The New England Patriots had one of their worst seasons in franchise history in 2023, finishing the year with a 4-13 record and parting ways with one of the greatest coaches in the history of the game.
Since then, New England has traded their starting quarterback, signed a veteran and used their third overall pick on players at the position, elevated a new head coach and a new front-office leader. So, you can say a lot has changed in a short period of time.
However, just because there's been new faces (or old faces in new roles) around the building, doesn't mean that the Patriots are expecting everything to be fixed overnight.
Speaking on the "Up and Adams" show this week, new Patriots executive vice president of player personnel explained that the 2024 season is about more than just trying to play postseason football after the 18-week regular season concludes.
"Are the Patriots a playoff team? Listen, we're not really playoffs or bust," Eliot stated. "I would say we're just looking for progress. Jerod [Mayo] has a saying, 'Process, progress, payoff,' and that's really something that we're striving towards."
That's the way New England should be looking at things right now. Not many teams go from the second-worst record in the league to the playoffs overnight.
Wolf and company should be approaching this year as a building block. Get these young players accustomed to life in the NFL and playing for Mayo and the new coordinators. Then, see what you have in them and surround them with talent to make a real run at the playoffs.
In 2024, postseason football at Gillette Stadium is an unreasonable expectation.
