The New England Patriots made quarterback Drake Maye the third general choose of the 2024 NFL Draft earlier than the membership landed broad receiver Ja’Lynn Polk within the second spherical and wideout Javon Baker within the fourth spherical. Of the three of them, Maye seemingly is the one one who’s at present assured a long-term spot on the roster underneath new head coach Mike Vrabel.
Throughout a current look on the “Inexperienced Mild with Chris Lengthy” podcast, Maye defined how he’s “actually taking it upon myself” to assist Polk and Baker enhance this offseason.
“The fellows got here up with me,” Maye mentioned, as shared by Chris Mason of MassLive. “They’re receivers, and quarterback-receivers, it’s my job to get them the soccer. But in addition, I feel it’s their job, they usually know, to get their stuff collectively. Get to lifting laborious, and operating laborious and training laborious. There’s a special method to apply within the NFL. It takes one thing off your physique, however you’re nonetheless anticipated to be full velocity, anticipated to be in the correct spot, anticipated to line up proper.”
Polk and Baker have been each anticipated to be important contributors as rookies for a Patriots staff in the midst of a roster rebuild. Nonetheless, Polk recorded simply 12 receptions for 87 yards and two touchdowns over 15 video games. In the meantime, Baker completed the marketing campaign with one catch for 12 yards throughout 11 contests.
Maye caught up for his teammates and famous that they “have been feeling it out” as rookies underneath earlier head coach Jerod Mayo.
“They each battled some accidents,” Maye added. “Hopefully anticipating one in every of them — if not each — to make a splash this 12 months.”
It stays to be seen if Vrabel and new offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels will let both Polk or Baker make a lot of a splash come September. The Patriots are already being linked with big-name offensive weapons resembling Deebo Samuel of the San Francisco 49ers. Mark Daniels of MassLive named a handful of to-be free brokers who might take targets away from each Polk and Baker later this 12 months.
Neither Vrabel nor McDaniels has direct ties to the younger New England offensive gamers who flopped this previous season. In brief, Polk and Baker might each realistically be on the chopping block this summer time in the event that they disappoint throughout upcoming exercises.
