New England Patriots fans may be excited for the future of the organization, given all of the young talent on their roster. However, the latest ESPN ranking for under-25 talent isn’t nearly as optimistic for the Patriots.
ESPN’s Aaron Schatz ranked young talent around the NFL, and he put the Patriots at 25th overall in under-25 talent.
It’s a tough conclusion when considering the players on the Patriots’ roster. Cornerback Christian Gonzalez and quarterback Drake Maye were both listed as blue-chip young talent for the Patriots.
Gonzalez is looking to bounce back after a season-ending injury as a rookie, following a solid four-game stretch. On the other hand, Maye is looking to reignite the Patriots’ offense after a dismal season last year.
Schatz reviewed where the Patriots currently stand regarding the young talent on their roster.
He wrote:
The Patriots don’t have as much young talent as you would expect from a rebuilding team, but there are some strong young assets here. The top one is Maye, the quarterback of the future and this year’s No. 3 overall pick.
The other top name to know is a 2023 first-round pick: 22-year-old cornerback Gonzalez. He got to play only four games as a rookie because of a torn labrum but was impressive in that first month. He had one interception, one sack and 17 tackles before his injury.
The Patriots certainly have more standouts than just Gonzalez and Maye.
Defensive tackle Christian Barmore, wide receiver DeMario Douglas and running back Rhamondre Stevenson also come to mind. Second-year players Marte Mapu and Keion White also figure to be a key part of the equation moving forward on what is already a stacked defensive unit.
It’s fair to be cautious when rating Patriots rookies, given the unknowns that come with such players. Nevertheless, there’s plenty of room for excitement for the future and what it could potentially bring to New England.
