After finishing the 2023 season with a 3-14 record, it was clear the Patriots needed to make big changes during the offseason to reset the franchise and get it back on track. The first step was to find their next franchise quarterback, as Mac Jones had proven beyond any doubt he was not the right guy for the job. Fortunately, New England held the third overall selection in the draft.
Rumors suggested they were focused on two prospects with their pick: LSU's Jayden Daniels and UNC's Drake Maye. Depending on the week, one was considered the better player which also shifted who was favored to land in New England.
Given that the Washington Commanders were also in the market for a new quarterback and picked one spot ahead of the Patriots, whatever quarterback they didn't choose would become the new face of the Patriots.
Ultimately, Maye became the newest Patriot and competed with Jacoby Brissett for the starting role. Although the veteran was named the Week 1 starter, the rookie impressed throughout the offseason and looked like the Patriots made the right choice. Eventually, that became even clearer once he was named the starter in Week 6, and since then, he has shown Robert Kraft the significant changes that need to be made now and in the next offseason.
Robert Kraft can no longer avoid imposing dramatic offensive roster changes to help Drake Maye
Despite winning just one game over the last four weeks, Maye has drastically improved the offense's performance, and the team rallied behind him immediately. He brought a spark to the group after a lackluster first month, involving more players to move the ball down the field, and that has shown he is the quarterback of the future.
That's a huge sigh of relief for Kraft after the mess the team has been since Tom Brady left after the 2019 season. The struggle to find an adequate replacement took longer than expected or desired, but Maye fits the bill.
The rookie demonstrated those traits even more against the Titans on Sunday. He put the team on his back to score a last-second touchdown in regulation to force overtime, a play that solidified his role as the guy in New England. Although they ultimately lost, Maye's efforts didn't go unnoticed, and that's where Kraft might need to step in for the sake of the franchise.
Part of the reason Brissett struggled through the first five games was the lack of a dependable offensive line, an inconsistent receiving corps, and questionable play-calling. While offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt's job might not be an easy fix, especially mid-season, the roster can be improved ahead of the trade deadline on Tuesday, whether it be by acquiring talent immediately or stocking draft picks for the future.
It's in Maye's best interest to do what they can to make that happen, preferably sooner rather than later, even if they won't be competing for a playoff push.
The most evident aspect of the game that is holding Maye back from fully thriving is a solid team around him. If he had that, the Patriots could be dealing with a much better season than a 2-7 record. That's why it might mean Kraft needs to give a little push to those calling the shots in the front office, because why would he want to see the team fail much longer?