The New England Patriots used to own the AFC and were a consistent presence in the AFC Championship game. After the Chiefs beat the Ravens on Sunday, it is clear that the number one priority of the 2024 off-season for New England should be a top tier quarterback. It is clear around the league that a star at the quarterback position is incredibly important. Watching Patrick Mahomes just completely take over against Baltimore just shows why the quarterback is the most important position in all of sports. Take a look at the Cincinnati Bengals, they were one of the worst teams in the league until selecting Joe Burrow. Burrow has completely changed not only the win percentage in Cincinnati, but the culture as well. Burrow and the Bengals are now to be feared in the playoffs, especially after Burrow went into Kansas City and took down Patrick Mahomes a couple seasons ago. This just shows that if the Patriots wish to get back into the mix they need to take a big swing, which could mean trading up to number one overall in the NFL Draft in April and selecting Caleb Williams.
The Patriots have a lot of holes on the offensive side of the ball, so they should only be willing to trade up if it doesn’t cost them too much in draft capital. New England currently holds the number three pick in the draft so moving up only two places shouldn’t cost too much. Jerod Mayo will most likely be looking to make a big splash in his first NFL Draft as head coach, so moving around the draft board shouldn’t be out of the question.
Caleb Williams is an incredibly talented player. He has drawn comparisons to Patrick Mahomes because of the way he can improvise when a play breaks down. Some of the throws he makes also remind many people of Mahomes. His ability to scramble around and make off-platform throws to extend a play is nothing short of incredible. Williams is easily the most talented quarterback in the draft and he has the potential to become a superstar and face of the NFL. New England hasn’t had consistent quarterback play since Mac Jones’ rookie year in 2021. The Foxborough Faithful is dreaming of one of these talented playmakers at the quarterback position, and with good reason. The NFL is run by elite quarterbacks, and without one, it is highly unlikely a team will have a shot at a Super Bowl.
What could Caleb Williams in New England look like? The AFC continues to get better and better every year with the addition of new talent. For example, CJ Stroud just lifted the Houston Texans to a playoff game only a season after being one of the worst teams in the league. Could we see this happen in New England if the Patriots make Caleb Williams a priority? The Patriots have a great defense and with some key additions in free agency and the draft, could put Williams in prime position to make his rookie year a success. Even with a less than average offensive line in Foxborough, the Patriots could still be relevant with Williams running the offense because of how talented he is at scrambling, extending plays, and throwing on the run. If Williams could have a CJ Stroud like impact on the New England offense, as well as the high powered defense they already have, the Patriots could be back in the mix of the playoffs within a single season.
Could Williams Endure the Gauntlet of the AFC?
As mentioned earlier, the AFC is run by elite quarterbacks, Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, and more. With the NFL Playoffs being as competitive as they are, it is even more difficult when you look at the number of stars leading opposing teams. If the Patriots take a chance on Caleb Williams, he will need to be able to go head to head with the league’s best. It will be a very difficult task and it may take a couple of seasons to get the confidence he needs to make a name for himself at the NFL level. The best possible outcome for New England would be is if Williams lives up to the hype and the AFC gets yet another amazing weapon at the quarterback position. Making New England once again relevant and making the playoffs that much more fun to watch every season. It is very intriguing to think of the Patriots potentially landing another star quarterback and hopefully running the AFC after twenty years with the greatest of all time in Tom Brady.