Patriots Need to 'Win' NFL Draft; Successful Strategy?

After three lousy, losing years without Tom Brady, the New England Patriots face a crossroads NFL Draft.

Regardless of who they pick in Thursday's NFL Draft, the New England Patriots need some order. Some stability. Some positivity.

An organization that was long accustomed to success on the field now desperately needs to "win" the draft. Since you-know-who left in 2020, it's been a mess in Foxboro. The Patriots are 25-25 and without a playoff win since Tom Brady departed.

After last season's tumultuous 8-9 record, this offseason hasn't exactly been smooth sailing. One minute owner Robert Kraft is throwing his support behind quarterback Mac Jones; the next Bill Belichick is reportedly shopping him to teams in a trade. One minute Belichick is arrogantly resting on his organization's laurels; the next Bill O'Brien comes in to wipe the slate clean.

The Pats have seemingly made moves to restore some semblance of order.

On defense they retained Jerod Mayo. On offense they brought back O'Brien and effectively shipped out Matt Patricia to the Philadelphia Eagles. On the field they essentially traded receiver Jakobi Meyers for JuJu Smith-Schuster and upgraded their backup weapons at tight end (by signing free agent Mike Gesicki) and running back (James Robinson).

Oddsmakers are less than impressed, however, placing the Pats firmly in last place of the four-team AFC East behind the Bills, Dolphins and Jets.

Thursday New England has the 14th overall pick. It's their highest pick since 2008, and their most important in the post-Brady era. The pick - and the six selections in the draft's top 135 - will lay the foundation for the rest of the decade and hopefully jolt New England into re-joining a divisional race they really haven't been involved in the last three years.

For 20 years New England's success rendered the draft as wholly insignificant. something the have-nots breathlessly indulged in while the Pats polished their rings. But now they need to win this draft.  Perhaps more than ever.

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