Callahan: What I got wrong about the 2024 Patriots

FOXBORO — All told, the Patriots are right where they should be.

They’re a bad, rebuilding team with a 3-7 record that reflects exactly who they are and who we expected them to be.

But for most of the season, did we see treat them that way?

Of course not.

Over the last 10 weeks, countless media and fans – self included – have blasted Patriots players and coaches for mindless gaffes, gross mismanagement and stupid penalties. Most criticisms were well-deserved, and will be again if mistakes like those surface again as soon as Sunday.

But when did accountability become a one-way street? Well, at least for one day, traffic here will flow both ways.

Here are my biggest printed whiffs about the new-era Patriots from the end of the draft through Thursday:

Starting Drake Maye was short-sighted

Swing and a miss.

Not only was Maye ready for his starting debut back in Week 6, he’s now ready to take the reins of the entire team one month later.

Maye is a leader. A playmaker. The team’s recent past, new present and future.

Since that start against the Texans, Maye has been the Patriots’ leading rusher and passer. He has arguably been their most consistent offensive player. Maye must protect the ball better, having risked a turnover at a higher rate of his dropbacks than any other starting quarterback in the league, per Pro Football Focus. But he and the staff have found ways to protect him and his development.

That was my chief concern throwing Maye behind the league’s worst pass-protecting offensive line before it had even settled on a lineup. The answers have been part scheme, part Maye’s mobility and improvisation and part play-calling. Maybe part luck.

Again, I will reiterate I have always been a Maye believer. I loved him as a prospect and feel assured he will be a top-10 quarterback for most of his long career. I just wanted better for him, even if that meant waiting.

The Patriots didn’t wait. They were right.

Matt Judon will re-sign

Ha!

From July 21: “Contract issues arise every year, on some level, for every team. The bet here is Judon gets his raise, especially after suggesting in a recent radio interview he doesn’t have the appetite to hold in like he did last summer.”

Welp.

Judon whined his way out of camp, because when it comes to his contract it seems he likes to posture more than produce. That has since left Judon playing on the same deal in Atlanta hat led to his mini hold-in in Foxboro. The Patriots have already won their trade with the Falcons, which netted a 2025 third-round pick back.

Good for the Patriots for holding out themselves throughout the drama, and knowing when to get out of the Judon business.

Best rookie: WR Ja’Lynn Polk

Oof.

From July 24: “He’s the second-most talented player in this rookie class behind Maye. Unlike his quarterback classmate, Polk has a clear path to playing time and played within a sophisticated offense in college that should grease his transition to the pro level. He can also play inside and outside the numbers and win at all three levels. It won’t come together all at once, but by the end of the year, Polk should stand alone as first in this rookie class.”

Through 10 weeks, Polk only has 11 catches and 80 yards. Before last weekend’s win at Chicago, he ranked dead last by Pro Football Focus’ wide receiver grades and average separation when targeted, per Next Gen Stats.

C’mon, Callahan.

Marte Mapu is the new glue of the Patriots’ defense

A fun story, but a bit overstated.

Mapu played every single snap of his season debut back in Week 5, when he wore the green dot on his helmet signifying he was also the defense’s signal caller against Miami. He played deep safety, inside linebacker, outside linebacker and even over the slot as a nickelback, finishing with seven tackles and a pass breakup. He was great.

But since then, Mapu has recorded just 20 tackles, a half-sack and one pass breakup over five games. Mapu was limited to just 24 snaps last week versus Chicago, days after he was listed as questionable with a neck injury.

The second-year safety remains a smart, versatile player. But the Patriots have squeezed more out of their defense by handing more snaps to other players.

Bill Belichick draft picks on alert

This was never to pick on Belichick, whose draft failures are well-documented.

This column from late April was meant to ask: how should Kayshon Boutte react after Eliot Wolf drafted two receivers at his position? Or Sidy Sow after the Pats took another interior offensive lineman?

Not great! But now the question is: where would the Patriots’ pass offense be without Boutte or fellow 2023 sixth-rounder DeMario Douglas? No doubt, a much worse, less explosive place than they are now. Boutte played 97% of the team’s offensive snaps last Sunday, and Douglas ranks second in catches, even with Polk and fellow rookie Javon Baker itching to see more playing time.

And imagine that: Belichick, in his final draft, possibly hitting on not one, but perhaps two NFL-caliber receivers.