Patriots avoid regretful franchise-dooming decision during 2024 offseason

Despite having the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, there was a lot of speculation regarding the Patriots' chances of trading out in order to capitalize on the coveted positioning and rack up the picks to boost their roster.

They clearly needed a quarterback since it was nearly a guarantee that Mac Jones would not be on the team for much longer, but the possibility of the new regime waiting to plug in a signal caller until after building up the roster around him, similar to what the Houston Texans did before drafting C.J. Stroud.

That prompted early projections that New England would take their chances in 2025 by looking at the free agent class or drafting their hopeful franchise star with next year's pick instead.

Because of that, Dak Prescott became the focus of the Patriots' future, as he was set to play on the final year of his contract this season with no extension in sight. It became the drama of the summer, with Jerry Jones seemingly refusing to give in to keep a solid quarterback on the team. That made him the frontrunner for the Patriots to go after next year, armed with a ton of projected cap space and an offense that could benefit from his leadership.

Fortunately, the Patriots made the right decision by drafting Drake Maye instead, which was validated once again over the weekend.

The Patriots not risking their chances on Dak Prescott was the right decision

Although Maye might not play during his rookie season, his potential and fit with the team were apparent during the preseason. He has a bright future and possesses all the tools to be a successful quarterback in the NFL, making his debut worth the wait until he can be put in the best position possible on game day.

If the Patriots hadn't drafted him, there was a lot of chatter suggesting they would go all-in on acquiring Dak Prescott in free agency next year, a veteran with a lot of experience and natural abilities that would instantly make New England a contender again.

Fortunately, knowing the risk of passing on a quarterback this year and the unpredictability of the NFL, the Patriots made the right choice. Prescott reached an extension mere hours before the Cowboys' season opener on Sunday, making him the highest-paid quarterback in NFL history.

Imagine they decided to trade their first-round pick, as many analysts suggested they do, and hoped Prescott would be available to sign next year instead. The Patriots' situation could have been even worse than most believed it would be during the 2024 season.

It very well could have doomed the team long-term had they put all their marbles into the Prescott basket, banking on his availability and their ability to pay him to turn the franchise around. Maybe it would have worked out, but that's a risk the Patriots are not in a position to take at this point.

Fortunately, they have a promising young quarterback being mentored by a solid veteran to show him the ropes before he is thrown onto the field. Plus, they won't have to worry about dishing out a massive contract like Prescott's for at least three more years, which is also a significant benefit.

More Patriots news and analysis: