The New England Patriots had one of the more disappointing NFL drafts in recent memory, but it would be over to top to say it was a complete disaster.
They found their quarterback of the future in Drake Maye with the No. 3 overall pick. Finding the right quarterback is the hardest objective for any franchise, and the Patriots knocked that decision out of the park.
Granted, it wasn’t a tough decision considering Maye fell to them on the board after Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels were already taken. But it’s always better to be lucky than not, and the Patriots had a little luck on their side in landing Maye.
The jury is still out on the rookie wide receivers, Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker. Both had shockingly disappointing seasons. However, with a new coaching staff, perhaps they can finally figure things out in 2025. The same could be said for rookie offensive tackle Caedan Wallace, who was banged up for most of the season.
There were a few potential diamonds in the rough that ended up in New England through the draft and free agent rookie class, including backup quarterback Joe Milton III, guard Layden Robinson and safety Dell Pettus.
Let’s take a look at how Pro Football Focus graded every Patriots rookie after the 2024 season.