These six New England Patriots are on the cutting block as Alex Van Pelt takes over as offensive coordinator.
The New England Patriots unveiled their new offensive coordinator on Thursday. After working under Kevin Stefanski as the offensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns for the previous four seasons, former NFL quarterback Alex Van Pelt accepted a contract in New England.
Van Pelt also worked under Mike McCarthy for a number of years in Green Bay, where Aaron Rodgers was the quarterback. He interviewed for the same position not just with the New England Patriots but also with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but ultimately chose to work with Jerod Mayo.
There are fresh expectations when there’s a new play-caller. This might be a wise decision for the Patriots as a whole because they also need to make some offensive changes. However, these six players are now going to be cut come 2024.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe, sixth
Bailey Zappe, a Western Kentucky product and former fourth-round pick, has made eight starts in his brief career. As a rookie, he was able to lead New England to two victories and showed promise with a 70.7 completion % and five touchdowns.
But he wasn’t quite as reliable this season. With a 59.9 completion %, he had six touchdown passes versus nine interceptions. Even worse, with him at center, the team’s record was just 2-4.
Although that’s still better than the 2-9 under Mac Jones, the new coaching staff of the Patriots will demand more. Zappe may therefore be in jeopardy, particularly if they manage to acquire a seasoned quarterback who can lead the offense Van Pelt intends to implement.
5. Wide Receiver DeVante Parker
DeVante Parker and the Miami Dolphins seemed destined to part ways for a number of years. Despite having a few respectable seasons—including a 1,202-yard year in 2019—he was erratic overall. Nevertheless, he was talented enough that some thought he could succeed in a new environment.
When the Patriots sent Parker and a fifth-round pick to Miami in exchange for a third-round pick, he ultimately found that in New England. In the end, Parker was just one of several receivers that Bill Belichick pursued in his never-ending quest for solutions at the position. Parker, like many before him, was never quite up to par.
In his debut season with the team, Parker showcased decent performance, securing 31 catches for 539 yards and three touchdowns, although it fell short of the team’s expectations. Nonetheless, his impressive 17.4 yards per reception prompted an extension before the 2023 season. However, he later experienced a downturn in form.
In his illustrious career, Bill Belichick earned renown for his unconventional approach. Initially successful, his decisions grew more questionable with age, yielding diminishing returns. A stark instance occurred in 2022, when he surprised everyone by drafting Cole Strange, a guard from Tennessee at Chattanooga, at the 29th overall pick. This move was met with skepticism from the outset and continues to baffle observers. Matt Geagan of CBS scrutinized Belichick’s choice, branding it as part of a disappointing draft class.
Geagan remarked, “Only Bill Belichick would select an offensive lineman from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga on the first day of the draft. Strange was projected as a late Day 2 pick at best. Unfortunately, he hasn’t justified his draft position, facing injury setbacks and being sidelined mid-game for subpar performances.”
Interestingly, the most promising selection might have been Pierre Strong, but he was traded to Cleveland, where he flourished under Alex Van Pelt last season.
As for Strange, he still has much to prove and must mature as a player. His draft status no longer shields him from scrutiny, so he must demonstrate his worth on the field to earn his place.
Once heralded as one of the premier running backs in the league, Ezekiel Elliott spent his first seven seasons in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys. The former standout from Ohio State burst onto the scene in 2016, leading the league in rushing with an impressive 1,631 yards as a rookie. He replicated this feat in 2018, amassing 1,434 yards on the ground for the Cowboys.
Throughout his tenure with the Cowboys, Elliott was a workhorse, receiving a total of 2,186 touches, resulting in 10,598 yards gained and 80 touchdowns. However, the heavy workload took its toll on his body, culminating in a knee injury that hampered his performance during the 2022 season.
Following his release from the Cowboys, Elliott found a new home with the New England Patriots. Despite playing a complementary role to Rhamondre Stevenson, Elliott exceeded expectations, tallying 642 rushing yards and 313 receiving yards. Nonetheless, his yards per attempt continued to decline, averaging just 3.5 yards per rush.
As Elliott approaches free agency once again, his future with the Patriots appears uncertain, especially under the leadership of Alex Van Pelt. Van Pelt’s inclination to lean on Stevenson reduces the likelihood of Elliott remaining with the team. Van Pelt’s history with the Cleveland Browns, where he relied on veteran Kareem Hunt in the absence of their star, suggests a similar approach may be taken in New England. Unless there’s an unforeseen circumstance like an injury, it seems unlikely that Elliott will remain a Patriot moving forward.
During his tenure with the Atlanta Falcons, reports emerged that Bill Belichick insisted on retaining full control over all roster decisions, highlighting his penchant for maintaining authority. While Belichick has undeniably made successful roster moves, there have been notable deficiencies, particularly in the realm of acquiring wide receivers.
Despite occasional successes with players like Wes Welker and Julian Edelman, outside of a brief stint with Randy Moss, Belichick’s track record with wide receivers was largely underwhelming, a trend that persisted into his final years with the franchise.
One such example is JuJu Smith-Schuster, whose tenure with the Pittsburgh Steelers was marked by ups and downs. Following a one-year stint with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022, which culminated in a Super Bowl victory, Smith-Schuster secured a multi-year deal with the New England Patriots.
Expected to serve as their primary wide receiver, Smith-Schuster’s performance fell short, tallying just 29 receptions for 26 yards and a touchdown. His average of 9.0 yards per catch was underwhelming, with his statistics buoyed by a single 90-yard outing in his final game.
The Smith-Schuster contract, coupled with Belichick’s inability to maximize his potential, likely influenced the Falcons’ decision to relinquish Belichick’s sole control over roster decisions. Now, the focus shifts to whether Alex Van Pelt can rejuvenate the former Steelers wide receiver or if it’s time to cut ties and explore other options.
Mac Jones appeared poised to become the next franchise quarterback for New England at one point, but his trajectory took a sudden downturn. Selected in the first round of the 2021 draft, Jones guided the team to a 10-7 record in his rookie season. Despite an early exit from the playoffs, the team was optimistic about the progress made compared to the previous year’s losing campaign.
Jones, while not considered elite, performed adequately, completing 67.6 percent of his passes for 3,801 yards and 22 touchdowns. Though he threw 13 interceptions, it was a respectable showing for a rookie, as he consistently gave his team a chance to win.
However, in his second year, Jones began to struggle. The Patriots posted a 6-8 record with him as the starter, resulting in an overall losing season. Jones finished with 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, a disappointing regression from his rookie year. But the real shock came in 2023.
Following a dismal 2-9 start, Jones was benched amid reports of strained relations with Belichick. The third-year quarterback appeared to have lost his confidence, evidenced by his poor performance with more interceptions (12) than touchdowns (10), particularly struggling in the red zone.
A change of scenery might rejuvenate Jones, but it seems unlikely in New England. Reports suggest the team has no intention of exercising the fifth-year option in his contract. If Jones fails to demonstrate that his struggles haven’t disrupted the locker room, Van Pelt may see no value in retaining him for the upcoming season.
