When it comes to the class of rookies who took to the field for the Patriots last season, underwhelming—outside of quarterback Drake Maye—is the perfect adjective to describe it.
New England undoubtedly hit a home run in selecting Maye with the third overall pick in last year's draft. The Patriots couldn't afford to swing and miss, and it's clear they found their franchise quarterback.
But at times, the group project that was this draft class was headlined by Maye doing all the work and the other guys passing notes to their girlfriends. With a dismal 2024 season in the rearview mirror, it's time to give these guys their final grades.
Re-grading the New England Patriots' 2024 Draft Class
1. QB Drake Maye - A
It's pretty simple. Maye is a Ferrari, and the rest of the offense resembled a 1999 Toyota Corolla. Playing behind a revolving door of an offensive line and throwing to arguably the worst receiving core in the NFL, Maye managed to throw for 2,276 yards and 15 touchdowns while rushing for 421 yards and two touchdowns.
Many pundits throughout the league have compared Maye to Josh Allen from a talent context, and Maye did all he could with God-awful talent around him. Let's see what he can do in 2025 with an upgraded offense.
2. WR Ja'Lynn Polk - D
The second-round pick out of Washington is headed towards the way of the likes of N'Keal Harry and Chad Jackson, having "produced" only 12 catches for 87 yards and two touchdowns. For reference, free-agent-to-be Tee Higgins considered a Patriots' target, had 11 catches for 131 yards and three touchdowns in a Week 17 Bengals' win over Denver. Yikes.
Polk had better hope the return of Josh McDaniels to lead New England's offense shifts him into another gear, or he could find his way out of town after 2025.
3. WR Javon Baker - D-
The guy who claimed he makes people in wheelchairs stand up did his fair share of sitting in 2024. Taken in the fourth round out of Central Florida, Baker had only one catch for 12 yards in his rookie campaign, and that came in Week 18 against Buffalo's practice squad.
Baker had 14 drops over his last two seasons at UCF, and he's another guy who could be on the outside looking in if the Patriots upgrade their wide receiver room.
4. T Caedan Wallace - C
Another guy who could perhaps find some more success with better coaching. Wallace played a lot of right tackle at Penn State and was part of New England's offensive line's inconsistency. I look to Wallace to trend a little upwards in his second year.
5.T Layden Robinson, C-
Robinson started in 11 games and played in 13 during his rookie campaign. He was highly regarded as a run blocker coming out of Texas A&M. It's hard to give any member of the offensive line any sort of high grades here. Still, Robinson is another guy who could reap the benefits of a new coaching regime in New England.
6. QB Joe Milton III, C
Milton showed out in his Week 18 performance against Buffalo that he's a very viable backup. While many echoes have him being a valuable trade piece, Milton is a guy worth keeping around for another year or two in case anything happens to Maye. He has a big arm and can run, and with McDaniels coming in, Milton could be a part of some offensive packages, especially in the red zone.
7. S Marcellas Dial - C-
The South Carolina product saw action in 12 games and recorded 12 tackles and a forced fumble. Dial had a strong training camp last summer and earned a roster spot, and he'll have to do the same next summer if he wants to stick around. If Dial does, he could be a solid depth piece at another position the Patriots could look to upgrade this offseason.
8. TE Jaheim Bell - D
Bell was buried in the depth chart behind Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper at times and was only targeted three times, recording two catches. If the Patriots don't re-sign Hooper, who will be a free agent, 2025 could be Bell's time to earn the second tight end spot, assuming the Patriots don't sign a free agent or draft anyone at that position.