The New England Patriots finished their 2023 campaign with a 4-13 record, which was tied for the second-worst in the NFL behind the Carolina Panthers who finished 2-15.
Heading into 2024, New England replaced their head coach and their quarterback, but there's no telling that either of their replacements will be better at their respective jobs this year. On top of that, they've returned a lot of the same players who were already in place on a 4-13 roster without adding any superstars to improve their chances drastically.
That's why DraftKings has the Patriots projected win total for 2024 set at 4.5 games - which is tied with the Panthers for the lowest projection in the league.
If Jerod Mayo, Eliot Wolf and company don't nail the third overall pick (or whatever trade they decide to make involving it), the team is destined to finish with a record that's likely around the same or worse than last year.
That should put them near the top of the draft in 2025 again.
Since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, only six teams have obtained the first overall pick winning at least four games - the 1971 Patriots (6-8), the 1987 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-11), the 1988 Atlanta Falcons (5-11), the 1998 San Diego Chargers (5-11), the 2003 Chargers (4-12), the 2004 Miami Dolphins (4-12).
There have only ever been three winless teams since the merger and 12 teams who have obtained the worst record by winning just a single game.
If New England doesn't make some splash moves in the next month, the likelihood that they find themselves with an unwatchable product again in 2024 and another top-three pick in 2025 is high.