Patriots have best chance at No. 1 pick in 2025 draft, per ESPN model originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
There’s finally some optimism surrounding the New England Patriots after the franchise selected North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye with the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, but how much of that potential will be seen on the field during the upcoming season?
It’s fair to wonder if Maye will play in the early part of the campaign, especially if the offensive line or the team in general is not playing well. Patriots general manager Eliot Wolf was in the Green Bay Packers front office for many years, and they found success by having both Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love sit for a year behind veteran quarterbacks.
Sitting Maye and allowing him to learn the offense by watching isn’t a bad idea.
But if that happens, how many games will the Patriots win? Their 2024 schedule is pretty tough, especially out of the gate with matchups versus the Bengals, Seahawks, Jets, 49ers, Dolphins and Texans in the first six weeks (in that order).
ESPN’s analytics recently unveiled its first Football Power Index (FPI) ranking for next season, and the Patriots are 31st, just above the last-place Carolina Panthers.
ESPN’s models also give the Patriots the best chance to land the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
“New England’s league-topping strength of schedule combined with the FPI’s skepticism regarding its roster has the model believing the Patriots are the most likely team to pick first in the 2025 NFL draft, with a 22 percent chance,” ESPN’s Seth Walder wrote. “The Panthers rate lower than the Patriots in the FPI, but their chance at picking No. 1 is slightly worse (21 percent).”
Here is ESPN’s projected top five of next year’s draft.
1. Patriots (22 percent)
2. Panthers (21 percent)
3. Broncos (12 percent)
4. Titans (seven percent)
5. Commanders (six percent)
The Patriots getting a top-five pick would be a great outcome for next season. This roster is in dire need of elite-level…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/espn-analytics-patriots-best-chance-145454070.html
Author : NBC Sports Boston
Publish date : 2024-06-03 15:11:49
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