Tis the season of making a list and checking it twice. There are two clear takeaways from the first 13 weeks of this Patriots season: Drake Maye is pretty awesome, and he needs a lot more help around him to find wins next season. Let’s take advantage of the bye week and look at five positions on which New England should focus on improving once this season wraps.
1. Left tackle
Why you need one: New England entered 2024 bizarrely unstable at left tackle. Elliot Wolf had high hopes for Chukwuma Okorafor last offseason and he only lasted a dozen snaps. Vederian Lowe has been okay at times, but has struggled in both availability and consistency at the prime position. Maye needs the protection; the Patriots need to get serious about the importance of this role.
How you get one: The Patriots are likely to hold a top-five draft pick in April and this is where they should use it. New England is lucky to be in a position to grab the best tackle in the draft – whether that’s Kelvin Banks Jr. from Texas or Will Campbell from LSU.
The others teams ahead of them are starving for quarterbacks. The Patriots are just looking to help theirs.
2. X receiver
Why you need one: It’s hard to make use of Drake Maye’s big arm without a serious vertical threat. The Patriots have tried to find versions of tall, deep threat in the draft (N’Keal Harry, Javon Baker) and free agency (Devante Parker). They need a game-buster to unlock Maye’s full potential.
How you get one: The Patriots have to open the wallet here. For years, they’ve had a room full of complementary guys at best. Playmakers were re-signed and snatched up quickly last offseason. If the Patriots can attract the likes of 2025 free agents Amari Cooper or Chris Godwin, they should make a big play for them, (assuming Godwin recovers from an October injury).
3. Right tackle
Why you need one: Let’s be blunt.
The Patriots’ offensive line has been a mess since Training Camp. Wolf thought paying Mike Onwenu might turn him into a right tackle. He was, sadly, incorrect. Now it’s time to get serious about putting together a line that can last more than back-to-back weeks together. With Onwenu and Strange at guard and David Andrews hopefully back at center, the rights side becomes your next need.
How you get one: Unless the Patriots are willing to dangle a $13 million-plus carrot for 30-year-old Joseph Noteboom, they’ll either have to settle for a younger, less proven tackle in free agency or find this piece in the draft. Considering how steep the on-ramp from college to the NFL has proven for offensive linemen as of late, they may be better off with a free agent.
4. Edge/linebacker
Why you need one: The Patriots’ defense has taken a major step back in 2024, and a big reason for the regression is their inability to generate pressure on quarterbacks who don’t play for the Chicago Bears. It may seem counterintuitive to suggest a defensive player would support Drake Maye, but the defense has to improve talent in this area to give Maye a chance to win games (look to the Bengals defense and Joe Burrow for a cautionary tale).
How you get one: Draft. It’s early, but some experts predict the 2025 class of linebackers will be stronger than 2024, with opportunity to find high-end talent in the middle rounds. Pro Football Focus boasts the “edge defender group is as deep as we’ve seen in several years, dominating the projected top 50.”
5. Running back
Why you need one: It’s difficult to justify running back as a priority for a team with as many holes as the Patriots have on their roster. Hear me out. Rhamondre Stevenson’s success is clearly tied to the competency of the offensive line, but there have been too many games where Drake Maye’s rushing stats compete with his as the bell cow. Maye could benefit from a shored up ground game as teams get more tape on him in his sophomore season.
How you get one: Draft and/or free agency. A number of under-30 quarterbacks could be available in free agency, including Najee Harris and Aaron Jones. The Patriots shouldn’t ignore the success of the likes of Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry, and both star backs were getable free agents last offseason.