ESPN’s Bill Barnwell put out a ranking of every NFL team’s skilled position groups ahead of the 2024 season, including running backs, wide receivers and tight ends.
The New England Patriots were ranked at No. 31 on the list ahead of only the Los Angeles Chargers.
Barnwell made the rankings based on certain criteria. Wide receivers were weighted more heavily than running backs and tight ends. The focus was narrowed down to only elite players and the top-five contributors on each team. Efficiency also factored into the rankings.
The Patriots are hopeful to have wide receiver Kendrick Bourne back on the field. They also have a promising young receiver in DeMario Douglas, along with rookies Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker.
Barnwell predicts it will be tough sledding for that group this season. He wrote:
There are new players here, most notably second-round pick Ja’Lynn Polk and fourth-rounder Javon Baker, but both players ran 40-yard dashes in 4.5-plus seconds at the combine. Antonio Gibson and K.J. Osborn were supplemental players with their former teams. The Patriots desperately need someone who is going to keep defensive coordinators up at night. Until someone emerges for the Patriots, those coaches might as well replace Dak Prescott in mattress ads.
It could be another tricky year for the Patriots offensively.
There is something to be said for the fact that the team has lacked offensive playmakers for multiple seasons under former coach Bill Belichick. Now, it’s up to the current regime of coach Jerod Mayo and lead personnel executive Eliot Wolf to right the ship.
It could end up being a multi-year process, but it appears as if the team might finally be headed in the right direction.