FOXBOROUGH – Three picks into the Patriots draft, and the team’s mission, the objective, was obvious.
After failing miserably last year to support Drake Maye in his rookie season, the Patriots have made a concerted effort to provide help.
Their attention has turned to making the young franchise quarterback’s life better and setting him up for success this season and beyond.
The Patriots took a left tackle in Round One. They added a versatile three-down running back in Round Two. They snagged an explosive receiver and a future starting center in Round Three.
In short, four of their prime picks went to two dynamic playmakers, a blind side protector and a center who has the flexibility to factor in at guard as well.
This was no accident. It was the plan.
And if the Patriots have played their cards right, Will Campbell, TreVeyon Henderson, Kyle Williams, and Jared Wilson all figure to be at Maye’s side helping him succeed for many years to come.
Two of those players – Henderson (Ohio State) and Wilson (Georgia) – were on championship teams during their college careers.
While free agency was heavily weighted toward the Patriots defense, particularly early on, Mike Vrabel has flipped the script and focused on the other side of the ball.
Heading into the offseason, it was no secret the offense needed help across the board. And help has arrived.
With the early critical rounds of the draft, Vrabel and his personnel heads zeroed in on improving Maye’s supporting cast, not to mention his comfort level.
Fixing the offensive line was the first priority, but adding more explosive players, particularly at receiver, wasn’t far behind.
It started in free agency. Both Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins were signed.
Hollins provides Maye with a dependable, go-to-guy type of wideout. Diggs, if healthy, will help by dictating coverage from opposing defenses just with his presence, a quality that’s been missing for quite some time.
As for Williams, the first Washington State player to be taken by the Patriots since Drew Bledsoe (1993), he figures to add some much-needed explosiveness and punch.
Let’s just say last year’s draft pick duo at receiver of Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker are going to be hard-pressed making the team.
Ditto Kayshon Boutte, a sixth round pick from 2023.
Eliot Wolf, the Patriots vice president of player personnel, spoke following Friday’s selections and acknowledged the emphasis on offense.
He also believes the players chosen the first two days have a chance to contribute right away.
“We see all of them with the ability to come in and compete (for starting jobs),” Wolf said. “Obviously, with Coach Vrabel, there’s going to be a clean slate. Everyone is going to have an opportunity. Certainly we have some established players at some of these positions, but each player is going to come in and we’ll see what they can do.”
Henderson might have been a surprise being taken so early, especially in a deep running back class. But the Patriots felt he was too good to pass on. In other words, the “best player available” ruled the day at No. 38.
Henderson’s ability to “make huge plays” stood out versus the rest of the available backs in the class. So the Patriots didn’t wait.
He hasn’t lost a fumble in four seasons. With Rhamondre Stevenson putting the ball on the ground seven times last season, Henderson will, at the very least, threaten for the top job and push the team’s lead back in the process.
Along with his ability as a runner, Henderson is a weapon as a pass catcher and a force as a pass blocker. So he’s an all-around back.
“He’s a threat with the ball in his hands, and has the speed to take it the distance anytime he touches it,” Wolf said of the Ohio State running back.
Williams, meanwhile, rose up draft boards late thanks in part to running a 4.4 in the 40 at the Combine. He’s explosive off the line and has the ability to beat press coverage – something the recent group of receivers has been hard-pressed to do.
Wolf acknowledged there was an emphasis on getting faster and more explosive with Henderson and Williams leading the charge.
Up front, Campbell and Wilson figure to be mainstays on the offensive line for many years to come.
While Wolf didn’t come right out and say helping Maye was their chief motivation in the early rounds, he didn’t have to.
The proof was in the picks.
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