The New England Patriots have struggled through the first weeks of the NFL season. Week 1 was a great upset against the Cincinnati Bengals,. However, New England still couldn’t pass the ball downfield. Many fans are eager to see rookie quarterback Drake Maye become the starter, but that may not be what is best for the future of the franchise.
The Patriots’ offensive line couldn’t stop anybody against the New York Jets Thursday night, so putting a rookie behind a line that can’t protect him is just asking for disaster. Keeping Maye on the bench will allow the New England front office to make some big moves in the 2025 offseason to beef up the offensive line. And by doing so, helping Maye develop by keeping him protected in the pocket. Now the question is, who are the Patriots’ foundational building blocks for the future, and who could be the new building blocks?
Wide Receiver: Ja’Lynn Polk
One of the top names that stand out as a building block for the future is rookie wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk. Polk is not only a great receiver with incredible hands, but he also brings a great mentality to the team. He has that alpha mentality that many great NFL receivers have. If you watch his college film, he routinely makes huge plays and gets up to let the opposing defender hear about it. Not to mention his route running through the first three weeks of the season has been very impressive. He is getting great separation on a majority of plays but Jacoby Brissett still somehow can’t get him the ball. If Polk continues to develop and progress, he could turn into that Keenan Allen, chain-moving type of receiver that will be so important for rookie quarterback Drake Maye.
Cornerback: Christian Gonzalez
The next great building block for the Patriots is cornerback Christian Gonzalez. Gonzalez is a true lockdown, number one corner. One of the most important positions in the NFL is cornerback, and having one that can lock up any receiver you put against him is a huge advantage. Gonzalez has shined so far this season. Whenever he has been in one-on-one in man coverage against a team’s number-one receiver, he has done an amazing job.
Starting in Week 1 against JaMarr Chase, he held Chase to three receptions and 14 yards. Week 2, D.K. Metcalf’s stats were impressive, however, when Gonzalez was matched up with Metcalf, he was almost irrelevant. Finally, in Week 3 against the Jets, Gonzalez limited receiver Garrett Wilson but did give up his first touchdown. Overall, Gonzalez has shown that he can be that true lockdown corner that so many teams need, and as long as he is in a New England uniform, Patriots fans can have a star to be excited about.
Defensive End: Keion White
The third foundational player is defensive end Keion White. White has shown this season that he can be a true game-changer. Through the first three weeks, he has been a nightmare for opposing offenses. He consistently gets pressure on the quarterback and even has a whopping four sacks through three weeks. White has been everywhere this season, and it is clear that New England has a young star on the rise in White.
Quarterback: Drake Maye
The most obvious foundational player of the future is rookie quarterback Drake Maye. Without a good quarterback, it is impossible to win and be relevant in the NFL. Even though Maye isn’t the starter yet, he is still the future franchise quarterback. With great size at six-foot-four inches, a huge arm, and elite athleticism, Maye has all the tools to be the next great NFL quarterback. Now New England must do everything in their power to make sure Maye develops. They need to drastically improve the offensive line, and potentially trade for a true number one receiver.
Who could be a foundational player who isn’t on the Patriots roster at the moment?
The first name that New England fans should get familiar with is left tackle from LSU, Will Campbell. Campbell is a true franchise left tackle who would start for the Patriots this Sunday if he was on the roster.
However, fans will have to wait until April to see if New England decides to use their first-round pick on Campbell. He is not only a great player, but he also brings a nastiness and alpha mentality to his game. He would immediately change the dynamic of the line by giving them some real domination at his position. It would also allow rookie Caedon Wallace to play at the right tackle spot where he did in college, instead of forcing him to switch sides. An offensive line consisting of Will Campbell at left tackle and Caedon Wallace at right tackle could turn into not just a good line, but a great one.
