The 2024 NFL season was never going to be an easy one for the New England Patriots.
For starters, they just don’t have a ton of top-tier talent, and that puts them at a severe disadvantage right off the bat. Outside of Drake Maye, Christian Gonzalez and Christian Barmore, there aren’t many franchise cornerstone players on the roster.
The Patriots also have transitioned to a brand new era post-Bill Belichick. They have a first-year head coach in Jerod Mayo, a new offensive coordinator in Alex Van Pelt, a first-time defensive coordinator in DeMarcus Covington, plus first-year offensive line and wide receivers coaches.
Adjusting to all of the roster and coaching turnover takes time. It’s also important for the players to be on the same page and not cause distractions.
Rookie wideout Ja’Lynn Polk told MassLive a few weeks ago that he has the “best hands” of any playerat his position. He has one reception …