People have been picking the New England Patriots to finish with the NFL’s worst record this season, but they did surprise many with a Week 1 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Patriots are hoping rookie quarterback Drake Maye, who is currently the backup behind starter Jacoby Brissett, will become their next franchise signal-caller and a true heir apparent to Tom Brady, who left after the 2019 season.
New England also thinks it has a budding star in second-year defensive end Keion White, who registered 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble in the Week 1 win.
Former Patriots defensive end Rob Ninkovich, a two-time Super Bowl champion, said he feels the organization should give White a contract extension before his price possibly increases greatly in the coming months and years.
“You’re gonna have to pay him early,” Ninkovich said, via Carlos Talks Pats. “… As long as he keeps playing, and if he makes a lot of plays this year, his price just keeps going up and up and up.”
Rob Ninkovich thinks the #Patriots should “pay Keion White early” to avoid his price increasing.
“You’re gonna have to pay him early. You pay— you try to pay Keion White early… if he has another 2.5 (sacks) and then he’s at 5 (sacks)… it’s hard to pass up 100 million bucks… pic.twitter.com/F7Z5s6kN4W
— Carlos Talks Pats (@LosTalksPats) September 13, 2024
White had a modest rookie season when he posted just one sack, five quarterback hits, three tackles for loss, three passes defended and 26 total tackles (12 solo) in 16 games (four starts).
But he was very impressive to start his second NFL season, especially when one of his sacks came with just over seven minutes left in a third-down situation to prevent Cincinnati from eating into New England’s six-point lead.
Given the rebuilding situation the Patriots are in, they need to manage their assets well in order to retain enough salary cap space to bring in some veterans who can help them return to the playoffs sooner rather than later.
Since Brady left for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New England has finished with a winning record just once in four seasons, and last year it was 4-13, its worst mark since 1992.
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Patriots Coordinator Provides Update On Drake Maye