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Jerod Mayo shares message to Patriots fans underwhelmed by slow offseason
"Hopefully, the fans understand that we’re trying to build this the right way."
There was plenty of optimism in Foxborough at the start of this offseason.
Even with New England starting anew with Jerod Mayo as head coach, the Patriots were seemingly poised to “burn some cash” in an effort to improve a roster that went 4-13 in 2023.
But even with New England sitting atop the NFL with over $100 million in available cap space at the start of free agency, the Patriots have focused most of their efforts this month on retaining players like Mike Onwenu, Hunter Henry, Kendrick Bourne, and Kyle Dugger.
New England has also signed a few playmakers like running back Antonio Gibson and wide receiver K.J. Osborn, but the team has not added a marquee target on the open market — even with all of their fiscal flexibility.
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The Patriots pushed hard to sign No. 1 wideout Calvin Ridley, but the former Jaguars receiver opted to sign a four-year, $92 million deal with the Titans on March 13.
Even with multiple key contributors back in New England, the case can be made that the Patriots have done little to significantly improve its roster over the last few weeks.
Speaking to reporters at the NFL annual meeting in Orlando, Mayo stressed that he understands the consternation broadcasted by fans in regards to the team’s quiet offseason.
“For Patriots fans, look, I understand the frustration,” Mayo told reporters. “I understand the expectation has been 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 of bringing people in for the short-term, but also you have to think long-term. That’s always the hard thing to do.
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“I would just ask Patriots fans for patience. Look, once again, there will be players that hit the wire, free agents, guys that are exposed, whatever you want to say. There will be guys in the draft, there will be guys after the draft. So just sit back and kind of let us do our job going forward.”
Given the number of vacancies at critical areas of New England’s depth chart, the writing has been on the wall for months now that the Patriots are staring at a multi-year rebuild as they try to re-assert themselves as a dominant power in the NFL.
Of course, the Patriots’ full offseason outlook has not yet been realized — with the 2024 NFL Draft still a month away. Any concerns over the Patriots’ long-term future will become more prominent if New England doesn’t add at least a top quarterback, tackle, or wide-receiver prospect in late April.
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