NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
New England Patriots

Former Bill Belichick aide expects Patriots to tank and get first pick in NFL Draft

The Patriots are expected to struggle as they head in a new direction under Jerod Mayo

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, center left, celebrates...
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, center left, celebrates his touchdownCharles KrupaAP
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The New England Patriots will begin the 2024 NFL season in unfamiliar territory, as for the first time in over two decades Bill Belichick will not be coaching the team.

The 72-year-old and the franchise decided to mutually part ways back in January after a disappointing campaign that saw the team finish with a 4-13 record, the worst in Belichick's 24 seasons as head coach.

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With Jerod Mayo now at the helm, the team will look to rebuild in a bid to once again be competitive in the AFC East. However, not everyone is convinced a turnaround will be immediate, with former Belichick staffer Michael Lombardi predicting a tough season for the Patriots.

"I see the Patriots getting the first pick in the draft," he told GM Shuffle. "I do. I think they're going to be horrible."

Lombardi pointed to the team's poor offensive line, an unstable kicking situation and a new coaching that has so far failed to inspire much confidence.

He also hit out at the Patriots' offseason gs, stating: "Did they do that so they could say they suck?

"It looks like they gave them this money so that they can continue to tell you all that Belichick was a bad coach."

Lombardi hints at deeper issues

While Lombardi isn't all that impressed with the Patriots on the field, he believes their issues run deeper than that.

"This is a team that's now run corporately. I mean they've got Robin Glazer running it, they've got Jonathan Craft in there running it," he said.

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