The Patriots' mandatory minicamp got underway this week, giving fans and media their first look at New England's offense since its disappointing performance in the Super Bowl loss to Seattle.
While many familiar faces are back in Foxborough, there are also plenty of new additions, including wide receivers Romeo Doubs and A.J. Brown, as well as rookie tackle Caleb Lomu.
The Patriots' offense took a major step forward last season with Josh McDaniels back calling the shots. Now, with more talent surrounding Drake Maye, the offense looks like it could be even better this year.
Jones & Keefe reacted to a set of 2026 projections for Drake Maye and A.J. Brown that surprisingly had Maye taking a step back statistically from his breakout 2025 campaign.
2025 Regular Season Stats:
Drake Maye: 72.0% completion percentage, 4,394 passing yards, 31 touchdowns, 8 interceptions
A.J. Brown: 78 receptions, 1,003 receiving yards, 7 touchdowns
Now teammates, what should expectations be for Maye and Brown in 2026? pic.twitter.com/FboirrXjpw
— Jones & Keefe (@JonesandKeefe) June 8, 2026
Maye was one of the NFL's biggest stars last season, completing a league-high 72.0% of his passes for 4,394 yards, 31 touchdowns, and just eight interceptions while finishing as the runner-up for league MVP.
Repeating a 72% completion rate will be a challenge, but there's a strong case that the rest of Maye's numbers could actually improve in 2026.
He'll be entering his second season in McDaniels' system, giving him something he has yet to experience in his young NFL career: continuity. With another year of development and an upgraded supporting cast around him, expectations for both Maye and the Patriots offense should be even higher this season.
Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson return as New England's dynamic one-two punch in the backfield. Their contrasting skill sets complement each other well, and both could play an even larger role in the offense in 2026.
Despite sharing carries, Henderson finished second among rookie running backs in rushing yards last season and consistently showcased his game-breaking speed, scoring three touchdowns of 55 yards or more.
After some early-season ball security issues, Stevenson corrected those mistakes and re-established himself as a dependable presence in the backfield throughout the remainder of the season and into the playoffs. If Stevenson continues to take care of the football and Henderson builds on his impressive rookie campaign, the Patriots could lean even more heavily on their ground game in 2026, potentially leading to career-best production from both backs.
The offensive line was one of the Patriots' biggest weaknesses last season, particularly during their playoff run. Determined to address those issues, New England invested heavily in the trenches by using a first-round pick on Lomu, signing veteran guard Alijah Vera-Tucker in free agency, and moving Jared Wilson back to his natural position at center.
Lomu may face a challenge cracking the starting lineup immediately, with Will Campbell and Morgan Moses returning as the team's projected starters at tackle. Even so, he gives the Patriots something they lacked a year ago: quality depth along the offensive line.
Furthermore, if Campbell's postseason struggles carry over into 2026, New England will have a highly talented young option ready to step in. Regardless of when he sees the field, Lomu's presence should strengthen an offensive line that needed reinforcements heading into the season.
The Patriots chose not to re-sign Stefon Diggs despite a productive lone season in New England, where he hauled in 85 receptions for 1,013 yards. To replace that production and further bolster the offense, the Patriots made a splash by trading for a three-time Pro Bowler in Brown and signing another veteran receiver in free agency in Doubs.
Brown instantly becomes the most talented pass-catcher Maye has played with at any level, both college and the NFL. One of the league's premier receivers, Brown has eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards in six of his seven NFL seasons and fell short only once after being limited to 13 games. His combination of size, strength, and playmaking ability should allow him to not only replace Diggs' production but also surpass it, especially in the touchdown department after Diggs found the end zone just four times last season.
Doubs arrives from Green Bay, where he spent much of his career competing for targets in one of the NFL's deepest receiving rooms. While that limited his overall numbers, he consistently proved reliable and efficient when given opportunities.
The Patriots also return several key contributors, including Kyle Williams, Mack Hollins, DeMario "Pop" Douglas, and Kayshon Boutte. It's a versatile group that offers a variety of skill sets and ways to attack opposing defenses. Add in tight end Hunter Henry, who posted a career-high receiving yardage total during his first full season catching passes from Maye, and New England suddenly boasts one of its deepest collections of pass-catchers in years.
Across the board, New England's offense looks to have improved from a season ago, and with another year in McDaniels' system, the Patriots could be talked about as one of the league's very best by the end of the 2026 season.
