Vince Wilfork has surprising take about the Patriots 2024 season

Since Tom Brady left the Patriots in 2020, the team has not been very successful and was predicted to fall off the pedestal it had sat upon for the last two decades. There was a belief they would remain afloat under Bill Belichick's guidance, and although they did at first, the team saw its worst season under the legendary head coach in 2023, prompting his firing and a complete overhaul within the organization.

With so many changes made this offseason, from Jerod Mayo being named a first time head coach to the trade of Mac Jones to draft Drake Maye and more, the expectations for the Patriots during the 2024 season are as low as they have ever been.

The longtime rulers of the AFC East and, frankly, the entire NFL have fallen from grace and are nearly starting over from scratch. This has led many to believe they will be one of the very worst teams this fall, only better than the more messy franchise in the NFC South, the Carolina Panthers.

But not everyone feels that way, at least those not in the NFL media, as Vince Wilfork believes the Patriots will surprise people this year under the watchful eye of Jerod Mayo.

Vince Wilfork believes the Patriots will be much better than predicted

Although Wilfork is not the first former Patriot to express his belief in the team this year, especially with Mayo taking over, he is the latest player to share his support and optimism for the season ahead.

He spoke about how he thinks the Patriots will fare in 2024 during his sit-down with Musket Fire last month, citing their fresh start and new vibe, with players buying into what Mayo is trying to establish as the basis for their success this season.

"I think we're going to shock a lot of people this year; even though we're going through a rebuilding stage, I still don't think it'll be like they're going to go 0-18. That's not going to happen. You're going to see a different ball club. You're going to see a young club. It's going to look different, but you're going to see little promises here and there. And it's just, you have to build.

So, we have to have the patience, you know, and sometimes we'd run out of patience. And it's like you own a two or three year deal. You know, if you don't get it done, you've got to find somebody else that will. This isn't college. It's the teams that are successful; they stay in it for the long term and those teams you see have been successful in having winning records time and time again.

So, I think it's just a starting point. And I think the organization knows that. And I think they know that Jerod is the right guy. So we just got to have the patience and let it all unfold. And hopefully everything will work out how we all see it. "

With his prediction, Wilfork also acknowledges the rebuilding process the Patriots are going through and the need for patience as they hope to become a competitive team again. Because he worked alongside Mayo throughout his career, it's fair to say that the Patriots legend knows exactly what type of coach he will be and how the team will respond accordingly.

It seems to be a common belief among former Patriots who are happy to see Mayo be given the opportunity to lead the team, so there has to be some truth behind their optimism.

Hopefully, he's right, and the Patriots do prove the doubters wrong. But Wilfork is also right in tempering our expectations, as they are undergoing many changes that will inevitably impact their success. Getting back to winning is a process that doesn't happen overnight, so patience is key in supporting their efforts, especially with a new head coach, inexperienced staff, and rookie quarterback in the helm.

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