So, how you feeling about our draft class?

[PatsFan2]

I read Robinson had 3 similar break downs with a blitzing LB getting a free run into the backfield.

Robinson is a Rookie pushing to start I remember Mason coming in with warts and turned out to be a very good Guard.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

The jugs machine has helped a lot of receivers

I have heard that anecdotally, but I have never seen a player significantly improve their eye to hand coordination year after year from coaching and the jugs machine. I have never seen any stats. Bad hands guys never improve much in my experience.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Robinson a Rookie pushing to start I remember Mason coming in with warts and turned out to be a very good Guard.

Could be. Every rookie has their difficulties. But we are going to have bumps on the road, rookie mistakes that can be disastrous, if we do not bring the rookies along slowly.

 

[PatsFan2]

Eye hand coordination can not be improved significantly with good coaching. It is a natural gift.

Trust me on this they were a lot of Good WR's taken last Draft. After I watched Baker I was sold yeah he drops some but he makes Difficult Catches too. Steve Smith profiled Baker and came away with the same impression I had Baker makes difficult catches look easy. As long as he doesn't piss Mayo off give Baker a chance his time will come.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Trust me on this they were a lot of Good WR's taken last Draft. After I watched Baker I was sold yeah he drops some but he made Difficult Catches too. Steve Smith profiled Baker and came away with the same impression I had Baker makes difficult catches look easy. As long as he doesn't piss Mayo off give Baker a chance his time will come.

I highly doubt it. Baker is buried on the depth chart because he is limited physically and has not picked up the playbook.

 

[mgteich]

I highly doubt it. Baker is buried on the depth chart because he is limited physically and has not picked up the playbook.

Absent injuries I think that Baker will continue to be the #6 WR on our depth chart (#7 when Bourne is back) and will continue to be inactive.

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

I highly doubt it. Baker is buried on the depth chart because he is limited physically and has not picked up the playbook.

Are you sure he has not picked the playbook? I know it is heavy, but he likes workouts, ha, just kidding. Is there any solid evidence that he has trouble learning the plays or is this just generalized comment based on his immaturity? I still hold out hope for him.

His time will come, unless he screws up off the field. The first thing he needs to do is ditch the entourage; nothing good comes from those leeches.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Are you sure he has not picked the playbook? I know it is heavy, but he likes workouts, ha, just kidding. Is there any solid evidence that he has trouble learning the plays or is this just generalized comment based on his immaturity? I still hold out hope for him.

His time will come, unless he screws up off the field. The first thing he needs to do is ditch the entourage; nothing good comes from those leeches.

I saw it said by one of the reporters. I think it was Beddard, but not sure.

 

[captain stone]

The jugs machine has helped a lot of receivers

It helped David Givens, but he was a 7th-round pick with an incredible work ethic; this dude, on the other hand…

 

[raduray]

It is curious that Mayo bases his evaluation on more than one play.

Just, BTW, Robinson has been rated one of the very best rookie OL's, in any round, at any position. He is a special player.

I did say he was good overall. Fixing those type of errors is where potential for greatness exists.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

The Maye situation is what it is. We'll see when he starts.

Polk wasn't very productive but the passing game isn't conducive for anyone to contribute on the stat sheet right now. The fact that he's still behind Osborn, Thornton and even Douglas in snap counts doesn't point towards him being a day 1 sensation and it's not like he's a raw, upside type of guy either. As of right now, I think anyone would be hard-pressed to realistically think he's a solution for us at the top of the depth chart, but there also aren't hugely troubling warning signs against him growing into a decent option in a 3 WR set which would be somewhat of a quality pick (though I'm sure it leaves room to wish we took others).

Wallace isn't starting at OT, but they did gameplan him in as a package player for the jumbo TE role. That's at least a somewhat positive sign.

Robinson seems like he really earned a day 1 spot at guard. Even with Sow out, they still kicked Onwenu out. I'm sure some of that is due to the poor play of the OT options, but Robinson does seem to have come in and made an impression which is encouraging. Seems like he has good potential too looking ahead and hopefully forecasting him to grow into a higher end starter.

Baker is gameday inactive right now and seemed to fade as camp went on. Not great. He could always turn it around though and a 4th rounder failing wouldn't be a disaster, even if disappointing.

Dial was the gunner on STs and if he plays well there, it'd honestly be a decent pick for where he was. If he grows into a defensive contributor, that's gravy.

Milton as a backup QB, if he sticks around filling the spot cheaply, is honestly a win.

Bell was active which is a decent sign. If he can play STs he has a good chance of sticking around as a depth piece. Again, any real production at this draft slot would be gravy.



Obviously it all depends on Maye, but so far it's not a bad start. Seems like the potential for a starter in 3 WR sets and eventually 2 OL spots, along with some STs and depth guys. If they get that and Maye pans out, that's a strong start. Last year looks great too with Gonzalez and White flashing pro bowl type upside and Sow/Douglas showing good starter potential last year. If that all pans out, that's a decent foundation starting to form along with the other rookie and 2nd contract type guys.

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

It helped David Givens, but he was a 7th-round pick with an incredible work ethic; this dude, on the other hand…

Ah yes, David Given, the most underappreciated receiver in Patriots history.

Anyway Baker says he will outwork anyone, so we shall see. He need to ditch all the trappings of a celebrity until he actually does something on the field....starting with the entourage and his gun collection. Also deep tint on his windows, but at least he is not Jordan Addison and his Lamborghini Urus (he got clocked at 140 mph in his sports car in a 55 mph zone: "My Maserati does one-eighty-five, I lost my license, now I don't drive"). How about a big jewelry collection like JaMarcus Russell?

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

The Maye situation is what it is. We'll see when he starts.

Polk wasn't very productive but the passing game isn't conducive for anyone to contribute on the stat sheet right now. The fact that he's still behind Osborn, Thornton and even Douglas in snap counts doesn't point towards him being a day 1 sensation and it's not like he's a raw, upside type of guy either. As of right now, I think anyone would be hard-pressed to realistically think he's a solution for us at the top of the depth chart, but there also aren't hugely troubling warning signs against him growing into a decent option in a 3 WR set which would be somewhat of a quality pick (though I'm sure it leaves room to wish we took others).

Wallace isn't starting at OT, but they did gameplan him in as a package player for the jumbo TE role. That's at least a somewhat positive sign.

Robinson seems like he really earned a day 1 spot at guard. Even with Sow out, they still kicked Onwenu out. I'm sure some of that is due to the poor play of the OT options, but Robinson does seem to have come in and made an impression which is encouraging. Seems like he has good potential too looking ahead and hopefully forecasting him to grow into a higher end starter.

Baker is gameday inactive right now and seemed to fade as camp went on. Not great. He could always turn it around though and a 4th rounder failing wouldn't be a disaster, even if disappointing.

Dial was the gunner on STs and if he plays well there, it'd honestly be a decent pick for where he was. If he grows into a defensive contributor, that's gravy.

Milton as a backup QB, if he sticks around filling the spot cheaply, is honestly a win.

Bell was active which is a decent sign. If he can play STs he has a good chance of sticking around as a depth piece. Again, any real production at this draft slot would be gravy.



Obviously it all depends on Maye, but so far it's not a bad start. Seems like the potential for a starter in 3 WR sets and eventually 2 OL spots, along with some STs and depth guys. If they get that and Maye pans out, that's a strong start. Last year looks great too with Gonzalez and White flashing pro bowl type upside and Sow/Douglas showing good starter potential last year. If that all pans out, that's a decent foundation starting to form along with the other rookie and 2nd contract type guys.

Great post and balanced thoughts.

Baringer from last year's draft class might be All Pro someday too.

 

[State]

Instead of Baker, I would have drafted the LT of the future in Giovanni Manu. True he needs development. But his physical tools and character are elite. We took Baker at 110, the Lions gave up their third-rounder next year and took Manu at 126.

And I still covet the Tennessee RB the Dolphins got in the fourth round. Jaylen Wright.

Be prepared to see him light it up Thursday night in Buffalo with the top two starters out.

I am in a minority that wanted the Patriots to trade down from 3. Get LT Olu Fashanu. And another first-rounder next year.

Hope Michael Penix would have lasted longer. But I was also very high on QBs Spencer Rattler and Joe Milton. Milton has the body of Cam Newton and the arm of Zeus. A lot to work with. And I predict Rattler will have a better pro career than most of the first round QBs from this year. Including Maye.

 

[BennyBledsoe]

It's not a bad start, but I would have preferred other guys at their positions.

 

[40yrpatsfan]

I think Maye, Polk, Wallace, Robinson will all be productive starters by mid-season. Robinson already was a productive starter yesterday, Polk was open several times, and Wallace was good as a 3rd tackle/TE.

 

[NFL Mystique]

Is there any chance Maye sits in 2025 if J.B. has a good 2024. Or, is it out of the question. Maye is the QB going forward?

 

[archstanton543]

Is there any chance Maye sits in 2025 if J.B. has a good 2024. Or, is it out of the question. Maye is the QB going forward?

That is out of the question. Jacoby is on a one-year deal for a reason.

 

[Brandon_Cox]

I was pretty optimistic about the draft class, but other than Maye it gets worse by the week.

 

[TheRainMaker]

So far this is looking like another dreadful draft. Factor in the re-signings that were awful moves. For Mayo and Wolf's sake, Maye better be a good player as that's the only way they keep their jobs past year 2. QB's are called coach killer's for a reason.