An underwhelming 2024 draft class, besides the exciting addition of quarterback Drake Maye, limited optimism about the Patriots' first season of the post-Bill Belichick era. It didn't help that the rookies weren't looking too good during training camp and the preseason, especially receivers Javon Baker and Ja'Lynn Polk, the two offensive weapons the offense desperately needed.
Things only worsened during the regular season when not much improved, leaving initial starter Jacoby Brissett and eventually Maye to struggle with those in the receiving corps. They were essentially down two options for different reasons: Polk struggled to hold onto the football, and Baker was not given many opportunities to show what he could do on game day.
The hope is that with a new head coach, an established starting quarterback, and the return of a top-tier offensive coordinator, the sophomore receivers will have a big second-year jump, displaying exactly why they were drafted in the first place.
From all accounts, things look that way for Baker and Polk, even if Maye's latest assessment sounds just shy of promising.
Drake Maye provides an update on how Javon Baker and Ja'Lynn Polk are faring under the new Patriots regime
While speaking to the media recently, Maye responded to questions about his fellow 2024 classmen and their development this offseason.
He acknowledged the struggles they had during their rookie season but provided some optimism about their immediate futures, claiming they appear to be on a better path this time around than one year ago.
“I think they’re ahead of where they were when we were in the first couple weeks last year, learning the new offense. They kind of have caught the stride of, ‘Hey, I got to be on my stuff, be in the right spot, know what to do.’”
While it's good to hear they're seemingly doing better than they were last offseason under Jerod Mayo, it's also not entirely unexpected given who they're working with this year. Maye's comments also don't necessarily excite fans in the way some would hope for with Baker and Polk going into their second seasons, but there's a good chance they will improve and can be far more integrated into this upcoming season's offense.
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That's the ultimate goal, and it's hard to argue that they're not working with the right people to lead them that way. Josh McDaniels is an offensive guru and has consistently brought out the best in the receivers he's worked with. There's no reason that can't be true for Baker and Polk.
Time will ultimately tell, and there's no need to be discouraged entirely about their potential, even if Maye's update isn't the most encouraging. However, what they do on the practice field and during the preseason will be the ultimate determinant of their fate, so we'll have to wait and see.