This has been a disastrous offseason for the Pats. The Patriots have had one of the worst offseasons of all 32 teams as they not only have not improved their team, but they also have a rookie coaching staff to boot.
I’m really worried Pats fans might have to get ready for a 1-16 or 2-15 type of season.
Despite finishing with the AFC’s worst record and the entire league’s 3rd worst record last season, the New England Patriots have done next to nothing in free agency to IMPROVE their team as they have essentially put ALL of their eggs in the draft basket. And, even though I do prefer drafting to free agent signings, the Pats inactivity has really been shocking.
So, are the Pats really trying to be the league’s worst team this year?
Like I said, the Patriots finished last season 3-14, which was the team’s worst record since 1993 (and the worst of the Kraft ownership era) when they drafted Drew Bledsoe with the 1st overall pick to reboot the franchise. Moreover, their record last season was so bad that they not only finished with the worst record in the AFC, but also had the 3rd worst record in the NFL that was only topped by the lowly Washington Commanders (4-13) and the disastrous, incompetent Carolina Panthers (2-15).
That’s how bad the Pats were last season.
So, with all of these horrible stats laid out, how do you think the Robert Kraft and the Patriots responded to correct the failures of the team? Well, they essentially fired Bill Belichick, saw 5X All-Pro gunner and undisputed leader of the locker room Matthew Slater retire, released J.C. Jackson, Lawerence Guy, DeVante Parker, and Adrian Philips, allowed Ezekiel Elliot, Trent Brown, Mike Gesicki (picked up by Bengals), Pharoh Brown (picked up by Seahawks), Jalen Mills (picked up by Giants), and Mack Wilson (picked up by Cardinals), and traded away Mac Jones to the Jaguars for a 6th round pick.
And, for the new additions to the team, the Patriots promoted Jerod Mayo, a man who never lead team at any professional or collegiate level, to be the successor to Bill Belichick, signed Commanders backup RB Antonio Gibson to a 3-year, $12M deal, Steelers backup LT Chukwuma Okorafor to a one-year deal, Browns backup LB Sione Takitaki to a 2-year deal, and Commanders backup QB Jacoby Brissett to presumably be their starting QB for this upcoming season.
Do you see why I think this has been such an awful offseason for the Patriots?
Yes, it’s good they were able to bring back Mike Owenenu, Kendrick Bourne, Josh Uche, Kyle Dugger (tag), Hunter Henry, etc., but these guys were ALREADY ON the team last season and played major roles throughout the year.
How can you improve a 4-13 team if you bring in a bunch of backups for other franchises to presumably be your starters and keep the same starters who could do no better than win just 4 games? Am I crazy for thinking that?
And, not to impugn the coaching ability of Jerod Mayo and his staff for they need to be given a chance to prove themselves, but the decision to hire Mayo already felt like a nepotistic/biased hire by the Krafts in the first place with not a SINGLE outside candidate even interviewed for the job to replace Bill Belichick. You know, arguably the greatest head coach in the history of the SPORT!!!
And the Krafts didn’t think it wise to look at anyone but a guy who hasn’t been a collegiate or professional head coach in his coaching career thus far? Hell, Mayo wasn’t even a coordinator before he got the job as he served as the Pats linebacker coach.
Regardless, all of this inactivity and seeming reliance on the draft really has me worried for Mayo and his coaching staff as even though the Krafts may really like him, it seems they are setting him up to fail with an inadequate roster.
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