For better or worse, the 2024 New England Patriots season is upon us.
You can click here to read our full Patriots season preview, in which you’ll find a surprisingly glass-half-full view of a rebuilding franchise. The Patriots likely are years away from competing for a Super Bowl, but there’s a relatively clear path toward relevance this season. However, New England will need multiple key variables to break its way.
Let’s explore some of the biggest questions facing the Patriots in 2024.
Patriots Season Preview: 5 Biggest Questions
When Will Drake Maye Debut?
Jacoby Brissett will start over Drake Maye when the Patriots visit the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. And all signs point toward Brissett having a long leash.
But when could Maye, the third-overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, make his Patriots debut?
If you asked us this question a month ago, we would’ve leaned toward Maye sitting until after the Week 14 bye — if not the entire season.
But his recent improvements change the math. You can’t overstate how much better he looked later in camp compared to the first two weeks. At this point, it’s fair to assume Maye will play sometime during his rookie season, likely much earlier than expected.
However, there are multiple factors at play.
Nobody knows when New England’s offensive line will function as a representative unit, or if it ever will. So long as the offensive line is a disaster, the Patriots should hold back on starting Maye.
And then there’s the schedule, which ties into the O-line’s issues. The Patriots will begin their season by visiting the Bengals, hosting the Seattle Seahawks, visiting the New York Jets, and visiting the San Francisco 49ers. Those are four above-average defenses with formidable front sevens.
The schedule lightens afterward, though, with three of New England’s next five games coming against the Miami Dolphins, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Tennessee Titans. All three have talented defenses but aren’t as loaded as the first four opponents.
If — and it’s a big “if” — the Patriots see their O-line stabilize after four weeks, they could insert Maye for the Week 5 home game against the Dolphins.
The final variable is Brissett himself.
If Brissett plays well and wins a few games early in the season, why mess with a good thing? He was signed to be the perfect bridge starter: Someone capable of playing winning football while affording the Patriots the luxury of being patient with Maye, who’s as raw as he is wildly talented.
Again, Maye probably will — and should — play in 2024. But his timeline is unclear, and he could debut at any point in the season.
Is Jerod Mayo Ready For This?
There were highs and lows during Jerod Mayo’s first summer as an NFL head coach.
On the positive side, he ran a tough, demanding training camp with long, physical practices. On the downside, he was all over the place during media availabilities, and his player-friendly approach potentially opened the door for Matthew Judon’s infamous early August temper tantrum.
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But now the real games begin. And the biggest question Mayo must answer is: Can he be a good head coach?
Mayo has much to prove, from preparing his team for Sundays to managing situations during games. We have no idea how he’ll perform because he’s never done this before.
The Patriots could exceed expectations if Mayo is up to the task. But if he endures first-year struggles, things could get ugly.
Who’ll Replace Christian Barmore?
Christian Barmore, arguably the Patriots’ best player, will miss at least the first four games of the season after being diagnosed with blood clots in late July. New England hopes the stud defensive tackle can return this season, but there’s a real possibility of Barmore missing the entire campaign.
Barmore’s absence can’t be overstated. After enduring injuries and inconsistency during his first two seasons, the Alabama product broke out in 2023 and became a dominant force on the D-line. He, not Judon, is the biggest loss for the Patriots defense.
The #Patriots will do right by star DL Christian Barmore: Sources say they will pay his full salary for 2024, despite him being on the Non-Football Injury List.
Teams are not required to pay players on NFI. New England will, as Barmore works his way back. pic.twitter.com/X4UoWnWHSz
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 3, 2024
So, who’ll pick up the slack?
Thankfully, the Patriots still have Davon Godchaux, their top interior run-stuffer. So long as he stays healthy, New England should be decent up front.
But the Patriots must create an approximation of Barmore’s pass-rushing production. The top in-house candidates are Daniel Ekuale and Jeremiah Pharms Jr., both of whom have pass-rushing upside. Recently claimed Eric Johnson and practice-squadder Trysten Hill also can get after the quarterback.
All four are solid depth players, but none are like Barmore, who’s the complete package. New England can only hope that someone steps up and proves serviceable against the run and productive in the pass rush.
Will the Receiving Corps Exceed Expectations?
There’s a chance, even though the Patriots still lack a true No. 1 receiver.
DeMario Douglas is an explosive talent who could be the team’s next great slot receiver. At 5-foot-8, Douglas is an injury risk, but if he stays healthy, he could be a breakout star.
Rookie Ja’Lynn Polk enjoyed an excellent rookie training camp and appears primed for an immediate role. He’s surehanded, runs great routes, and possesses strong leadership qualities. Polk could be a souped-up Jakobi Meyers — which is a compliment.
Veteran K.J. Osborn is what he is: A decent No. 3/4 wideout with big-play upside. He should be a serviceable replacement for Kendrick Bourne, who’ll miss at least the first four games due to ACL rehab.
Third-year pro Tyquan Thornton enters a make-or-break season following a surprisingly solid training camp. Finally healthy, Thornton bulked up during the offseason while maintaining his elite speed. He’s the one guy who can take the top off the defense.
Fellow rookie Javon Baker is a true wild card. He has the most big-play potential in the receiver room but struggles with drops and has been an off-field headache. There’s a chance he emerges as the Patriots’ version of Gabe Davis, but that won’t happen before he earns playing time.
And then there’s sophomore Kayshon Boutte, who’s not explosive but is a solid possession receiver.
Add it all up, and the Patriots have a decent wideout room. The floor is undeniably low, but the ceiling is higher than many believe.
Who’s Going To Play Left Tackle?
In an ideal world, the Patriots would roll with this lineup:
Left tackle: Vederian Lowe/Chukwuma Okorafor
Left guard: Sidy Sow
Center: David Andrews
Right guard: Layden Robinson
Right tackle: Mike Onwenu
People are down on New England’s O-line, and rightfully so. However, the Patriots have the bones of a good group, especially on the interior. And between Onwenu, Okorafor, and rookie third-rounder Caedan Wallace, they should be able to find someone to play right tackle at a serviceable or better level.
But left tackle is a different story.
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Lowe suffered an oblique injury late in camp and might miss Week 1. The Patriots hoped Okorafor would seize the opportunity, but it didn’t go well and he spent most of the summer on the right side. De facto general manager Eliot Wolf said Wallace could be a left tackle, but, for now, the rookie is entrenched at right tackle.
As for recently claimed tackles Demontrey Jacobs and Zach Thomas, they are essentially this year’s versions of Lowe and Tyrone Wheatley Jr., whom Bill Belichick acquired in late-camp trades last August. If either plays meaningful snaps for the Patriots, something’s gone wrong.
The good news is that teams can manage around a weakness at tackle if the other four spots are solid. But the Patriots still don’t have any clear answers at left tackle, and that’s a problem.