The New England Patriots seem to have nothing to play for as the 2024 NFL regular season winds down.
They hold a 3-11 record, which is tied for the second-worst mark in the league, and many of their fans likely want them to tank in order to increase their chances of getting the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
In Week 16, the Patriots will be visiting the Buffalo Bills, a team that is 11-3 and fighting for home-field advantage through the AFC Championship Game.
New England has ruled out running back JaMycal Hasty and cornerback Marcus Jones for that game against Josh Allen and company.
Though Hasty hasn’t panned out — he has 20 carries for 69 yards this year — Jones has shown some promise.
A third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, he has 10 passes defended, one interception and 58 total tackles (48 solo) this season.
He has bounced back in strong fashion after a serious shoulder injury ended his 2023 season after he had appeared in just two games.
New England is in total talent-evaluation mode, and though it arguably has the worst overall roster in the NFL, it may have a couple of stars in the fold.
Jones and fellow cornerback Christian Gonzalez have shown promise in the secondary, and the Patriots may have their franchise quarterback in Drake Maye, the No. 3 overall pick from the 2024 NFL Draft.
Maye started the year as the backup to Jacoby Brissett before being promoted in October, and though the rookie hasn’t always been dazzling and may be a bit behind on the developmental curve, there seems to be plenty of hope for him moving forward.
