Images courtesy of the New England Patriots

It is hard to believe but Patriots rookies reported for training camp today. The spotlight will be mostly on quarterback Drake Maye however, the class as a whole will be under scrutiny as the Patriots look to turn things around under first year coach Jerod Mayo.

The Patriots only drafted one defensive player, cornerback Marcellas Dial out of South Carolina in the sixth round. They also signed cornerback Kaleb Ford-Demont, linebacker Jontrey Hunter, defensive end John Morgan, safety Dell Pettus and cornerback Mikey Victor. The primary focus in the draft however was the offense. 

The offense will be the focal point in training camp as the Patriots try to turn things around on that side of the ball after an abysmal showing the past two seasons under Matt Patricia and Bill O’Brien. New offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt is bringing in his version of the west coast offense and the hope is the change in systems jump starts a stagnant offense. 

All eyes of course will be on Maye as they should. The 6-4 230 signal caller from North Carolina has all the tools to be a franchise quarterback. Maye’s impact however may not be felt until the end of this season or 2025. 

Wide receivers Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker on the other hand are expected to make an immediate impact. The two rookie receivers would give the Patriots offense the big play element they lack both in the slot and on the outside. 

Offensive tackle Caedan Wallace and guard Layden Robinson are both expected to contribute this season and start if possible. Wallace could start at either right or left tackle while Robinson could find himself starting at left guard for the injured Cole Strange.

Rookies have to play in the NFL. This isn’t baseball. They don’t get three to four years to develop. The expectation is that this class will play early and contribute early.

We normally do not talk about rookies reporting first but with a new head coach and the high expectations on this class, today is a big day. It is the start of a new era in Patriots football.

All of the fresh faces that arrived today in Foxboro represent hope for a franchise looking to get back to its rightful place as a Super Bowl contender.