What to expect from Patriots’ rookies early in 2024 season

Whether it’s because the Patriots scouted well or because their roster is otherwise low on talent, the entirety of Eliot Wolf’s first-ever draft class made the team’s 53-man roster.

The Patriots not only kept all eight members of their 2024 NFL Draft class, undrafted rookie Dell Pettus also made the team, and Wolf claimed another rookie, linebacker Curtis Jacobs, off waivers from the Chiefs last week.

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Here are the roles all 10 rookies could play this year after observing them in the offseason workout program, training camp and the preseason.

QB Drake Maye

The third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft won’t start Week 1, but don’t be surprised if Maye passes Jacoby Brissett on the depth chart soon.

The Patriots were impressed by Maye’s progress this summer and felt that he was playing his best football by the end of August. Still, head coach Jerod Mayo elected to play it conservatively with the future of the franchise.

Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye reacts after scoring on a run during the second quarter in a preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)

WR Ja’Lynn Polk

The Washington product was a bright spot in the Patriots’ offense all summer, and by the end of training camp, he was sharing starting reps with K.J. Osborn at the “Z” wide receiver spot. Polk has the versatility to play all three of the Patriots’ wide receiver positions and should see early playing time whether he’s a Week 1 starter or not.

Some might malign the Patriots for passing on available offensive tackles when they traded down for Polk, but the rookie wideout showed the potential to be the team’s best receiver.

OT Caedan Wallace

The Penn State product is a top candidate to begin the 2024 season as the Patriots’ swing tackle, backing up at both left and right tackle. Wallace, a right tackle in college, was cross-trained on both sides this summer. Vederian Lowe, Chukwuma Okorafor and Mike Onwenu all appear to be above him on the offensive tackle depth chart. If Lowe is healthy to begin the 2024 season, however, then Onwenu would likely move back over to right guard, opening up the backup spot for Wallace.

G Layden Robinson

A guard drafted as early as the fourth round is typically viewed as a potential starter. With Lowe and guard Sidy Sow still nursing injuries, Robinson is currently the Patriots’ top right guard.

Multiple team sources highlighted Robinson as being one of the team’s training camp standouts. Robinson was even rotating into the starting left guard spot before Sow went down with an injury in the Patriots’ preseason finale.

Patriots offensive tackle Caedan Wallace, left, and guard Layden Robinson celebrate quarterback Drake Maye’s touchdown against the Eagles on Thursday night in Foxboro. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)

WR Javon Baker

The talented fourth-round pick was an early training camp standout, but then drops and inexperience became a problem for the former UCF receiver.

Baker also showed some maturity issues this week when he went live on Instagram after being pulled over by police near Logan Airport. Baker is either fifth or sixth on the Patriots’ wide receiver depth chart, competing with Kayshon Boutte behind Polk, Osborn and starters DeMario Douglas and Tyquan Thornton. If everything clicks, then Baker could push Thornton for a starting spot. But he seemed far away from being an early-season contributor by the end of the summer.

CB Marcellas Dial

Dial’s path to playing time is through special teams, where he was taking snaps in Matthew Slater’s old spot as a gunner on the punt team opposite Brenden Schooler.

The rookie out of South Carolina primarily worked out of the slot on defense this summer. He had a tough time in coverage against the Eagles in Week 2 of the preseason and allowed 128 receiving yards in three exhibition games.

QB Joe Milton III

Milton beat out Bailey Zappe for the Patriots’ third quarterback spot behind Brissett and Maye. It’s been somewhat surprising to see the Patriots pass on signing a fourth quarterback to their practice squad so far.

Milton showed promise with his elite arm strength and plus athleticism, but he’s not ready to play in a regular season game at this point in his development.

Patriots quarterback Joe Milton III prepares to make a pass during the second half of an NFL game against the Carolina Panthers on Thursday in Foxboro. (AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper)

TE Jaheim Bell

Bell is another player to beat out veteran competition for a roster spot. Bell made the 53-man roster, while tight end Mitchell Wilcox was released and then signed to the Patriots’ practice squad.

It wouldn’t be shocking to see Wilcox elevated off of the practice squad early in the season to back up Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper over Bell.

S Dell Pettus

Pettus, an undrafted free agent out of Troy, showed impressive ball skills over the course of training camp, regularly causing incompletions with pass breakups. He didn’t have any major miscues in the preseason, as well, ultimately earning a 53-man roster spot as the team’s top undrafted rookie.

Pettus is the fourth safety on the roster behind Kyle Dugger, Jabrill Peppers and Jaylinn Hawkins. Like with Dial, his path to early playing time is likely through special teams.

New England Patriots rookie safety Dell Pettus reacts during the second half of an NFL preseason game on Thursday, Aug. 15 in Foxboro. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)

LB Curtis Jacobs

Jacobs is one of the newest members of the Patriots’ defense, getting claimed off waivers Aug. 28 from the Chiefs. Jacobs has good size at 6-foot-1, 241 pounds and has speed to burn. It wouldn’t be surprising if he became a core special teams player, but this week in practice could serve as a trial period while the Patriots determine if he’s worth a 53-man roster spot.

Practice squad

In addition to the 10 rookies on the 53-man roster, the Patriots also signed four rookies to the practice squad: running back Terrell Jennings, center Bryan Hudson, linebacker Yvandy Rigby and defensive end Jotham Russell. Jennings is the fifth running back on the depth chart. Hudson could be called upon if anything happens to David Andrews. Rigby was signed Monday after spending the summer with the Ravens. Russell is a developmental defender as a 21-year-old Australian former rugby player.

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