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FOXBOROUGH, Ma s. (AP) A smattering of Patriots fans stood outside the gates to Gillette Stadium on Friday hoping to catch a glimpse of the franchises latest attempt to find its next franchise quarterback. Drake Maye, who was by New England in the opening round of Thursdays NFL draft was about to meet with reporters for photos on the field. Fans were already wearing Patriots Maye jerseys, complete with the No. 10 that he wore in college at North Carolina.That number, coincidentally, was also worn by former New England quarterback Mac Jones, who was traded earlier this offseason. It led a few of the fans to repurpose their old Jones No. Orlando Cepeda Jersey 10 Patriots jerseys by placing tape over his name and writing in Mayes. ADVERTISEMENT Homemade ingenuity aside, it was emblematic of just how hopeful New Englands fanbase is that this latest move at the position and this draft will be the one to stabilize a team thats gone just 29-38 since the exit of future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady.Im glad Im going to an organization that knows how to win, has done it before and Im just ready to get things going, Maye said. Time will tell if that was an empty promise or prophecy.Mayes selection was part of a relatively straightforward three days of picks for New England, which entered hoping to fill a variety of needs on a team that finished 4-13 in what turned out to be longtime coach Bill Belichicks final R.A. Dickey Jersey season with the team. Director of scouting Eliot Wolf has taken over the de factor general manager role once held by Belichick. Despite acknowledging receiving some trade overtures for the third pick during the draft proce s, Wolf was clear that they felt this rebuild need to start at filling their hole at starting quarterback and the overall offense.New England wound up making eight picks, with seven coming on offense. There were different points throughout the proce s where there were trades, but all along we knew we were in a unique opportunity here to get a quarterback that we liked, and we were obviously able to do that, Wolf said. ADDING SUPPORTWolf made good on his promise to beef up the options at the skill positions. Receiver has been a need for consecutive drafts and the Patriots added a pair in Washingtons JaLynn Polk (second round) and UCFs Javon Baker (fourth round) Hank Aaron Jersey .Polk was a little bit of a surprise selection, with higher-rated options such as Georgias Ladd McConkey, who was selected by the Chargers after swapping the No. 37 pick for No. 34 with New England. What Polk doesnt have in speed (ran 4.52 40-yard dash), he makes up for with a propensity to catch pa ses in tight windows. Ratings aside, Wolf said the goal going in was to add more options to the receiving group for Maye. I just think we need to support him in any way we can, Wolf said. We need to add some weapons to the offense. ... We have good players already at those positions but really just increasing the depth and the competition.NOT JUST MAYEMaye wasnt the only quarterback the Patriots selected, adding Tenne sees Joe Milton III in the sixth round. New Englands quarterback room currently stands at five, with the incoming rookies joining Jacoby Bri sett, Bailey Zappe and Nathan Rourke. While not all are expected to be on the roster by training camp, it should make for a competitive summer, according to Jerod Mayo. Were in the busine s of trying to get good football players through the door, and Milton happens to be one of them, Mayo said. Obviously, he Chipper Jones Jersey understands we took a quarterback at (No.) 3 in Drake (Maye). One thing that we preach is competition. Everything is about competition, and nothing is given. All of its earned. Thats how we Tom Glavine Jersey thought about the proce s.O-LINE EMPHASISWhenever Maye plays, hell need to be protected a lot better than Jones was last season when the Patriots offensive line ranked last in the NFL with a pa s block win rate of just 42%. That meant selecting back-to-back linemen in the third in fourth rounds with Penn State tackle Caedan Wallace and Texas A&M guard Layden Robinson. The free agency departure of Trent Brown created a need at left tackle. Wallace played on the right side in college, but the Patriots believe he can shift over. And with 2022 first-round pick and left guard Cole Strange working his way back from a knee injury, Robinson will could provide solid depth or potentially even challenge for a starting role. ___
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