The New England Patriots’ fan base is maybe the most optimistic about their team since the Tom Brady era came to an end. With Drake Maye showing immense potential in his rookie season, there appears to be hope that the Patriots could be a competitive franchise next season.
With Mike Vrabel as the new head coach in New England, it’s clear that the ownership also has high expectations for the core. However, the roster may need some refinement over the coming years before it can truly become a perennial playoff threat.
Patriots Could Find Long-Term Running Mate for Drake Maye
Last year, the Patriots won four games with a rookie quarterback at the helm for most of the campaign. As Maye is expected to take a sophomore leap, the team has done everything in its power to help him on the field.
During free agency, they added Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins to catch the ball while also improving Maye’s protection in the form of Morgan Moses and Garrett Bradbury. All in all, their work in free agency earned them a B+ grade from PFSN.
But the latest mock draft from PFSN for the 2026 season doesn’t project that the work is over. After adding Will Campbell to offer their quarterback better production, Jacob Infante believes New England will address their long-term need at wide receiver in the first round next year.
Enter Jordyn Tyson out of Arizona State, who was sensational in his first year at Arizona State. Totaling 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns, he was one of the most consistent wideouts in the entire collegiate circuit.
Is Jordyn Tyson the WR1 in the 2026 class? pic.twitter.com/ilfvXADi8G
— Nick Penticoff (@NickPenticoff) May 25, 2025
“Patriots fans may get a bad taste in their mouths from Arizona State wide receivers after N’Keal Harry, but Jordyn Tyson is an entirely different player,” Infante began, before making the case for the Texas native.
“He’s a great YAC receiver thanks to his agility and ball-carrier vision, but he’s explosive coming out of his breaks and exploits leverage spots well against man coverage by adjusting his stems.”
For an offense that ranked 26th on PFSN’s Offense+ metric, some consistency is going to be a necessity.
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The defense should see a vast improvement with the appointment of Vrabel on the sidelines alongside the plethora of additions in the offseason. As for the offense, Maye will need all the help he can get.
In Tyson, not only should the quarterback have a premier target to throw to from Day 1, but their connection could be a long-term pairing that elevates both their careers while carrying the Patriots offense as a whole.
