The New England Patriots have their franchise quarterback of the future. Drake Maye proved the team right for taking him with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, putting together a strong rookie season.
While the Patriots had planned to bring him along slowly, they ended up putting him on the field much earlier than they would have liked.
Due to the offense struggling with Jacoby Brissett leading the way, Jerod Mayo and company turned to Maye. He did not disappoint them.
Maye ended up playing in 13 total games in 2024, completing 66.6 percent of his pass attempts for 2,276 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. He also showed off his athleticism to the tune of 421 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
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His rookie season was a success, but there were clear needs heading into the NFL offseason.
One of those needs was to add a legitimate No. 1 target for Maye. Unfortunately, New England has not been able to do that.
They missed out on star wideout Chris Godwin, who re-signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers despite the Patriots offering him more money. DK Metcalf was another rumored target, but the Pittsburgh Steelers ended up acquiring him in a blockbuster deal with the Seattle Seahawks.
New England did make one wide receiver addition, bringing in former Buffalo Bills weapon Mack Hollins. However, the brutal truth is that Hollins doesn't move the needle for the Patriots.
With that being said, one NFL analyst has spoken out with a warning for New England.
Danny Parkins of Fox Sports spoke out on the matter during an appearance on "The Colin Cowherd Podcast."
"The guys they added are new but not terribly interesting," Parkins said. "And while I love Drake Maye, I was disappointed that they didn't figure out a way to get him a number one. He has nobody to throw the ball to. ... They spent all that money on like Carlton Davis and Spillane and Milton Williams, and I'm like, 'Man, help your quarterback with a rocket arm, please.'"
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He is 100 percent right. The Patriots need to find a way to bring in an impact wide receiver. Having a franchise quarterback is great, but many teams have wasted talented quarterbacks by not acquiring the right weapons for them.
There is still time for New England to rectify the situation. Perhaps they could turn to a name like Stefon Diggs or Amari Cooper. Neither of those wideouts are superstars, but either would provide a valuable veteran presence.
All of that being said, this is a warning the Patriots need to take seriously. New England still has work to do this offseason and surrounding Maye with more talent should be at the top of the list.
For more on the Patriots and the NFL, head to Newsweek Sports.
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This story was originally published March 16, 2025 at 1:14 PM.