We are #1 in 2025! (Draft order projection, ESPN's FPI)

[borg]

Only some Patsfans think their roster is better than it really is. It's among the worst in the NFL. I don't think they'll get the #1 pick, but they'll be in that 1-3 range again.

"Don't they know (spoken with full ChowderHead accent) Brissett is way freakin better than Mac"

And Coach Mayo has ordered "Game Clock Management for Neophytes" on Amazon and it should arrive by Labor Day (back ordered....Robyn Glaser ordered the other copy in print to help tutor the HC)

Make your draft day reservations early, Lambeau Field, April 24, 2025

 

[farn]

You don't care what LT's are available and what the alternatives are?

It’s a call to shore up the OL with a stud first rounder if it’s appropriate. No. I’m not advocating a blind OL before the college season has begun.

But you must admit, getting a Joe Thomas would be a welcome addition.

(Before the reply - no, I’m not suggesting that a HOFer is available at LT in April 2025…)

 

[Force Zero Boomer]

We lost 5 games last year by 6 or fewer points with a substandard kicker.
This year will have an improved kicking situation, better positional coaching,better WR's and better QB so I am cautiously optimistic.. see 6-8 wins for this team.
Gotta believe things will begin to improve..

The kicking situation is TBD, but it’s hard to imagine it getting worse. It’s amazing that Ryland wasn’t released last year, but BB drafted him.

 

[Real fan 02]

Damn I'd be thrilled with getting the #1 pick in 2025. Ain't gonna happen.
Seriously doubt it's in the top 5.
Yeah, some here are are overestimating the Pats but there's plenty here, like the OP, who are grossly underestimating them.
Barring injury, they will easily have a top 5 defense with Judon and Gonzo back.
I assume Maye will only a few games at end of year so Brissett will be the qb majority of season. He won't win you games but he won't lose you any either.
Run game will be decent.
Wrs will be improved but not by a huge amount. I like the rooks but they ain't gonna be all- pros 1st year.
Still no lt. That's a problem.
But if they stay fairly healthy they'll get somewhere around .500, probably just south of it. 8-9 or 7-10 seem likely.
Pats have the toughest sked in the entire nfl so asking a lot for more than that.
2025 Maye takes over and we hopefully have a decent lt and an impact wr to add.
That could be a potential playoff team but not likely to go far.
Josh Allen sucked his first few years so it takes time.
2026 is when we could start seeing something,provided these draft picks work out.

Nice! I'll point out some reason for optimism.

We have a complete overhaul on offense, contrary to what's been said I feel Drake will be starting. If so let him take the rookie lumps it will only be beneficial to him and his deployment.

As you said top 5 defense all day! This team is such an unknown that it's to easy for media sports people to look at them and dismiss them without even taking a snap. They will be in every single game win or lose this year. This defense was built to contain offenses and attack the QB.

 

[TheRainMaker]

"Don't they know (spoken with full ChowderHead accent) Brissett is way freakin better than Mac"

And Coach Mayo has ordered "Game Clock Management for Neophytes" on Amazon and it should arrive by Labor Day (back ordered....Robyn Glaser ordered the other copy in print to help tutor the HC)

Make your draft day reservations early, Lambeau Field, April 24, 2025

You forgot to cue the duck boats.

 

[Force Zero Boomer]

Yeah, some here are are overestimating the Pats but there's plenty here, like the OP, who are grossly underestimating them.

Based on their record last year, a rookie head coach with zero experience as HC or coordinator, a new coaching staff, new systems, the dearth of experienced talent at key positions and more, the safest assumption is that they will struggle and fall near the bottom of the league again. Many things will have to go right to change that trajectory (Mayo turns out to be a good HC, the rookies are hits, the OL is decent with depth, Brissette has a decent year, we find a league average kicker, no key injuries, our older, key vets don’t decline, etc.) It may happen, but it probably won’t. A poor coach alone can derail your entire season.

If they win 8 games I will declare that the homers were right and quit this forum.

 

[Wozzy]

I'm projected to be the best looking Patsfan poster in 2024, it's a completely fictional meaningless grading system... but hey, I'm the winner.

 

[signbabybrady]

We don't even know if our coach is any good: he has zero head coach or coordinator experience. Just changing the coach can set a team on a different course, good or bad.

I agree getting the coach wrong can be devastating and he's obviously only got a few years coaching experience but he basically ascended to unnamed co defensive coordinator with Stephen under the GOAT.

That combined with how smart we knew him to be as a player and I think there's every reason to be optimistic about him as a head coach.

Plus it already seems like the players are enjoying the differences he's bringing that Bill didn't and buying in.

 

[signbabybrady]

There's a lot of if's. But if the one or more of the drafted WR's emerge, the OL can block, Rham bounces back, the kicker can make a kick and the defense plays better against teams .500 and above, they'll be in better shape. We shouldn't expect anything from Brissett as he's not going to win games for you. That's why the if's listed above need to happen in order to help carry Brissett. Unless Maye really impresses in camp, I'd like to see him sit and only come in at certain moments during the season.

Also, the coaching is a big concern which is why I have them in the bottom tier of the NFL. Mayo was getting ran out of town by the media and fans during the 2023 season before he was all of the sudden hired after Bill was fired. During his time as an assistant, he wasn't really known for anything and wasn't a hot candidate due to what he was doing in NE. The LB's were and still are a major weakness when they play top tier talent in the NFL.

There might a lot of ifs but I don't think I was being unreasonable (as an example I said if we get better QB play than last year I didn't say if Maye instantly becomes what we expect a top 3 pick can be).

I think if we get some of those things to be better than last year then we aren't in the basement.

I could go really optimistic if you want and give you the ifs that could get us back in the playoffs but I thought I kept it fairly reasonable.

I mean as bad as last year was one of two ifs and we wouldn't have picked where we did this draft.

 

[Wozzy]

There might a lot of ifs but I don't think I was being unreasonable (as an example I said if we get better QB play than last year I didn't say if Maye instantly becomes what we expect a top 3 pick can be).

I think if we get some of those things to be better than last year then we aren't in the basement.

I could go really optimistic if you want and give you the ifs that could get us back in the playoffs but I thought I kept it fairly reasonable.

I mean as bad as last year was one of two ifs and we wouldn't have picked where we did this draft.

If they had Jacoby last season, they'd probably double their win total, if the offensive line stayed healthier they'd win even more.

They don't have to win a ring this season, they most likely won't... but they could win 9-10 games.

I'll give a better prediction after camp when I see the actual roster.

 

[PancakeBlockPaul]

Being grossly underestimated can be a good thing. Also something to take into consideration is that teams don’t have tape on Maye yet. There’s a window that can be exploited and this alone can help the situation.

 

[mgteich]

Being grossly underestimated can be a good thing. Also something to take into consideration is that teams don’t have tape on Maye yet. There’s a window that can be exploited and this alone can help the situation.

My guess is that a lot of money will be made by betting the over on wins, needing the patriots to win 5 games.

 

[moosekill]

6 to 10 wins picking between 10 and 20

 

[borg]

Being grossly underestimated can be a good thing. Also something to take into consideration is that teams don’t have tape on Maye yet. There’s a window that can be exploited and this alone can help the situation.

Starting QBs in their rookie season almost unanimously fail.....but alas.....it will be the NE Patriots and their mostly inexperienced staff who will be doing the exploiting

 

[Huckleberry1]

I think it will be in the 7-9 range, depending on how some close games go.

 

[Force Zero Boomer]

I agree getting the coach wrong can be devastating and he's obviously only got a few years coaching experience but he basically ascended to unnamed co defensive coordinator with Stephen under the GOAT.

That combined with how smart we knew him to be as a player and I think there's every reason to be optimistic about him as a head coach.

Plus it already seems like the players are enjoying the differences he's bringing that Bill didn't and buying in.

The proof will be in the pudding, as my mother would say. I want him to succeed, otherwise we'll lose another year or two from Maye's rookie contract while he's adjusting to a new coach & system.

 

[PatsfanTN]

I’ll go on record and lock in a top 5 pick…which will be either a LT, impact defensive player, or a trade back for assets.

This is what I’m expecting and I’m fine with it.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Starting QBs in their rookie season almost unanimously fail.....but alas.....it will be the NE Patriots and their mostly inexperienced staff who will be doing the exploiting

The lack of concern of the HC and the coaching staff is not being talked about enough - if at all.

 

[PancakeBlockPaul]

Starting QBs in their rookie season almost unanimously fail.....but alas.....it will be the NE Patriots and their mostly inexperienced staff who will be doing the exploiting

Nothing wrong with hoping for the best. There IS when you’re defeated before the season starts. I always seem to need to be reminded this is a negative nan environment. We will lose the next 10 years, our QB is ****, same for OL…**** throw the coach in with them as well right? I jest. I’m enough of a pessimist IRL…move along..

 

[Real fan 02]

Starting QBs in their rookie season almost unanimously fail.....but alas.....it will be the NE Patriots and their mostly inexperienced staff who will be doing the exploiting

Drake I'll see you at the 2025 pro bowl...