Tag: Jerod Mayo

Jerod Mayo acknowledges difficult reality for Patriots organization

Patriots coach Jerod Mayo accepts the fact that New England isn’t currently a hot spot for free agents

New England Patriots coach Jerod Mayo knows the organization is not exactly a prime destination for free agents, as they enter a new era of roster reconstruction. He spoke about it on Monday at the NFL annual meeting.

The Patriots have several holes they need to fill on the roster, with quarterback being one of the top positions. Many had hoped the team would land a wide receiver in free agency, but that plan has not come to fruition. The organization may have the difficult task of rebuilding and trying to find success through the NFL draft.

“I would say there are various reasons why guys didn’t sign with us,” Mayo told reporters, via NESN.com’s Sean T. McGuire.. “Once again, the unknown is scary for a lot of people. And I would say even in our building right now it’s still unknown.”

Rebuilding the organization may be quite the process, with talent deficiencies at multiple positions.

It will be interesting to see how the team is constructed and how long the process takes. If anything, this statement proves that Mayo knows he has a tough task in front of him.

Jerod Mayo gives high praise to potential draft target Drake Maye

Jerod Mayo doesn’t see a ceiling for how good Drake Maye could be

New England Patriots coach Jerod Mayo had high praise for North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye, who is projected to be one of the top prospects in the 2024 NFL draft

With the Patriots owning the No. 3 overall pick, there’s a chance Maye could end up falling to them. It could be a match on draft night with the team needing a viable signal-caller for the future.

The organization has done their homework on quarterbacks throughout the pre-draft process, and they like the returns on Maye, who they met with at the NFL Scouting Combine earlier in the month.

Mayo shared his thoughts on the quarterback prospect at the NFL annual meeting.

“Drake Maye had a fantastic interview at the combine. He brings a lot of energy. You can tell he has that leadership ability,” said Mayo, per ESPN’s Mike Reiss. “Also the exciting part about a guy like Drake Maye, there is really no ceiling with a guy like that. In saying that, when we’re trying to put together this roster, I know a lot of people look at the ceiling But you also have to look at how low is the floor.

“I would say a guy like Drake Maye – he has a lot of room to grow. He’s a young guy. Honestly, he hasn’t played football nearly as much as these other guys. So that’s definitely something we’ve looked at, but he’s definitely going to develop.”

Maye would certainly be an upgrade in the New England quarterback room. His arm strength, as well as his mobility, give him a ton of upside as a potential future franchise quarterback.

Patriots open to trading 3rd overall pick ‘for a bag’

New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo left the door open for the Minnesota Vikings to trade up for third overall.

The NFL owners meetings are in full swing and there are a lot of conversations happening. A hot topic is the draft, which begins a month from today.

This morning, New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo talked with reporters and kept the door open for a team like the Minnesota Vikings to move up to the third overall pick.

“Look, we sit at a very enviable spot at No. 3 where we can take someone, or if someone offers ‘a bag,’ as we would say — you know, a lot of first-round picks — we definitely have to talk about those things,” Mayo said.

This is a far cry from earlier reports that the Patriots weren’t interested in trading down. Once the Vikings traded to get the No. 23 overall selection, the discussions surrounding a trade up got even stronger.

What is Mayo saying here? Is it really as simple as “give us the Godfather offer and we will trade the pick”? That’s what it seems like. Only time will tell whether it comes to fruition.

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Jerod Mayo comments on failure to sign WR Calvin Ridley in free agency

Jerod Mayo admits to feeling disappointed the team missed on wide receiver Calvin Ridley in free agency

New England Patriots coach Jerod Mayo admitted to feeling disappointed in missing out on wide receiver Calvin Ridley in free agency, when speaking at the NFL annual meeting on Sunday.

Ridley was thought to be one of the top receivers during the free agency period. He was coming off a 2023 season that saw him record 76 catches for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns. He ended up signing with the Tennessee Titans for four years and $92 million.

New England will likely have to add to their wide receiver group through the draft or via trade. However, it hasn’t all been bad for the Patriots. Mayo did note the importance of re-signing key in-house free agents, such as offensive lineman Mike Onwenu.

“The most important thing for us was to get our people back here. Re-sign our players — the Mike Onwenus of the world,” said Mayo, via ESPN’s Mike Reiss. “We have some good players that we like to keep and that’s kind of part of the culture that we want to build. Obviously, we were disappointed that Ridley went in a different direction, but we’re good. I like the direction that we’re going.”

New England still needs a true top wide receiver, which is something they have been missing for several years now.

The 2024 NFL draft is deep with receiver talent, and the Patriots should be in the mix to add to their roster. It all comes down to finding the right players and developing them well enough to compete.

Jerod Mayo issues message to Patriots fans frustrated by lack of offseason moves

Coach Jerod Mayo has a message for Patriots fans

We are closing in on two weeks of free agency, and the pitchforks are already coming out with New England Patriots fans frustrated by the lack of offseason moves made by the team.

Granted, they succeeded in keeping their top in-house free agents, but when it comes to adding game-changing talent on the outside, it has been nothing but the sound of crickets from the Patriots.

When speaking with media members at the NFL annual meeting, Patriots coach Jerod Mayo openly and honestly addressed the frustrations of fans.

“For Patriot fans, look, I understand the frustration,” said Mayo, via the Boston Herald’s Andrew Callahan. “I understand the expectation that was really built over the last 20 years, but at the same time, hopefully, the fans understand that we’re trying to build this the right way. And we’re trying to bring in pieces that we think are for the long-term. I think there’s a combination between bringing people in for the short-term, and you also have to think long-term and that’s always a hard thing to do.

“I would just ask Patriots fans for patience. Once again there will be players that hit the wire, free agents—guys that are explosive, whatever you want to say—there will be guys in the draft, there will be guys after the draft. So just kind of sit back and let us do our jobs going forward.”

The Patriots have struggled to bring in key free agents, mostly due to the uncertainties with their quarterback situation.

Of course, they could begin to change that by using the No. 3 overall pick to take Caleb Williams, Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels in the 2024 NFL draft. However, according to Mayo, the team is also open to trading down for more picks.

Jerod Mayo admits QB a priority, but Patriots will consider trade offers at No. 3

Jerod Mayo admitted the Patriots will be listening to trade offers for the No. 3 draft pick

As expected, the New England Patriots will be listening to trade calls for the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. Patriots coach Jerod Mayo confirmed the news at the first day of the NFL annual meeting on Sunday.

“Obviously, quarterback is definitely a priority. With that being said, we’re still open to any type of deals that come our way,” said Mayo, via ESPN’s Mike Reiss. “We’re very far [into] the process, but we still have a long way to go. Definitely feel like we have time to really nail down our prospects in who we are going to go after.”

It’s no surprise that the Patriots will actually be entertaining offers to trade down for more picks. Any teams, regardless of the draft spot, should always be in the business of listening.

But how much would it actually take to get the Patriots to agree to a deal?

That would depend on the team’s love for the players still on the board at No. 3. If there are doubts, they could opt to move back and stockpile picks to fill out their roster.

With that being said, nothing makes a team a more attractive destination for free agents than one with stability at the quarterback position, which is something the Patriots clearly don’t have right now.

If they’re going to trade down, it should be an arsenal of picks that make it impossible for them to say no.

Matthew Judon opens up on Bill Belichick exit and transition to new coaching staff

Matthew Judon paid respect to Bill Belichick, but he also admitted there’s renewed energy under the new coaching staff

New England Patriots linebacker Matthew Judon supported the changing of the guard at the head coaching position, when speaking on NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” on Wednesday.

Judon has been a pillar of the Patriots defense ever since he was signed by New England in March 2021. Injuries cut his season short last year, but it did not diminish from what has been a solid Patriots career so far. He has tallied 32 sacks in three seasons with New England and has been to two Pro Bowls.

He has watched the team struggle through its transition from the Tom Brady era with Bill Belichick running the show, and he believes it’s time for a fresh start.

“Belichick was a great coach. I looked up to him. I think he’s one of the best to ever do it at the clip that he did it and the high level I.Q. that he had. It was amazing to learn from him,” said Judon. “But I think with him leaving, there’s just new energy and new life in the building. Sometimes, I think it’s just time.

“I think with the hire of Mayo and bringing in somebody that’s been actually there for those years, that kind of understands player perspective and coaching and also how Coach Belichick actually ran the system—I think bringing in somebody like that instead of somebody that’s outside that didn’t know at all kind of helped us. It kind of helped because I think Mayo’s seen it go in one way, and he’s kind of trying to get it to go a different way. So, we got new life. We got new expectations.”

Time will tell how the results play out on the field, as New England looks to navigate a difficult road in the post-Belichick era. How New England adapts to the changes this season alone will be very telling.

Fantasy football reaction: 2024 NFL coaching changes recap

A fantasy football response to all of the coaching changes around the NFL.

Six of the eight new NFL head coaches are from the defensive side of the ball, which makes their choices at offensive coordinator that much more important. The two head men with a background coaching the offense — Dave Canales and Brian Callahan — both intend to call plays in addition to being their respective team’s final decision maker.

We’ll focus mostly on offensive changes for two primary factors: Fantasy defenses typically are interchangeable week to week and aren’t nearly as consequential, and defensive fantasy production tends to be far more personnel-driven than schematic success, outside of a few proven systems.

Patriots coach Jerod Mayo retracts ‘burning cash’ comments

Jerod Mayo is already walking back his comments that the Patriots are going to “burn some cash” in free agency

New England Patriots coach Jerod Mayo is walking back his comments about ‘burning some cash’ this offseason, as the team is set to begin free agency.

New England is at $77.9 million under the salary cap for 2024. So they’ll have plenty of money to spend in free agency to help rebuild the team after a 4-13 finish in the 2023 season.

The Patriots already hold a major asset in the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, but their plentiful cap space will give them an opportunity to build prior to that.

Mayo told MassLive.com’s Karen Guregian that he understands New England does not necessarily need to spend all of that money at one time, as  transcribed by NESN.com’s Keagan Stiefel.

“I kind of misspoke when I said ‘burn some cash’ but I was excited when you see those numbers,” Mayo told Guregian. “When you reflect on those numbers… you don’t have to spend all of it in one year.”

“This is going to be a process. I don’t want people to think, ‘you got $60 million, $70 million, whatever, so let’s get this guy, that guy, that guy,’ Mayo said. “… It may work for a couple games, or maybe a season, but it won’t work long term.”

The Patriots need to fill several areas on the roster to be competitive.

With that being said, it may be smart to take a more measured approach than just burning cash for the sake of it. The organization is in a position where each free-agent signing could change the trajectory of things, for better or worse.

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Deep dive into Patriots’ 2024 offensive coaching staff

Here’s what the new offensive coaching staff looks like for the Patriots

The New England Patriots are in preparation mode for the 2024 NFL off-season, after naming their full coaching staff under rookie head coach Jerod Mayo.

Mayo’s new staff includes 17 new coaches, all with different connection points and experiences that should make this a fun staff. The Patriots decided to completely clean house on offense and allow newly-hired offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt to have a say in his offensive staff. They are even employing quality control coaches and assistants, which is something that was atypical during Bill Belichick’s reign.

What I also like is that the Patriots have quite a few former players on staff, which is key to building a new culture and connecting earlier with young players.

Mayo and de facto general manager Eliot Wolf are surely trying to rebuild a winning culture and create a desire for others to come to New England. Relatability, connectivity and passion come to mind with this new-look coaching staff and front office.

We’re going to take a look at the offensive coaching staff for 2024 and dive deeper into each hire and what it means for the Patriots.