Bold Predictions for Patriots' Individual Stat Leaders in 2024 NFL Season
The New England Patriots will have one of the tougher offenses to figure out in 2024.
First-year head coach Jerod Mayo has yet to name a starting quarterback, but even if Jacoby Brissett wins the job, Drake Maye is expected to take over at some juncture.
The wide receiver depth is a bit of mess with a mixture of veteran pass-catchers and young wide outs with a ton of potential.
Rhamondre Stevenson at running back is the only known quantity and he may become the team's most important offensive player.
Stevenson should chase the second 1,000-yard rushing season of his career. That may be the only notable milestone that comes out of the New England offense in 2024.
Jacoby Brissett Finishes 2024 as Patriots' Leading Passer
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New England's quarterback situation has not been finalized yet.
Jacoby Brissett seems like the logical choice to start Week 1 in Cincinnati so that Drake Maye can be 100 percent ready when he takes the field.
Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo outlined the situation in an interview with WEEI's The Greg Hill Show.
"What I will say is this is a true competition … and I would say at this current point, Drake has outplayed Jacoby," Mayo said. "Now in saying that, we have to take in the full body of work, going all the way back to the spring and beginning of training camp, and we'll see where we end up. But those are the conversations that will happen here over the next couple of days."
Maye might have outplayed Brissett in preseason, but he may not be ready to start, especially behind an offensive line in flux, right away in Week 1.
Brissett makes more sense as a starter in the first half of the season during a schedule that starts with three road trips in the first four games.
Maye could run into some rookie errors that cost him the chance to shine in certain games, while Brissett may be the consistent hand early in the season that allows him to finish ahead of Maye on the stat chart.
Rhamondre Stevenson Returns to 1,000 Yard Form
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The Patriots need Rhamondre Stevenson to turn in a strong season.
The passing game could have questions all throughout the campaign, but if the Pats can at least receive consistency on the ground, they can keep the ball in their possession for long stretches.
Stevenson was a 1,000-yard rusher in 2022 and then ran for 619 yards across 12 games last season.
He's averaged over four yards per carry in each of his three NFL seasons. A similar level of production would be huge for a Patriots offense in flux.
A 1,000-yard season out of Stevenson may be one of the few positives to come out of the offense depending on how the passing game shakes out.
Ja'Lynn Polk Emerges as Top Pass Catcher
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The Patriots' wide receiver situation can shake out in a plethora of ways.
Kendrick Bourne can't play until at least Week 5 because of an injury, so that leaves ample opportunities for Ja'Lynn Polk and Demario Douglas to shine.
Polk, the rookie out of Washington, could benefit from Bourne's absence the most because he will play meaningful snaps from Week 1 on.
Douglas could contend to be the top pass-catcher as well, but the competition with Polk could be too stiff if the rookie shines right away.
K.J. Osborn and Tyquan Thornton are depth options at best, and while Hunter Henry may take away touchdowns from the wide receivers, he will not cut into the receiving yard production.
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