Bill Belichick’s draft struggles are often overstated. Over the last decade, his draft classes were more mixed bags with highs and lows than abject failures. He performed more like an average general manager than the savviest in the league.
But Tuesday was another tough day for the former New England Patriots head coach. New England’s roster cutdowns saw the outright releases of members of 2021-2023 Patriots draft classes. Quality players remain from each group, but there’s no denying the classes are aging poorly.
Recent Patriots Draft Classes in Rough Shape After Roster Cuts
Let’s detail the 2021-2023 draft classes while providing notes on each.
2021 Patriots Draft Class
- R1: QB Mac Jones (traded in 2024 offseason)
- R2: DT Christian Barmore (will begin season on NFI)
- R3: LB Ronnie Perkins (released last summer)
- R4: RB Rhamondre Stevenson (rostered)
- R5: LB Cameron McGrone (released in 2022 season)
- R6: S Joshuah Bledsoe (released on Tuesday)
- R7: WR Tre Nixon (now coaching in college)
This is a tough class to evaluate.
On the one hand, the Patriots drafted a potential star in Barmore and a franchise running back in Stevenson. On the other hand, Barmore has battled injuries throughout his career and could miss all of 2024 due to blood clots, and Jones obviously didn’t work out.
Perkins, McGrone, Bledsoe, and Nixon are all off the roster, although Bledsoe could return to the practice squad. Regardless, there’s a chance the Patriots this season receive contributions from just one of the seven players drafted in 2021.
2022 Patriots Draft Class
- R1: OL Cole Strange (will begin season on PUP)
- R2: WR Tyquan Thornton (rostered)
- R3: CB Marcus Jones (rostered)
- R4: CB Jack Jones (released in 2023 season)
- R4: RB Pierre Strong Jr. (traded last summer)
- R4: QB Bailey Zappe (released on Tuesday)
- R6: RB Kevin Harris (released on Tuesday)
- R6: DL Sam Roberts (released on Tuesday)
- R6: G Chasen Hines (released last summer)
- R7: OL Andrew Stueber (released in 2024 offseason)
This group is rough.
Strange, who was inconsistent over his first two seasons, is recovering from a torn patellar tendon and could change positions when he returns. Thornton beat the odds to earn a spot on the initial 53-man roster, but he’s a bust until further notice.
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Everyone else is gone, except Marcus Jones, who missed most of last season due to a torn labrum and has yet to establish himself as a starting-caliber cornerback. At this point, he’s a great returner with upside on defense and gadget potential on offense.
The updated tally: Just three of 17 players drafted in 2021 and 2022 could contribute in 2024, with Barmore a potential fourth.
2023 Patriots Draft Class
- R1: CB Christian Gonzalez (rostered)
- R2: DE Keion White (rostered)
- R3: S/LB Marte Mapu (will begin season on IR)
- R4: OL Jake Andrews (will miss entire season on IR)
- R4: K Chad Ryland (released on Tuesday)
- R4: OL Sidy Sow (rostered)
- R5: OL Atonio Mafi (released on Tuesday)
- R6: WR Kayshon Boutte (rostered)
- R6: P Bryce Baringer (rostered)
- R6: WR DeMario Douglas (rostered)
- R6: CB Ameer Speed (released in 2023 season)
- R7: CB Isaiah Bolden (rostered)
The jury is still out on this class, which could turn into a home run. But it took a major hit on Tuesday.
Two players were released, including Ryland, whom the Patriots drafted after trading up in the fourth round. He struggled as a rookie and lost a kicking competition to Joey Slye this summer. As for Mafi, he showed some promise as a guard last season but was disastrous after being moved to center during training camp.
Andrews, drafted to be David Andrews’ successor, might not have any future in New England. Mapu remains a fascinating, wildly talented prospect, but he didn’t do anything as a rookie and missed virtually all of his second training camp due to a still-mysterious injury. He’s trending toward being a bust.
The rest of the class is intriguing.
Gonzalez has star potential, as do White and Douglas. Sow is a starting-caliber guard. Baringer could be one of the better punters in football, and Boutte has a chance to be a solid possession receiver. Bolden, who missed all of last season due to a head injury, is a wild card but carries value as a lengthy corner and dynamic returner.
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The final tally: 10 of the 29 players drafted from 2021 to 2023 could contribute in 2024, with Barmore a potential 11th. But how many of those contributions will be meaningful?
Bolden, Boutte, and Thornton are unproven. Sow was competing against rookie Layden Robinson for the starting left guard job before suffering an ankle injury in the preseason finale. Baringer is, well, a punter, which you can find anywhere. Jones has immense talent but whether he’ll do anything with it remains to be seen.
Ultimately, the only 2021-2023 draftees you can somewhat bank on in 2024 are Stevenson, Gonzalez, White, and Douglas.
What About the 2024 Draft Class?
Here’s the full class:
- R1: QB Drake Maye
- R2: WR Ja’Lynn Polk
- R3: OT Caedan Wallace
- R4: G Layden Robinson
- R4: WR Javon Baker
- R6: CB Marcellas Dial Jr.
- R6: QB Joe Milton III
- R7: TE Jaheim Bell
The early returns are positive for the first class drafted by head coach Jerod Mayo and de facto general manager Eliot Wolf. All eight draftees are rostered, which is a good start, and some, such as Polk and Robinson, could be immediate contributors. Wallace and Baker also showed promise in camp and could see their roles increase as the season progresses.
That said, this is all about Maye. If he develops into a franchise quarterback, it won’t matter whether the other seven picks are busts. And though it still appears as if Maye could sit for a large chunk of his rookie season, he flashed star potential in the second half of camp.
Right now, the 2024 Patriots draft class looks like a good group with significant upside. But similar things were said about the previous three classes — and look how those are turning out.