Drake Maye is the future of the New England offense and franchise as a whole.
As such, everything the No. 3 overall pick in the No. (no it’s not Mac!) 10 jersey does at May OTA workouts is worth noting. From footwork drills to no-look passing thrills, Maye’s every move is a story or at least a post on X. (I'm not writing that it was formerly known as Twitter, everyone should know that by now!)
And by extension there is and will be plenty of attention paid to the young targets that Maye is targeting in what used to be known as passing camp. Tyquan Thornton looks good in shorts once again! Javon Baker is already a springtime playmaker!
But the real true star attraction of OTAs this May and the Patriots’ new-look offense under first-year offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt isn’t a quarterback, young or old. It’s not a wide receiver, either.
Nope the tangible, here-and-now star on display these practice days at Gillette Stadium is fourth-year running back Rhamondre Stevenson.
Because on an offense littered with questions about both personnel and potential across plenty of positions – Stevenson is quite clearly going to be at the center of everything AVP is looking to do with the Patriots this coming fall.
OTAs, at least the two viewed by the media over the last two weeks, have featured a lot of Stevenson runs. And there’s been plenty of passes to the versatile back as well.
Who will the starting QB be for New England for 17 games? No idea.
Which converted right tackle will theoretically and hopefully hold down the left tackle spot? Maybe Chukwuma Okorafor? (Read in your best “I’m Ron Burgundy?” voice.)
Is DeMario Douglas ready for a healthy, breakout volume season in the slot? Year-2-Jump fingers crossed.
Will other receivers, maybe even the rookies, step up? Watch, hope and learn.
But the one thing that is quite certain on the New England offense littered with uncertainty is that if Stevenson stays healthy he’s going to get a lot of touches. A lot of chances to make plays.
And, by extension, the opportunity to make himself whatever is considered a lot of money on the running back market these days as he plays out this current contract season.
Two years ago Stevenson led the New England rushing attack with more than 1,000 yards and a 5-yard average. He also paced the aerial game with 69 receptions.
But last fall his production and health took a dip. He got off to a slow start and finished the season banged up, playing a total of 12 games. Along the way he picked up 619 yards as his average dropped to an even 4 yards per carry. He caught 38 passes and watched as veteran backfield pal Ezekiel Elliott actually became the centerpiece of the otherwise pretty punchless offense down the stretch.
Now, though, Stevenson wants to take back the lead back role and AVP wants to give him that job. Frankly, there really isn’t any other option. Antonio Gibson was brought in to provide depth and a pair of extra hands in the passing game, but his ball security issues are less than ideal.
Kevin Harris has done little over two-plus seasons other than fill out mesh shorts with some of the biggest thighs you’ll see on a back.
Stevenson is the top dog at running back. He’s the clear centerpiece of the offense with the potential to get back to big numbers on the ground and through the air. That has the potential to earn him a relatively big paycheck at some point on the relatively depressed running back market, even if he and the team have not yet been able to hammer out an extension like other young core players in New England such as Kyle Dugger, Mike Onwenu and Christian Barmore have done.
Maye very well may give the Patriots a bright future, but if New England is going to have a productive present on offense in 2024 it’s almost certainly going to come on the back of Stevenson.
Looking for a future star at OTAs in Foxborough?
Then Maye just may be your guy this May.
Looking for a present would-be star on a New England offense that doesn’t have many if any of those?
Rhamondre Stevenson is reporting for duty.