The first half of the 2024 regular season was not particularly kind to the New England Patriots. The team of first-year head coach Jerod Mayo had to face all sorts of challenges between player availability, internal rumblings, and performance on the field.
Hanging over his and the rest of the team’s heads, meanwhile, is the Sword of Damocles that is a 2-7 record. As one of the worst teams in the NFL so far this season, the Patriots appear headed toward a top-five selection in the draft for a second straight year.
While such a pick would be a valuable asset for the rebuilding franchise, the Patriots are not in the business of tanking for draft position: they want to use the back nine of the season to get better, and preferably win some more games.