The New England Patriots are entering their sixth year of rebuilding, and discussions at the NFL Owners Meetings should be laced with urgency. Owner Robert Kraft has been vocal about the team’s struggles in recent years, stating that “ownership has always made the cash available” but also acknowledging that money spending will never be an issue.
Kraft’s words come as the Patriots are expected to make significant changes on their roster through free agency and the draft. However, despite these efforts, the team still lacks a core of existing players who can sustain long-term success.
The question on everyone’s mind is: Who will be part of this core? Current young quarterback Drake Maye and rookie defender Christian Gonzalez are among those expected to stick around. Additionally, some players like Rhamondre Stevenson and Kyle Dugger may potentially remain on the roster in the future.
However, many of the team’s current players are not projected to last long-term. The Patriots’ drafting record has been poor in recent years, with many players expected to be gone by the time Drake Maye enters his prime years.
The solution to this problem lies in the draft. Owner Kraft has repeatedly emphasized that building through free agency is not enough and that the team needs to focus on finding top talent through the draft. The hiring of Eliot Wolf as the new director of player personnel is seen as a positive step towards addressing this issue.
For the Patriots’ rebuild to succeed, they need to find players who can form a strong core over time. With a three-year timetable in mind, fans and media are expecting significant improvements on the field next year and eventually in 2027. However, the path forward is uncertain, and the team’s future hangs in the balance.
Source: https://sports.yahoo.com/article/patriots-discussions-nfl-owners-meetings-162706511.html