It's officially the offseason for the New England Patriots, who will miss the playoffs thanks to Sunday's 35-23 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
The biggest event of the offseason is of course the NFL Draft in April, and the Patriots now know where they will be picking in the first round.
The Patriots, who finished the season with an 8-9 record, will have the 14th overall pick. They were 15th when their game ended, but the Washington Commanders beating the Dallas Cowboys later Sunday afternoon moved them up another spot. While the loser of Sunday night's Green Bay Packers-Detroit Lions game will also finish 8-9, neither can drop below the Patriots in strength of schedule, so the Pats are locked in at 14.
If the Patriots actually keep the pick, it will be the highest they've picked since they drafted Jerod Mayo 10th overall in 2008. It's one pick higher than where they took quarterback Mac Jones in 2021.
The Patriots certainly have plenty of areas they need to address, and the 14th pick could land them someone who can make an impact right away. Pats Nation will surely be monitoring mock drafts in the months to come.
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