Mel Kiper, Field Yates praise Patriots drafting Ja'Lynn Polk, Caedan Wallace, Jaheim Bell
The New England Patriots first-round pick, Drake Maye, is garnering a lot of attention given that he’s a highly-touted quarterback prospect. However, he’s not the only key pick the Patriots made amid their rebuild.
New England went after several targets on the offensive side of the ball and, following the NFL Draft, analysts Mel Kiper and Field Yates praised the team for selecting wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk, offensive lineman Caedan Wallace, and tight end Jaheim Bell.
“The process here was fundamentally sound,” Field Yates said. “You [Kiper] talked about this. The Patriots had Mac Jones who, as a rookie, looked like he was maybe the best in class from a five quarterback in the first 15 picks class of 2021. Then things deteriorated really quickly. Part of it was the Patriots not having the resources around Mac Jones to help him become a better player.”
As a rookie, Mac Jones made it to the Pro Bowl. Midway through his third season, he was benched and ended up being traded for a draft pick that turned into the Patriots selecting Joe Milton. It also led to the Patriots using the third overall pick on Drake Maye to set the team up for the future.
Now, it’s clear that New England wants to do a better job setting up Maye for the future by drafting offensive players around him. That meant using six of the team’s seven picks after Maye on offensive players.
“It feels like the Patriots have said we’re taking Drake Maye and while we had a quiet free agency, we’re going hunting in the draft to help make sure that Drake Maye is immediately surrounded with better players. So, I was all in on Ja’Lynn Polk. Caedan Wallace is a guy I know our colleague Louis Riddick absolutely loved as well. In the seventh round, even a guy like Jaheim Bell, one of the most versatile players in the NFL Draft,” Yates said.
“To me, just a sound fundamental process from the New England Patriots, and I love myself some Ja’Lynn Polk. Whoever got him was getting an A in my book…but the Patriots helping out the quarterback is a key.”
Beyond Ja’Lynn Polk, Caedan Wallace, and Jaheim Bell, the Patriots also picked offensive lineman Layden Robinson, wide receiver Javon Baker, and quarterback Joe Milton behind Drake Maye.
Drake Maye on going to the Patriots
Now that Drake Maye is on the New England Patriots, he wants to make something clear. He’s not going to be Tom Brady.
“Tom Brady’s the G.O.A.T.,” Maye said.
“It’s easy to say that. He’s the best that ever played this game. I’m not going to be Tom Brady. So, I’m just going to try to be Drake Maye, and from there, I’m just trying to learn from him, hopefully get to know him a little bit. Other than that, just try to soak it up, be a sponge and try to learn all I can from him. He’s the man of that town.”