What if this was all a secret plot by the Krafts? They knew they wouldn’t be able to get the best staff to come to NE last year, so they hire an idiot coach and de facto GM, make sure the GM drafts the QB, and don’t let them really spend much cash, then watch as things set up. They know going into 2025 they’ll probably have a high pick again and a lot of cap space, and hopefully a good QB already rostered, which makes the job much more attractive to GMs and HC candidates. Now on the verge of the end of the season they may end up with #1 overall which is perfection of such a plan.
Drake Maye, the #1 overall pick that can be moved for a haul, and the most cap space in the league? They can probably persuade any candidate they want with that description…
(I wish this was true)