots offseason: 5 enormous questions facing Jerod Mayo and company

New York Times  

The New England Patriots head back to Gillette Stadium on Wednesday to begin game-planning for this weekend’s trip to Arizona. We’ll write more soon on the players who still have a lot to play for in the final four games, but the performances of Caedan Wallace and Cole Strange will go a long way toward dictating just how dire the …

Patriots predictions at NFL midseason: Drake Maye improves but the No. 1 pick is in play
4 months, 1 week ago

Patriots predictions at NFL midseason: Drake Maye improves but the No. 1 pick is in play

New York Times  

— The NFL trade deadline has passed, and the New England Patriots remained pretty quiet, because teams weren’t overly interested in what they were selling and because coach Jerod Mayo wants to build a culture with this roster while ideally winning some games down the stretch. Our NFL midseason All-Rookie team “He just wants to help the team win.” Jerod …

The Patriots offensive line is bad … really bad. How can they fix things for 2025?
4 months, 2 weeks ago

The Patriots offensive line is bad … really bad. How can they fix things for 2025?

New York Times  

As good as Drake Maye has been, it’s hard to evaluate just how good the rookie quarterback has been for the New England Patriots. Tackle Vederian Lowe has probably been the team’s second-best offensive lineman this season, but he’s likely best suited to be a backup. If that only makes the offensive line average while they develop a highly drafted …

Drake Maye providing Patriots a rare bright spot in a season of disappointments
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Drake Maye providing Patriots a rare bright spot in a season of disappointments

New York Times  

LONDON — Drake Maye sat on the bench at his familiar spot on the New England Patriots sideline, stuck and unable to get back on the field as the team’s defense was slowly shredded. “Shoot,” Maye said afterward, “for a while in the second half, we had one drive the whole half.” GO DEEPER Jaguars beat Patriots 32-16 in London …

Patriots will go with first-round draft pick Drake Maye and bench QB Jacoby Brissett, AP source says
5 months, 1 week ago

Patriots will go with first-round draft pick Drake Maye and bench QB Jacoby Brissett, AP source says

Associated Press  

— The New England Patriots are planning to give first-round draft pick Drake Maye his first pro start in the hopes of ending a four-game losing streak under veteran journeyman quarterback Jacoby Brissett, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press. They have tried veterans like Cam Newton and draft picks like Mac Jones but have appeared …

Patriots are being patient with Drake Maye, and Sunday’s loss reminded us why
6 months ago

Patriots are being patient with Drake Maye, and Sunday’s loss reminded us why

New York Times  

— After the second time Jacoby Brissett was brutally thrown to the turf at Gillette Stadium, he took an extra second to get up. In Sunday’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks, when Brissett was thrown around behind porous pass protection, the Patriots and their fans were offered a reminder of why the team is being patient with rookie Drake Maye, …

Patriots’ pocket is not yet safe enough for Drake Maye to take over for Jacoby Brissett
6 months ago

Patriots’ pocket is not yet safe enough for Drake Maye to take over for Jacoby Brissett

Associated Press  

The New England Patriots showed in Week 2 why they are sticking with Jacoby Brissett at quarterback over first-round draft pick Drake Maye. Because even when he’s not getting hit, or any quarterback, if they’re back there and they feel people around him, it always is going to affect you a little bit.” Although the Patriots came into the season …

New England Patriots stock report: Who’s rising and falling after spring practices?
9 months ago

New England Patriots stock report: Who’s rising and falling after spring practices?

New York Times  

The first major chance is over for New England Patriots players to make a strong impression on the new coaching staff. Patriots sign 2024 third-round draft pick T Caedan Wallace: https://t.co/RCjOSX9P0F pic.twitter.com/jdutl2OO1s — New England Patriots May 31, 2024 DeMario Douglas, WR Douglas was by far the Patriots’ best and most explosive playmaker in practice this spring. He was the …

Patriots training camp questions: Has New England’s wide receiver group improved?
9 months, 3 weeks ago

Patriots training camp questions: Has New England’s wide receiver group improved?

New York Times  

Editor’s note: This is the second piece in our five-part series looking at the biggest questions facing the New England Patriots before training camp. The Patriots’ new brass realized how much their wide receiver group needed improvement. pic.twitter.com/vkQ31zALmj — New England Patriots May 20, 2024 Instead, New England took Washington’s Ja’Lynn Polk in the second round and added Central Florida’s …

Did the Patriots do enough to help Drake Maye on Day 2 of the NFL Draft?
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Did the Patriots do enough to help Drake Maye on Day 2 of the NFL Draft?

New York Times  

New England Patriots director of scouting Eliot Wolf said all the things you’d want to hear after the second day of the NFL Draft, the things every NFL decision-maker says. Draft pick grades: Our experts rate Rounds 2-3 Full draft order: Team picks for all 257 selections Second-round pick Ja’Lynn Polk might end up being just the kind of wide …

Patriots 2024 NFL Draft takeaways: Emphasizing offense to help QB Drake Maye
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Patriots 2024 NFL Draft takeaways: Emphasizing offense to help QB Drake Maye

New York Times  

The New England Patriots wrapped up their most anticipated NFL Draft in decades by continuing to focus on fixing the team’s offense. Neither Polk nor fourth-round pick Javon Baker has great speed, but they have large catch radii and can make plays on passes that aren’t thrown perfectly, something that could help a rookie quarterback. School 1 3 Drake Maye …

Patriots draft Drake Maye: How he fits, pick grade and scouting intel
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Patriots draft Drake Maye: How he fits, pick grade and scouting intel

New York Times  

After weeks of deliberation, the New England Patriots opted to hold onto the No. 3 pick in Thursday’s first round of the 2024 NFL Draft and select Drake Maye, the quarterback they hope helps usher in a new era in Foxboro. The Patriots are hoping Maye can bring stability to the quarterback position, something they haven’t witnessed since Tom Brady …

Predictions for the Patriots’ offseason: A top WR in free agency and a QB at No. 3
1 year, 1 month ago

Predictions for the Patriots’ offseason: A top WR in free agency and a QB at No. 3

New York Times  

Next week, the NFL world descends on Indianapolis for the NFL Scouting Combine, the annual get-together of coaches and front-office executives to study and interview draft-eligible prospects. So instead, I’m guessing the Patriots sign one of the top free-agent wide receivers, then supplement the position with a second- or third-round pick in the draft. They sign OT Jonah Williams The …

Only way for Patriots to salvage season is to finish in position to pick top QB in NFL Draft
1 year, 4 months ago

Only way for Patriots to salvage season is to finish in position to pick top QB in NFL Draft

New York Times  

The New England Patriots’ lost season, which has crumbled into an abyss of irrelevancy, will be measured by a single factor. The other alternative, if the Patriots can’t climb into the top two, would be drafting Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., Georgia tight end Brock Bowers or one of the elite offensive tackles. GO DEEPER Howe: If you …

Bill Belichick’s future, Malik Cunningham’s usage and the Patriots’ struggling O-line
1 year, 5 months ago

Bill Belichick’s future, Malik Cunningham’s usage and the Patriots’ struggling O-line

New York Times  

Out of sight of all the cameras, New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick met Las Vegas Raiders coach Josh McDaniels by the Pats’ team buses at Allegiant Stadium to catch up after New England’s 21-17 loss Sunday. GO DEEPER The Patriots tried to start over — but they're still the same old struggling team LIVE: Bill Belichick Press Conference 10/16: …

Patriots enter NFL draft holding 11 picks to address needs
1 year, 11 months ago

Patriots enter NFL draft holding 11 picks to address needs

Associated Press  

— Most of the New England Patriots’ shortcomings last season can be traced back to the experiments they tried on offense that simply didn’t pan out. Former offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien is back, along with new coaches, including offensive line coach Adrian Klemm. Belichick also spent some money on beefing up the talent around Jones, letting last season’s top producing …

Patriots 2023 mock draft: Bill Belichick’s path to getting Mac Jones more weapons
2 years, 1 month ago

Patriots 2023 mock draft: Bill Belichick’s path to getting Mac Jones more weapons

New York Times  

The Patriots depart for the NFL Scouting Combine in a week, and while they’re not one of the teams that typically makes news in Indianapolis — since Bill Belichick is the only head coach who doesn’t speak publicly there — it’s still a busy time. This time, we place more of a focus on wide receivers, taking two with the …

Patriots 2023 mock draft 1.0: How early should they address wide receiver?
2 years, 1 month ago

Patriots 2023 mock draft 1.0: How early should they address wide receiver?

New York Times  

The Patriots head to Las Vegas this week to kick off their preparations for the 2023 NFL Draft. For the first time under Bill Belichick, the Patriots will supply the coaching staff for one of college football’s postseason all-star games, the Shrine Bowl, which serves as an early showcase for draft-eligible players. GO DEEPER How I'd fix the Patriots: An …

Adding to offense tops Pats’ priorities entering free agency
4 years ago

Adding to offense tops Pats’ priorities entering free agency

Associated Press  

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: RB James White, C David Andrews, LG Joe Thuney, RB Rex Burkhead, QB Brian Hoyer, WR Damiere Byrd, K Nick Folk, DL Lawrence Guy, CB Jason McCourty, DT Adam Butler, CB Justin Bethel, FS Terrence Brooks, LB Shilique Calhoun, LB Brandon Copeland, LB John Simon, DT Carl Davis, FS Cody Davis, OL Jermaine Eluemunor, …

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