The Patriots’ 2024 season finale was eventful in a variety of ways.
Most notably, New England lost control of the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft by beating the Buffalo Bills in Week 18. The season-ending showdown at Gillette Stadium also marked the end of the road for Jerod Mayo, who was fired almost immediately after the game clock showed all zeroes.
But one bright spot for the Patriots coming out of that early January clash was the emergence of a new asset. Joe Milton III was very impressive in his NFL debut and showed off a skill set that is hard to come by behind center.