NFL Expert: New England Patriots Should Follow 'Joe Burrow Model'

A New England Patriots insider says the team should follow the Cincinnati Bengals' lead to get back to contention swiftly.

After more than two decades at the top, the New England Patriots are staring down the barrel of a lengthy rebuild.

With a 3-10 record, the Patriots are in the midst of the their worst season in 30 years and major changes seem inevitable. Whether that's moving on from legendary coach Bill Belichick, overhauling the broken offense or anything else, it's going to be a long road back to contention. Or will it?

Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston says a fellow AFC team, the Cincinnati Bengals, has laid the groundwork for a quick return to prominence, and believes the Patriots should take a similar route.

Patriots quarterback Mac Jones and Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow / ClutchPoints

"This to me is the one you shoot for if you're the Patriots," Perry said on the Next Pats podcast. "You've got to hit. The Patriots are looking like they probably won't have the number one overall pick, but boy, if you think that guy is there, the Joe Burrow model is why you go get him -- and you go get him right now."

That begs the question, what exactly is the "Joe Burrow model"? He recalls how the Bengals went from drafting Burrow and star receiver Ja'Marr Chase with top-five picks in back-to-back years to competing for championships immediately after.

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"They go from drafting near the top of the draft for two years in a row to a double-digit win team and Super Bowl contender in very short order," Perry said.

Whether the Patriots take a quarterback first as the Bengals did (and there just so happens to be another Heisman winner out of LSU just like Burrow in this year's draft), or take a receiver like Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr. beforehand, investing in offensive cornerstones could be just what the doctor ordered.

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