It sounds like a broken record at this point to discuss the last four years in New England and the hardships they've had since Tom Brady decided to leave the team in 2020. But the hole left on the team in the legendary quarterback's absence has been difficult for the Patriots to recover from for a variety of reasons, all of which have led them to another losing season in 2024.
To make matters worse, the firing of Bill Belichick and the promotion of an inexperienced coach added even more challenges for the team to overcome this year, and it certainly hasn't helped that much of the coaching staff isn't much more tenured, either.
The biggest takeaway from another disappointing season has universally been agreed upon: the drafting and progression of rookie quarterback Drake Maye. After the failed experiment with Mac Jones, it looks like the Patriots got it right this time, and the UNC alum could be what makes the Patriots a desirable team to play for again.
He might be the only positive outcome of this year, which Patriots reporter Mike Reiss believes sets them apart from the other bottom-of-the-league teams as we near the offseason.
The success of Drake Maye makes the Patriots a better destination than other struggling teams
The lack of a solid quarterback was among the long list of concerns about the Patriots' future and attracting free agents. They look to have already found that in Maye, which Reiss says puts the Patriots ahead of the other teams undergoing a losing season and needing drastic improvements during the next offseason.
"That’s the silver lining and as Zo said after the game, people should be angry. I think when you step back from that emotion and start comparing the Patriots situation to others around the league, teams that you’d lump them in with, like the Raiders, and this is not a very flattering group of teams.
The Jets, the Panthers, the Giants, the Titans. They’re in the best situation among the worst teams in the league, so let’s call it like it is. The Patriots are one of the worst teams in the league."
Considering the list of teams he mentioned, it's hard to argue that the Patriots aren't at least a small step above them. They have their quarterback, while the others have more question marks regarding their rosters and head coaching situations.
Although some would argue that Jerod Mayo isn't the ideal head coach, it's difficult to say what the perception of him is from the players in the league or the current Patriots roster. They have openly supported him throughout the year, which says a lot about how things are going behind the scenes despite their obvious struggles on game day.
Hopefully, seeing Maye thrive so early in his career and knowing that with just a few tweaks to the offense, he will likely make the Patriots a competitive team again that will attract the kind of players the team needs for next year and beyond.