The New England Patriots won their final game of the season, defeating the Buffalo Bills 23-16. This win caused a ripple effect on the team and organization in the events following the game. The Patriots were set to get the #1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft if they lost this game, and it seemed like everyone was on board with it. The fanbase wanted the first pick, and for most of the game, New England sent out their third-string quarterback, Joe Milton III. But, because of the win, the New England Patriots drop three spots in the draft and will select 4th overall.
New England Patriots Fans Upset
The New England Patriots fanbase was adamant in wanting the #1 pick. Many fans thought that selecting a player like Travis Hunter would be great for a team in need of receivers and pairing him with Christian Gonzalez would make for a deadly secondary. Fans also thought that since the Patriots already have a quarterback of the future in Drake Maye, that they could use the #1 pick as a trade asset. They could have traded down a few spots with a team that needs a quarterback and acquire more draft picks for the future. But now, with the quarterback needy teams ahead of them, trading back has lost its value.
Joe Milton III’s Impressive Debut
Interestingly enough, the New England Patriots coaching staff seemed to also want the #1 pick. After one drive with Drake Maye, Jerod Mayo decided to put in Joe Milton III at quarterback. Milton had not played a snap all season but came out against the Buffalo Bills backups and looked very promising. Drafted in the sixth-round out of Tennessee, Milton had a strong arm that intrigued many scouts. That arm was put to use, as he threw for 241 yards and a touchdown. Even if Buffalo was not playing key starters, the Milton made many impressive plays, showing that he belongs in the NFL.
Some believed that the New England Patriots head coach, Jerod Mayo, would be coaching for his job and try to win the game at all costs. The Patriots did win, but benching Drake Maye for Joe Milton III gave the indication that they wanted the #1 pick. But Milton impressed many with his ability. He pushed the ball down the field, scrambled, and hit throws in tight windows. The Bills offense could not do much with Mitch Trubisky, so Milton essentially played the New England Patriots out of the #1 draft pick.
The New England Patriots Offseason
Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Democrat And Chronicle
This victory set an interesting New England Patriots offseason in motion. Almost immediately after the game, the Patriots fired Jerod Mayo. Mayo had a disappointing first season and looked out of his element with the head coaching responsibilities. It will be interesting to see who the Patriots bring in as their next head coach and how the coaching staff changes. Many fans want offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt gone as well, so these will be unfolding developments to keep an eye on for the team and the development of Drake Maye.
Falling to the 4th overall pick leaves the New England Patriots in a predicament. They have many holes to fill on their roster, but thankfully, one of those holes is not at quarterback. So, when they select at #4, two of the three picks ahead of them will likely be quarterbacks. The biggest needs to address are offensive line, receivers, and defense. If Travis Hunter is still on the board, the Patriots could take him, but a player as talented as Hunter may not fall that far. If Hunter is not available, the Patriots could go many different directions.
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