The Patriots now hold the first overall pick in next year's draft after the Giants won on Sunday, which has prompted a lot of debate about what they should do with that selection when the time comes, but more importantly, what they should do in their Week 18 matchup with the Bills next Sunday.
Because Buffalo has already locked up the second seed in the AFC playoffs, there is a belief that they may choose to rest the starters when they head to Foxboro next week. It would make sense, given they won't be playing for anything, but it is also questionable because Josh Allen's MVP campaign and stat padding would certainly help the cause.
If they do rest their best players, there's a good chance the Patriots could sneak out a last-second win and end the year with a 4-13 record. But that might not be the best course of action for a team that could strongly benefit from holding onto the most coveted draft pick in any given year.
Analysts and fans have toyed with the idea of New England resting Drake Maye for the game, especially after he had his "bell rung" in Saturday's matchup with the Chargers, leading to him going through concussion protocol before returning. Reporters asked Jerod Mayo about it on Monday morning, and he didn't exactly shut down the possibility of Maye being benched for the season finale.
Jerod Mayo again reiterated that everything is on the table when asked if Drake Maye will start this week on WEEI:
— Brian Hines (@iambrianhines) December 30, 2024
“It has nothing to do with [the hit he took]. It has everything to do with - it’s the last game of the season and we have to look forward.
“It’s a journey. It’s… https://t.co/c2hMdeIPMJ
It might be wiser for the Patriots to start Jacoby Brissett or Joe Milton III in Week 18
Mayo and the Patriots are in a complicated situation heading into the final game of the 2024 season, with a high draft pick at stake and the futures of the coaching staff hanging in the balance.
Although losing the game against the Bills would still result in a guaranteed top-five selection, there's a big difference between your options with the first overall pick and those lower down the draft board, making it far more desirable to hold onto the top selection.
That could inevitably play a role in deciding what is best for the team moving forward, which would seem to imply resting Maye since he presumably gives the team the highest chance to win. However, seemingly waving the white flag before the game even starts would not look favorable to the coaching staff, who might be fighting for their jobs.
It's not desirable for Mayo to be in this situation, and his job security might be the deciding factor, which makes sense to a degree. But the team's future is also important, which could benefit Mayo to help set up, too.