The Patriots' 2024 draft was a mixed bag. They made a brilliant pick by brushing off suggestions of trading down and taking Drake Maye with the third pick overall. That was a home run pick. After Maye, nothing much worked out for that draft, and the post-Maye draft grade was a D+ at best.
The second and fourth-round receivers, Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, caught 13 passes between them. Not exactly an abundance of receptions there. The two offensive linemen, Caedan Wallace in the third round and Layden Robinson in the fourth, also did little of note.
One 2024 player drafted at a little-addressed position by the Patriots recently was tight end/H-back Jaheim Bell. It was thought that Bell might work his way into the rotation and be a nice complement to more in-line tight ends, Hunter Henry, and Austin Hooper. He wasn't. He caught two passes. Yet, Jordy McElroy of Patriots Wire thinks 2025 could be a breakout year for Bell. Let's take a look.
Analyst thinks Jaheim Bell could be a Patriots' asset in 2025
Bell's addition was well-received by the Patriot Nation in 2024. The tight end room was aging with Henry and Hooper at or approaching 30. Adding a young presence made lots of sense even in the seventh round. Hopes were high.
Unfortunately, those hopes were dashed as Bell hardly made a dent. He snagged only two passes for 20 yards total all season. Like the two wide receivers mentioned, their contributions to the Patriots' offense were about nil. They flopped, as did Eliot Wolf's expectations of adding productive additions to the offense. The offense, absent Drake Maye and Pop Douglas, was atrocious.
McElroy said this about Bell's possible emergence as a breakout candidate in 2025,
"It was only last November that veteran tight end Hunter Henry referred to Jaheim Bell as a 'tremendous talent.' Bell is a versatile offensive weapon that has yet to get going in New England. He was viewed as a potential sleeper in the 2024 NFL draft, and people are still sleeping on his talent.
Granted, he needs to give them a reason to wake up, and the Patriots could help him do that by getting him more involved. He'll have some tough competition at training camp with former Alabamatight end CJ Dippre entering the mix."
He's right, Bell "has yet to get going" in Foxborough, and that's a bit of an understatement. Lots of blame will go to the coaching staff and everything else about why a pass-catcher hasn't made the grade. But when it comes down to it, you must get open and catch the ball when thrown your way.
Jaheim Bell will face strong competition in the preseason
McElroy's point about Bell facing intense competition from Alabama's CJ Dippre was spot on. The good news is that Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels likes to involve tight ends all over the offense. A pass-catcher like Bell will surely get a good look to see if he can contribute in the passing game.
Problematic for Bell, however, is that both Henry and Hooper can catch the ball and block some. Conversely, Dippre is a big inline blocking tight end, something Bell is not. That gives the former Alabama player a dimension that can be of great value to help provide passing time to Drake Maye and open up running lanes for fellow rookie home-run-hitting running back, TreVeyon Henderson.
The jury is out on whether Bell will make the second-year leap and contribute in 2025, or maybe not even make the roster. McElroy names Dippre as stiff competition. He will be. Also in his favor is that he's one of Vrabel's signings, not connected to the old regime. There's nothing like solid competition to bring out the best in a player. We'll see who'll grab that third tight end role by September.