Ahead of rookie minicamp this weekend, the New England Patriots rookie jersey numbers were revealed on Friday morning.
On Thursday, the New England Patriots’ 2024 rookie class reported to Gillette Stadium ahead of the start of rookie minicamp this weekend. Before their first practice, the rookies were given their jersey numbers for the 2024 season. The team announced those numbers on Friday.
For the better part of the second half of Bill Belichick’s tenure as head coach, rookies weren’t assigned their real jersey numbers until just before the preseason game. Instead the first draft pick would get No. 50 as a place holder, the second pick No. 51, etc. with the idea being the rookie had to ‘earn’ their numbers.
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This year, Jerod Mayo is making a change. All of the numbers assigned to this year’s draft picks are numbers that fit for their positions and could continue into the regular season (but that doesn’t mean they won’t change after roster cuts, as players sometimes do).
Here’s a look at this year’s Patriots rookie jersey numbers as rookie minicamp gets underway…
QB Drake Maye: 10
Nov 12, 2022; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye (10) calls out the cadence during the second half against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Truist Field. Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Maye’s number was already known after the Patriots’ social media team shared his locker setup when he made his initial visit to Gillette Stadium after the draft. Maye takes the number over from Mac Jones, who was the Patriots’ last first-round pick at quarterback. 10 was also worn by Jimmy Garoppolo, another Patriots quarterback draft pick who was once viewed as a potential future franchise quarterback.
WR Ja’Lynn Polk: 1
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – OCTOBER 21: Ja’Lynn Polk #2 of the Washington Huskies warms up before the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Husky Stadium on October 21, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Polk wore two numbers in college. Last year he was No. 2, which is currently taken by veteran wide receiver K.J. Osborn. Before that he wore No. 12, which obviously wasn’t happening either. Instead he takes over No. 1, which last year belonged to wide receiver DeVante Parker.
OT Caedan Wallace: 70
Penn State’s Caedan Wallace (79) during fourth quarter action of the game with Michigan. The No. 23/23 Nittany Lions fell to No. 9/8/6 Michigan, 21-17, in a Big Ten matchup at Beaver Stadium on Saturday November 13, 2021. Photo by Mark Selders
Wallace wore No. 79 in college, but that number is retired by the Patriots for defensive tackle Jim Lee Hunt. Instead he’ll wear No. 70. That number was last worn briefly by defensive tackle Jeremiah Pharms before he switched to No. 98 last year. It hasn’t been worn regularly by any Patriots player since guard Logan Mankins wore it from 2005 to 2013.
IOL Layden Robinson: 63
ARLINGTON, TX – September 30, 2023 – Offensive lineman Layden Robinson #64 of the Texas A&M Aggies and Offensive lineman Chase Bisontis #71 of the Texas A&M Aggies during the game between the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Texas A&M Aggies at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Photo By Aiden Shertzer/Texas A&M Athletics
Robinson wore No. 64 in college, but that’s currently taken by tackle Andrew Stueber. Instead he gets No. 63, which hasn’t been worn by the Patriots player since Yasir Durant in 2021. The last player to wear the number for multiple seasons was center Dan Connolly from 2008 to 2014. Only two other players – Tre’ Jackson and Brian Schwenke – have worn it since.
WR Javon Baker: 6
Javon Baker | Photo by: Conor Kvatek
Baker wore No. 1 at UCF, but it seems like Polk got to that number first. Prior to transferring to UCF from Alabama, he wore No. 5, but that’s taken by Jabrill Peppers. Instead he ends up with No. 6, which was worn by Christian Gonzalez last year (he’s switching to No. 0 this year).
DB Marcellas Dial: 27
CLEMSON, SOUTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 26: Marcellas Dial #24 of the South Carolina Gamecocks celebrates breaking up a Clemson Tigers third down pass in the fourth quarter at Memorial Stadium on November 26, 2022 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
In college Dial wore both No. 24 and No. 6. Those are both taken currently in New England. He’ll take over No. 27, which belong to Myles Bryant for for the last two seasons and J.C. Jackson for four seasons before that.
QB Joe Milton: 19
KNOXVILLE, TN – November 25, 2023 – Quarterback Joe Milton III #7 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
No. 19 became the de facto number for the Patriots’ third-string quarterbacks last year. It was worn by both Will Grier and Matt Corral. Now, it’s Milton’s turn. His college No. 7 is currently taken by JuJu Smith-Schuster, but Milton could be a candidate to change his number before the regular season if he makes the team and Smith-Schuster doesn’t.
TE Jaheim Bell: 88
Florida State tight end Jaheim Bell carries the ball against Pittsburgh. Credit: Florida State Athletics
The eighth pick gets No. 88. Bell wore No. 23, No. 0, and No. 6 during the course of his college career – all of which are taken in New England. Mike Gesicki wore 88 last year.
UDFAs
Nov 18, 2023; Corvallis, Oregon, USA; Oregon State Beavers running back Deshaun Fenwick (1) runs the ball during the fourth quarter against the Washington Huskies at Reser Stadium. Credit: Craig Strobeck-USA TODAY Sports
The Patriots didn’t release the jersey numbers for their undrafted rookies on Friday. However, we’ll get those numbers during Saturday’s open rookie minicamp practice.
