Kevin Szafraniec discusses whether the New England front office has done everything possible to put franchise quarterback Drake Maye in the best position to succeed or if the Patriots are hindering him from reaching his ceiling.
The Patriots franchise has been on a steady decline since Tom Brady left Foxboro for the sunny beaches of Tampa Bay. Bill Belichick hung around for four additional seasons, compiling a 29-34 record overall, including one winning season and one playoff berth. For a Patriots organization that was the gold standard in the NFL for a full two decades, it was inevitable that their reign had to come to an end at some point. But few would have expected the team’s success to end so abruptly, with Belichick leaving New England with one of the most talent-bereft rosters in the league at the time of his departure.
One parting gift Belichick did leave New England was the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, which the team used to select their quarterback of the future, Drake Maye. Unfortunately, Maye was thrown into the fire early as a rookie without the benefit of any legitimate playmakers to take pressure off him as he acclimated to the NFL game. Somewhat surprisingly, Maye held his own in Year 1, only falling below QB2 status in two of his 11 full games as a starter.
Heading into the 2025 offseason, New England had the most cap space in the league and a treasure trove of draft picks to build up the roster around Maye. While the team was able to address some of their weaknesses, it is questionable whether they have done enough to maximize Maye’s development during this crucial window of his career. As Maye and the Patriots’ offense head into 2025 with a new coaching staff and a revamped roster, will the young signal caller be able to take a step forward this season, or will further upgrades to the supporting cast be necessary before Maye can deliver on his potential?
AFC North
- Baltimore Ravens: There Is No End in Sight for Lamar Jackson’s Fantasy Domination
- Cleveland Browns: There Are Gems to Be Found on Kevin Stefanski’s Offense If You Know Where to Look
- Cincinnati Bengals: Poor Real-Life Roster Construction Creates Elite Fantasy Pathways for the Bengals’ Stars
AFC South
- Houston Texans: Why New Weapons and a New Scheme Will Lead to a C.J. Stroud Bounceback
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 2025 Represents Trevor Lawrence’s Best Chance Yet to Reach His Ceiling
- Tennessee Titans: Will an Abundance of Garbage Time Result in Tennessee’s Late-Round Skill-Position Players Returning Big-Time Fantasy Value?
AFC East
- Miami Dolphins: Whose Fantasy Arrows Are Pointing Up on a Miami Offense Heading in the Opposite Direction?
- New York Jets: A Shift in Offensive Philosophy Could Result in Breece Hall and Isaiah Davis Forming the Best Backfield in the AFC
AFC West
- Denver Broncos: Bo Nix Is About to Join the Ranks of the NFL’s Elite QBs
- Los Angeles Chargers: Has Justin Herbert Forced Greg Roman to Rethink His Offensive Approach?
- Las Vegas Raiders: Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty Could Emerge to Become the Top Player at Their Position
NFC North
- Minnesota Vikings: J.J. McCarthy Finds Himself in the Middle of the Perfect Storm for Fantasy Production
- Green Bay Packers: Why the NFL’s Most Complete Roster is Finally About to Get the Attention It Deserves
- Detroit Lions: Amon-Ra St. Brown’s Discounted ADP Has Him Poised to be 2025’s Most Undervalued Superstar
NFC South
- Atlanta Falcons: Which Players Are Primed to Help Take the Atlanta Offense to the Next Level?
- Carolina Panthers: Bryce Young Is Finally Ready to Deliver on His College Potential
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Despite Yet Another New Offensive Coordinator, Baker Mayfield and Bucky Irving are Still Set Up to Deliver in 2025
NFC East
- Philadelphia Eagles: Why Small Changes Could Lead to Even Bigger Fantasy Scoring in 2025
- Dallas Cowboys: A New Offensive Direction Is Exactly What Dak Prescott Needs to Get Back on Track
NFC West
- San Francisco 49ers: Make Sure You Are Rostering the Next Wave of Stars in Kyle Shanahan’s Offense
- Arizona Cardinals: Why Kyler Murray Will Overcome His Doubters and Return to His Elite Ways
- Los Angeles Rams: History Is Getting Ready to Repeat Itself in L.A. as Puka Nacua Eyes 2025’s Overall WR1 Spot
Matching the G.O.A.T. Was Not Enough to Save Jerod Mayo’s Job
The Jerod Mayo era in New England was short-lived after he matched Belichick’s final season in Foxboro with a 4-13 record. A three-point increase per game on offense was matched by the defense surrendering three more points than the year prior. However, it is fair to question how high Mayo’s chances for success were considering he inherited a roster that featured few difference makers on either side of the ball.
