After parting ways with six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach Bill Belichick earlier this offseason, the New England Patriots will spend the 2024 season laying the groundwork for their future.
The on-field results might not be pretty, considering New England has the lowest projected win total in the NFL (4.5), according to FanDuel Sportsbook. Even so, the Patriots can still take measures to improve their long-term outlook this season.
Here are the franchise’s most valuable people for 2024.
5. Cornerback Christian Gonzalez
Gonzalez, the 17th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, has only played in four career games, but he’s arguably the top defensive player in New England’s young core.
The Oregon product shined when healthy last season, covering a number of star wideouts, including A.J. Brown, Tyreek Hill, Garrett Wilson and CeeDee Lamb, helping him earn NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month honors for September. Across 209 snaps before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury, Gonzalez made 17 tackles, one sack, three pass breakups and one interception while allowing just 157 yards and no touchdowns in coverage.
Despite the small sample size, Gonzalez’s peers have taken notice of his talent. During a recent interview with ESPN’s Mike Reiss, former Patriots CB Stephon Gilmore said he sees “a lot of myself in” Gonzalez. Even though he probably won’t end up winning a Defensive Player of the Year Award as Gilmore did, Gonzalez is well-positioned to be an elite NFL cornerback for years to come.
4. Safety Jabrill Peppers
With star edge-rusher Matthew Judon having been traded to the Atlanta Falcons, Peppers, a former first-round pick, finds himself as the new leader of New England’s defense. Peppers has been one of the most underrated safeties in the NFL for some time and is coming off a stellar 2023 season that helped him secure a three-year, $24 million extension in July.
Last season, Peppers racked up 78 tackles, five for loss, one sack, eight pass breakups and a team-leading two interceptions. According to Pro Football Focus, Peppers was the second-highest-graded run defender among NFL safeties and led all players at his position in forced incompletions in man coverage (five) and passer rating allowed from the slot (42.3).
Aside from the solid production he provides, Peppers brings plenty of passion and intensity to New England, which will undoubtedly help the team as it attempts to establish a new identity.
3. Head coach Jerod Mayo
A first-round pick by New England in 2008, the former All-Pro linebacker has taken over for Belichick as the team’s head coach after spending the past five seasons as an assistant. While it’s unlikely Mayo will be able to fill his legendary predecessor’s shoes, the 38-year-old has made some much-needed strides to change the team’s culture for the better.
Some of the noteworthy changes Mayo has implemented include rookies no longer wearing ridiculous jersey numbers during training camp, music being played throughout practice and the addition of a player lounge. Although these changes probably won’t affect the outcome of the Patriots’ season, these are small ways to improve their culture, which is necessary after the team scored poorly in the 2024 NFLPA survey.
Although wins and losses won’t determine whether Mayo is the right candidate for the job, at least for this season, the first-time head coach must prove he’s capable of being the leader New England needs.
2. Quarterback Drake Maye
Maye’s development will be the biggest storyline of New England’s season, and while he doesn’t need to have a C.J. Stroud-like rookie season, he must show flashes of being a franchise quarterback. The Patriots selected the former UNC signal-caller with the third overall pick in this past April’s draft after he threw for 7,929 yards and 62 touchdowns over the last two seasons.
Entering the draft, scouts considered Maye a project with intriguing tools. Even though it’ll take time for Maye to develop, particularly since his supporting cast is underwhelming, the 6-foot-4, 225-pounder has provided glimpses of his high potential during the preseason. After playing one series in the team’s preseason opener, Maye led the Patriots on two scoring drives in last Thursday’s 14-13 loss to Philadelphia, throwing for 47 yards while rushing for 15 yards and one touchdown.
The expectation is that journeyman Jacoby Brissett will open the season as New England’s starting quarterback. However, Mayo left the door open for Maye to secure the job following his standout preseason performance against the Eagles. Maye could benefit from beginning the season as a backup, but if New England starts the season poorly, it’d be somewhat surprising if he wasn’t the starter by Week 4.
1. Executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf
Wolf, New England’s former director of scouting, is tasked with leading the team’s rebuilding process. While New England’s future will largely be determined by whether Maye pans out, Wolf’s actions over the next few seasons will shape the foundation for the franchise as it enters a new era.
There’s still a lot of work to be done, but Wolf is off to a strong start in getting things back on track. Not only did he land his potential franchise quarterback in April’s draft, but Wolf also spent a second-round pick on Ja’Lynn Polk, who could develop into a quality No. 2 wide receiver for the Patriots.
Additionally, Wolf made a savvy move last week that New England stands to benefit from in the future, as he traded Judon to the Falcons for a 2025 third-round pick. Although Judon is a premier pass rusher when healthy, he’s a 32-year-old coming off a season-ending biceps injury who is seeking a lucrative contract extension.
It would have made little sense for the rebuilding Patriots to give Judon the extension he desires, making the third-rounder the team received a worthwhile return. If Wolf can continue to make sensible decisions like this, New England may be able to rebuild faster than expected.