The unlucky actuality is the New England Patriots don’t have a ton to be grateful for this Thanksgiving.
New England’s personnel division failed to deal with apparent wants final offseason, permitting for one of many worst rosters within the league. Jerod Mayo and the first-year teaching workers have lacked consistency and competence, as properly. And there’s little doubt wholesale adjustments will probably be made to the roster after below sub-.500 season.
However with that mentioned, the Patriots do have just a few issues to be glad about this season, with some maybe extra apparent than others:
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THEY HAVE THEIR FACE
Drake Maye is the plain No. 1 right here. Maye has proven traits of a franchise quarterback each on the sector (arm power, mobility, diagnosing defenses, and so forth.) and off the sector (management, toughness, resilience, and so forth). The third general decide already has exceeded expectations and has coaches, teammates and opponents praising him. Maye appears to be like able to blossoming right into a legit prime (insert quantity right here) quarterback together with his Josh Allen-like skillset in a Justin Herbert-like body.
BILL BELICHICK’S PARTING GIFT
There was lots to second-guess relating to Belichick’s early-round draft historical past over time, however his last first-rounder is a house run. Christian Gonzalez is New England’s second-most gifted participant behind Maye, one of many league’s prime younger cornerbacks. Gonzalez has lined up in opposition to prime wideouts routinely this season and ceaselessly gained his matchups. He restricted Ja’Marr Chase (three catches, 15 yards), DK Metcalf (4 receptions, 27 yards), Garrett Wilson (5 receptions, 33 yards), Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel (two receptions, 12 yards), Rome Odunze and DJ Moore (one catch, 18 yards) in addition to Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill (two receptions, 24 yards in Week 12), per Professional Soccer Focus. The No. 17 decide within the 2023 NFL Draft ought to stay in Foxboro, Mass. for the lengthy haul.
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THEY HAVE THE ASSETS
Thankfully for the Patriots, wholesale roster adjustments are achievable this offseason. New England is anticipated to have a prime decide within the 2025 NFL Draft — the Patriots maintain the No. 4 decide getting into Week 13. It offers them to alternative to deal with their greatest want (offensive deal with) early within the draft. The Patriots even have $139 million in wage cap area getting into 2025, per Spotrac. They shouldn’t be outbid for his or her most desired wideout, which might assist tackle arguably the second-biggest want. They’ve loads of property to deal with cornerback and pass-rusher — oh yeah, and did we point out the offensive line is a large number?
BARMORE IS BACK
Christian Barmore was hospitalized with blood clots at first of coaching camp, about three months after New England signed the defensive deal with to a four-year, $92 million contract extension. Given the severity of the scenario, it was unknown whether or not Barmore would return in 2024. Or return in any respect, really. Nicely, Barmore returned after lacking the primary 10 video games and recorded his first sack of the season Sunday. It’s unlikely he’ll return to his dominant kind this season, however there’s an excellent likelihood he’ll get again there in 2025. His presence has been sorely missed.
HONORABLE MENTION: No less than they’re not the New York Jets.
