The New England Patriots had their work cut out for them this offseason as change was knocking at the door. With the firing of six-time Super Bowl winning head coach Bill Belichick, the Patriots had to find a new identity fast.
New head coach Jerod Mayo knows that in order to keep the fans happy, he has to make a drastic turn around as soon as possible. Yet with having the third overall pick in the NFL draft that drastic turn around didn’t take too long at all. The Patriots selected University of North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye with the third overall pick; and for a lot of Patriots fans, this move brought hope back to the city of Boston.
New England Patriots Training Camp
Going into Patriots training camp, New England fans were excited to see their new signal caller. However, they knew that Maye getting the starting job would come with time. With the return of former Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett, this created a QB controversy. It also meant that Maye being the team’s QB1 wasn’t a guarantee.
Coach Jerod Mayo made it clear in a press conference that “all four quarterbacks have a chance to be the Week 1 starter”. However, he mentioned that the job would have to be earned. As the days started to stack up, it was getting clear that Maye meant business. It also meant that it would be a tough decision for coach Mayo to name a Week 1 starter.
With coach Mayo announcing that Brissett will be the Week 1 starting quarterback, this will give Maye the chance to sit and learn behind an experienced player. It will also give time for all the players around him to grow.
Preseason Stock Up
With the NFL allowing teams to carry 90 players throughout the preseason, this give the Patriots coaching staff the chance to evaluate a lot of talented players. However, some took advantage of this opportunity more than others.
Three players that took advantage of the preseason were:
Kayshon Boutte
After getting drafted in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL draft, second-year wideout Kayshon Boutte was on the verge of getting cut after a poor rookie season where he only recording two catches for 19 yards. This offseason, Kayshon showed what he could do being a big target in training camp. And, he was able to transfer that to the field throughout the preseason. Boutte finished the preseason recording six catches for 76 yards and made the Patriots’ 53-man roster.
Joe Milton III
Joe Milton III went into training camp with the ultimate chip on his shoulder. Like Boutte, Milton was also drafted in the sixth round (of the 2024 NFL draft), after the team took Maye with the third overall pick.
The Patriots decided to carry four quarterbacks on the roster throughout the preseason; and to start training camp, Milton was listed fourth on the depth chart.
It didn’t take long for Patriots fans to fall in love with the sixth round pick. Especially after seeing him show off is elite arm strength. Milton finished the preseason throwing for 152 yards and one touchdown, beating out Bailey Zappe for the QB3 job.
Dell Pettus
There is no guarantee on making a teams 53-man roster, so for (undrafted) safety Dell Pettus, he knew he had to really show off what he could do.
In his last year at Troy University, Pettus recorded a total of 74 tackles in 14 games. Pettus brought that same energy to the Patriots during the preseason. The UDFA flew around, recording 15 total tackles and making the 53-man roster as a UDFA.
