Patriots rebuild finally headed in right direction

The New England Patriots have been in a state of limbo since the departure of Tom Brady. Heading into the 2024 season, the organization is finally heading in the right direction.

When Brady left, New England had a decision to make. Would it rebuild or try to win without the legendary quarterback? With Bill Belichick still at the helm, the Patriots decided to try and win but suffered in mediocrity. 

Following Brady's departure prior to the 2020 regular season, New England boasts a 29-38 record. The Patriots have failed to make the postseason in two straight years and have yet to advance out of the wild-card round.

But this offseason has seen the Patriots completely change direction. Belichick will not be returning to the sidelines and New England drafted its quarterback of the future -- Drake Maye -- with the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

With Belichick at the helm, New England would have never suffered through a rebuild. The legendary head coach was closing in on Don Shula's all-time wins record and it is hard to imagine Belichick tanking or dealing with the growing pains of yet another rookie quarterback.

Hiring Jerod Mayo was a smart choice. It brings new but familiar life to the Patriots locker room. While Mayo is far from the grumpy, hard-nosed coach that Belichick was, he is familiar with the "Patriot Way" and knows what it takes to win a championship.

The selection of Maye is also a crucial step for New England. After the failure of Mac Jones, the Patriots could have done what they always seem to do in the draft...trade back. 

But in a clear statement of change, Mayo got a potential franchise quarterback. While Maye is far from a finished product, he was one of the best quarterbacks in college football. The North Carolina Tar Heel threw for 3,608 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2023 after posting 4,321 yards and 38 touchdowns in 2022. 

Similar to Maye, the Patriots are far from a finished product. The offense will need to show a stark improvement compared to 2023. New England was ranked 28th in passing yards and 26th in rushing yards. The Pats have re-signed Rhamondre Stevenson and will be hoping that Ja'Lynn Polk can be the No. 1 receiver that New England has desperately needed.

So the Patriots are finally headed in the right direction. While they are far from being the championship contenders they once were, they are taking the correct steps to return to glory.