Coaching changes can be stressful for any NFL player, but in the case of the Patriots' dismissal of Jerod Mayo after a dismal 4-13 2024 season, it could very well be a positive.
Mayo was clearly in over his head, and at times, it was evident he had lost the locker room. The aura of the Patriot Way was gone, and it was clear the team needed a reset with the hiring of Mike Vrabel.
Players have spoken highly of Vrabel and Josh McDaniels, who was brought in for his third stint as offensive coordinator. That's a good sign that the Patriots' high-quality players will excel under Vrabel's watch.
3 Patriots players who will likely benefit from Jerod Mayo's firing
1. QB Drake Maye.
No better place to start than the top. This is Maye's team, and it should be for the next generation as long as he stays healthy and continues to improve. The Patriots' offense was quite vanilla under the leadership of Mayo and Alex Van Pelt, and while it can be a hindrance for a quarterback to have two head coaches and offensive coordinators in his first two years, it won't be for Maye.
Vrabel and McDaniels will find ways to rebuild the offense around Maye and use Maye's skills to the Patriots' advantage. He's a big, strong athlete who has been compared to Josh Allen, and McDaniels' schemes will undoubtedly play into Maye's strengths as a quarterback.
Maye said all the right things about Mayo in his rookie season, but the coaching changes will undoubtedly help the Patriots' signal-caller in his second year.
2. WR Kayshon Boutte
Of all the Patriots' young wide receivers, Boutte showed the most promise last season. While that isn't saying a whole lot, given how much this group struggled, Boutte has the potential to be a solid deep threat in this league with proper coaching.
He'll certainly get that under Vrabel and McDaniels. Boutte was responsible for hauling in Maye's first NFL touchdown pass against Houston, and has that rare blend of physicality and speed.
Boutte finished his regular season with a seven-catch, 117-yard performance with a touchdown. While that was against Buffalo's backups, Boutte's skillset was certainly on display. With the combination of new coaches and the likelihood of the Patriots adding a veteran wide receiver this offseason, look for Boutte's game to shift a bit.
3. CB Christian Gonzalez
Given Vrabel's defensive-minded coaching style, someone from this unit had to be chosen, and Gonzalez is the obvious pick.
The third-year cornerback is a superstar in the making, with the 2024 campaign being his first entire season after Gonzalez missed most of his rookie season with an injury.
Gonzalez recorded two interceptions and 11 pass breakups last year as opposing offenses typically didn't throw his way, a sign that he's getting the respect as a lockdown cornerback.
Look for Gonzalez to have a breakout third year under Vrabel's watch, and for the back end of the Patriots' defense to follow suit.