Patriots rookies' bold declaration for the 2024 season might fall flat

The Patriots are entering uncharted territory this season under the watchful eye of new head coach Jerod Mayo and an entirely new coaching staff and front office. It is the first time since 2000 that we will see the sideline without Bill Belichick, which makes the team's rebuild even more fascinating for New England fans and foes.

Another aspect that makes the 2024 season more noteworthy is the roster being led by several rookies, which will ultimately be put over the top if Drake Maye wins the starting job at quarterback after Sunday's preseason finale.

No matter who is under center, they will potentially have two rookie receivers to throw to, two rookie offensive linemen protecting him, and a rookie tight end to utilize. It's a completely redone offense under new offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, who brings a style we haven't seen before in Foxboro.

Besides the pressure on the new regime to make the team competitive again and deliver on their vision, the rookies will also shoulder some of it to prove why they were drafted and why Eliot Wolf and Co. believed they were the right players for their offensive vision.

The draft class has mostly backed up the hype, and according to Bell, they want to bring even more to the table during the 2024 season.

Patriots rookies hope to be the best draft class the team has ever had

While speaking to reporters last week, Bell shared that the 2024 draft class had a meeting earlier in the year to discuss their goals as a group. Given how crucial their development and performance will likely dictate how the Patriots fare this season, it's incredible to hear they recognized their importance from the get-go.

He briefly shared what they discussed and revealed their goal for the upcoming season and beyond.

"We want to be the best group they’ve ever had and that’s what we’re trying to do."

It's a tall task for such young players, and although it might not come to fruition, the group appears to have all the right tools to accomplish it if they work hard enough.

It would be the best possible way for the Jerod Mayo era in New England to start to hit on nearly every draft pick in the first no-Belichick draft, even more so since the legendary head coach struggled to find quality players in the latter of his Patriots tenure.

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