Patriots 2023 Season

[SparzWizard]

Sean Payton just had a masterclass on how to lose. Can't believe that clown was valued as a 1st round pick in a trade.

Sean Payton is garbage. Couldn't win in New Orleans without Bountygate, still can't rally his new team with the Broncos. This was a must-win home game for them and they couldn't beat the sorry-- Patriots.

[CelticsWhat35]

I see the Pats are now slotted at #4 because Washington has a worse SOS.  They also close against two teams with really good records.  Would that mean if they both end up with 4 wins, the Pats move to #3?

[Neurotic Guy]

I see the Pats are now slotted at #4 because Washington has a worse SOS.  They also close with two really games.  Would that mean if they both end up with 4 wins, the Pats move to #3?

I realize people can’t tolerate the idea of rooting to lose, but I’ve embraced it completely.  I can’t get my head around yesterday’s win as a positive.  Maybe a few years from now if Drake Maye becomes a bonafide bust, but for now it feels like the loss of an opportunity to have a chance at a franchise QB - the biggest difference maker in all of sports.

That said, being #3 is better than 4 so I’m also interested in whether the Pats destiny for 3 is in their own hands. 

Curious what you all think is the right move if Pats get the third or fourth pick?  MHJ? Daniels? Move down?

[Phantom255x]

I see the Pats are now slotted at #4 because Washington has a worse SOS.  They also close with two really games.  Would that mean if they both end up with 4 wins, the Pats move to #3?

I realize people can’t tolerate the idea of rooting to lose, but I’ve embraced it completely.  I can’t get my head around yesterday’s win as a positive.  Maybe a few years from now if Drake Maye becomes a bonafide bust, but for now it feels like the loss of an opportunity to have a chance at a franchise QB - the biggest difference maker in all of sports.

That said, being #3 is better than 4 so I’m also interested in whether the Pats destiny for 3 is in their own hands. 

Curious what you all think is the right move if Pats get the third or fourth pick?  MHJ? Daniels? Move down?

I think because Washington plays Dallas and San Francisco, if both NE + WAS finish the same record, NE will sneak past them for #3 based on SOS. Of course, if WAS loses out and NE wins 1 more that point goes out the window.

A lot will also depend on Arizona. Do they love Maye a ton, or are they fine with Kyler Murray and prefer to add MHJ to the team to help them? If the latter, Maye can still be available at #3, or through trading up with AZ one spot.

Personally, I would do one of three things if we have #3. Either...

1.  Take Maye outright (or trade up with AZ to take him if AZ is fine with Murray)

OR

2. Trade down for an OT + draft a QB late 1st/early 2nd + take Keion Coleman in the 2nd round. Basically add an OT, WR and developmental QB this way within the first two rounds. Meanwhile you're probably in the market for a QB in FA (like Cousins, or Mayfield, etc.)

OR

3. Trade down, take Jayden Daniels around 6-8, and then with whatever additional pick(s) you get in the 1st and 2nd round, use on a tackle and/or WR.

This draft is actually pretty loaded on offense. QBs, tackles, guards, even WRs (it's not just MHJ, there are other names like Nabers, Coleman, etc.)

[green_bballers13]

I'm happy to see them pick up this win, and hope they win the next two. The draft is too much of a crapshoot. Everyone was anointing Caleb Williams and Drake Maye before they actually played football this year with mixed results. Build both lines with tough players, pick up some talent at the skill positions, and keep going.

We got a 20 year amazing ride. I feel the need to appreciate them in the down times too.

Merry Christmas!

[Roy H.]

I see the Pats are now slotted at #4 because Washington has a worse SOS.  They also close with two really games.  Would that mean if they both end up with 4 wins, the Pats move to #3?

I realize people can’t tolerate the idea of rooting to lose, but I’ve embraced it completely.  I can’t get my head around yesterday’s win as a positive.  Maybe a few years from now if Drake Maye becomes a bonafide bust, but for now it feels like the loss of an opportunity to have a chance at a franchise QB - the biggest difference maker in all of sports.

That said, being #3 is better than 4 so I’m also interested in whether the Pats destiny for 3 is in their own hands. 

Curious what you all think is the right move if Pats get the third or fourth pick?  MHJ? Daniels? Move down?

If they're at #3, there's a chance the Bears let ithe #1 go for a modest asking price.  It depends on how motivated the Bears are to be in a position to draft Harrison.  If they don't want Harrison as much as the fans do, they'll sell to the highest bidder (Raiders?)

[Donoghus]

I see the Pats are now slotted at #4 because Washington has a worse SOS.  They also close with two really games.  Would that mean if they both end up with 4 wins, the Pats move to #3?

I realize people can’t tolerate the idea of rooting to lose, but I’ve embraced it completely.  I can’t get my head around yesterday’s win as a positive.  Maybe a few years from now if Drake Maye becomes a bonafide bust, but for now it feels like the loss of an opportunity to have a chance at a franchise QB - the biggest difference maker in all of sports.

That said, being #3 is better than 4 so I’m also interested in whether the Pats destiny for 3 is in their own hands. 

Curious what you all think is the right move if Pats get the third or fourth pick?  MHJ? Daniels? Move down?

Harrison and I don’t think twice about it.

[Moranis]

You take Harrison if he is available, but no way I take Daniels at 3 or 4. Way too high for him.  If you can't get Harrison (or Maye) and don't find a trade you like, you take the best lineman whoever that is amongst, Fashanu, Alt, or Latham.

[green_bballers13]

You take Harrison if he is available, but no way I take Daniels at 3 or 4. Way too high for him.  If you can't get Harrison (or Maye) and don't find a trade you like, you take the best lineman whoever that is amongst, Fashanu, Alt, or Latham.

I'm not sure if Wiliams, Maye, Daniels, or Pennix will be good. I could see them all succeeding, and I could see them all struggle. If I had a more optimistic view of these QBs, I would prob care about the draft position more. I'm happy with one of the best tackles with a top 10 pick.

[Goldstar88]

So our struggling kicker might have just cost us Drake Maye or MHJ...

But hey, if he can keep making those I'll be happy. That was actually a beautiful kick and looked effortless. Folk isn't hitting 56 yarders consistently, he doesn't have that range. That's where I will give Ryland the benefit of the doubt.

And yeah, the Pats were clearly playing for OT. Payton really messed up taking those timeouts lol, in a way he helped NE especially after they managed to convert that 3rd down.

I may be way off base, but I think Drake Maye has huge bust potential.

I agree. He hasn’t looked very impressive, IMO.

[Greenblood35]

You take Harrison if he is available, but no way I take Daniels at 3 or 4. Way too high for him.  If you can't get Harrison (or Maye) and don't find a trade you like, you take the best lineman whoever that is amongst, Fashanu, Alt, or Latham.

Guys over on Patriots Today/Chat Sports made a great point that it is a lot harder to find a stud Tackle than stud Wide Receiver. Basically, saying that as much superstar potential as Harrison Jr. has, Alt has that at Tackle. It's not as sexy a position, but certainly one of the most important. You draft him you have a 6'8" monster protecting your QB for the next 10-15 years. Preference would still be to take Wiliams/Maye but if you can't draft there or trade up, it wouldn't be a bad way to start rebuilding this team.

[A Future of Stevens]

I was pretty upset the Patriots won that game. If there is a year to shoot yourself in the foot to move out of the top two, this is the year. In addition to two highly rated QB prospects, this draft has to super elite blue chip tackles, and the best WR prospect at least since Chase but more likely Megatron.

As echoed above, you want Williams or Maye, but a beast of a tackle (I like Olu but Alt is awesome too) or MHJ are great consolation prizes.

The true scary issue happens when we beat the Bills this weekend 

Edit: I am actually in the camp that if you end up 3 or 4, you should trade up to 2. I just think both QB prospects have what you are looking for at QB.

[A Future of Stevens]

This is probably a stupid question, but when sites show SOS, is that SOS up until THIS point? Or is it the SOS of the total schedule at the current moment?

For example, is the Pats listed SOS based on 15 games? Or does it count the current record of their next two opponents?

Edit: I should have looked before asking. It is based on the full 17 game schedule. That isn't great for us.

[SparzWizard]

This is probably a stupid question, but when sites show SOS, is that SOS up until THIS point? Or is it the SOS of the total schedule at the current moment?

For example, is the Pats listed SOS based on 15 games? Or does it count the current record of their next two opponents?

Edit: I should have looked before asking. It is based on the full 17 game schedule. That isn't great for us.

Chad Ryland needs to get the punishment walking through Foxboro and Boston from Patriots fans. Missed the assignment.

[Phantom255x]

I'm starting to think if they have #3 or #4, they might trade down to the 6-8 range, draft either an OT, or Jayden Daniels, and then with an additional late 1st or early 2nd round pick maybe take a WR like Coleman from Florida State.

Obviously the big question is, how do they feel about Jayden Daniels. If they love him, they could just take him outright. If not, then it's probably drafting a legit tackle (Latham, Atl or Fashanu), and then either getting a QB late 1st round or early 2nd (like Penix/Nix, etc.) or drafting a WR.

Call me crazy but I'm sort of coming around to Baker Mayfield. He's still just 28 years old and the Pats definitely had interest in him in the 2018 draft. He's having a great year, might get a similar deal that Geno Smith did which to me would be fine. If you're already drafting a legit tackle and maybe adding a WR in the draft, you can afford to splurge a little on QB, but it's not like Geno's contract in today's league is "detrimental". The defense is already mostly set too with Judon + Gonzalez returning.

And yeah, maybe he doesn't "thread the needle" but what QB in the draft does if you can't get Williams/Maye? Some of these guys could end up being busts too especially after Williams/Maye/Daniels. This team will have a ton of cap space after this season as well.