NFL cutback day highlights Patriots’ terrible selection at skill positions Originally appeared in NBC Sports Boston
The New England Patriots used to be among the leaders in points scored annually, and Tom Brady was obviously a big reason for that success on offense.
But the Patriots’ precipitous drop in scoring production in recent years — they tied for last at 13.9 points per game last season — goes beyond Brady’s departure in 2020. Poor free-agent decisions haven’t helped. A lack of impactful trades has also been an issue.
But the main problem is the project.
The Patriots have been terrible at drafting and developing players at the skill positions on offense (quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end). It’s not a recent development. It’s been a weakness for more than a decade.
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Tuesday is NFL roster reduction dayAll 32 teams must reduce their rosters to 53 players by 4 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
The Patriots reportedly waived quarterback Bailey Zappe and running back Kevin Harris on Tuesday. New England drafted four skill-position players in 2022, but with Zappe and Harris gone, only wide receiver Tyquan Thornton remains.
But the 2022 draft class is no exception. It’s actually the norm for the Patriots. Since 2013, the only skill-position players they’ve drafted who are still on the roster today include Thornton and running back Rhamondre Stevenson. The Pats selected Stevenson in the fourth round in 2021. Thornton was a second-round pick in 2022. Jacoby Brissett was a 2016 draft pick and is on the current roster, but he spent the 2017 through 2023 seasons elsewhere.
Here is a list of skill position players drafted by the Patriots over a 10-year period from 2013 through 2022 (Thanks to team 33).
2022
Field Marshal Bailey Zappe
Wide receiver Tyquan Thornton
RB Pierre Strong
Running back Kevin Harris
2021
Quarterback Mac Jones
Right back Rhamondre Stevenson
WR Tre Nixon
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
Seven players on this list selected between 2018 and 2022 were selected in the first three rounds. Only one of those players, Thornton, is still on the team. That’s a horrendous hit rate on high draft picks. Two of those picks were first-rounders: quarterback Mac Jones (No. 15, 2021) and wide receiver N’Keal Harry (No. 32, 2019).
The Patriots selected two skill position players in 2023: wide receivers Kayshon Boutte and DeMario “Pop” Douglas in the sixth round. Douglas is arguably the team’s best wide receiver. The Patriots focused on offense early in the 2024 draft, selecting UNC quarterback Drake Maye at third overall and Washington wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk in the second round. They also selected UCF wide receiver Javon Baker in the fourth round.
The good news for Patriots fans is that there is now a new regime in charge. Bill Belichick is gone and Eliot Wolf is the general manager. Recent draft classes have been pretty bad when it comes to skill position players, but if the 2024 class proves to be great, a lot of those past failures could be forgotten.