As the 3-13 Patriots enter their 2024 season finale against the Bills, this is one of the rare instances where what’s best for the organization might not be winning.
The Patriots currently hold the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, which gives them the opportunity to select who they believe is the best available player or trade down to acquire valuable draft capital. If the Patriots lose, they will select first overall. If they win, they could fall as low as fourth overall.
But head coach Jerod Mayo was intent in Wednesday morning’s news conference that the Patriots will try to beat the Bills, which would usually be an unlikely result if not for the fact that Buffalo has nothing to play for and wants to come out of the week and into the playoffs healthy, which means primarily playing backups.
“I’ve never been a part of a team, as a player or as a coach, going into a game not wanting to win,” Mayo said Wednesday. “It’s not going to change today, so that’s my message to the team.”
Mayo wouldn’t come out and clearly state that rookie quarterback Drake Maye would start, but he did talk around it until it became clear that it’s his intention.
“Drake is our starting quarterback. If he’s healthy and ready to go, as we go through this week of practice, then he’ll play,” Mayo said.
Maye also said that he believes he’ll start Week 18 against the Bills.
“I’m preparing like I’m the starter. I think I’m going to be the starter, so I’m looking forward to being out there,” Maye said.
“I’m ready to go out there and win and compete in a close game. I want to be out there. You get experiences in these close games that you can’t replicate in practice. You can’t get those reps anywhere else. So, looking forward to, like I said, getting one more chance at these guys and end off on a good note.”
There is a logical way around this, however. Just like the Bills want to stay healthy for the playoffs, the Patriots should want Maye healthy for an invaluable offseason. Maye was already concussed once this season. He was evaluated for another head injury in Saturday’s blowout loss to the Chargers.BHR-L-Pats-0102
Even though Maye said he feels good, the potential solution is to start another rookie quarterback, sixth-round pick Joe Milton.
Milton has been inactive as the Patriots emergency third quarterback all season both when Jacoby Brissett began the year as the starter and when Maye took over the top role.
“I would say it’s still all up in the air. All three quarterbacks, as we’ve carried two, and the emergency quarterback, will be ready to go,” Mayo said.
The Patriots would ideally like to see if Milton can be Maye’s future backup. They’re currently paying $8 million for Brissett to serve that role, and that money could be better spent building up the offensive line or receiving corps around their 22-year-old starting quarterback.
Milton also comes with intriguing traits for a sixth-round pick. He’s not your typical late-round quarterback with questionable physical tools. Milton ran a 4.63-second 40-yard dash at 6-foot-5, 235 pounds and has one of the strongest arms in the entire NFL.
“I think his ability to read coverages has definitely improved,” Mayo said of Milton. “He has all the physical tools. I would say the command of the huddle has also improved, and he’s done a good job on the show teams throughout the week.”
The Tennessee product finished three preseason games 11-of-30 for 152 yards with a touchdown. He also rushed 11 times for 54 yards.
If the Patriots can clinch the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, their best option would be to trade it to a team looking to select a quarterback. The Titans, Browns and Giants all need young QBs and are currently projected to pick in the top five. The Jets, Raiders and Saints also need quarterbacks and are currently picking in the top 10.
The Patriots have needs all over their roster. Cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter, cornerback Will Johnson, defensive tackles Mason Graham and Mykel Williams, Penn State edge defender Abdul Carter, wide receiver Tet McMillan and offensive tackles Will Campbell and Kelvin Banks Jr. are among players expected to be taken in the top 10 picks.
The Patriots’ biggest needs are at wide receiver and offensive tackle, but they should be trying to take the best player available in their draft slot, since they also need help at cornerback, defensive tackle and pass rusher.
Mayo said he hasn’t had conversations with Robert or Jonathan Kraft or executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf about the team’s approach with the No. 1 overall pick on the line.
Look, I’m in constant communication with Eliot. I’m in constant communication with ownership. Again, I’ve never been a part of a team, as a player or a coach, where we haven’t gone out there and tried to win the game,” Mayo said. “So those conversations haven’t happened.”
It would be a small feather in Mayo’s cap if the Patriots can win a fourth game, matching last year’s total, by beating the Bills’ backups on Sunday. Losing Sunday’s game to Bills backups while trying as hard to win as possible would have bigger ramifications, however.
Questions about Mayo’s job security have only increased after last week’s 40-7 loss to the Chargers.