The New England Patriots are preparing for their Week 1 matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday at Paycor Stadium, but there's not much hope for the team's success in 2024.
With one of the hardest schedules in the league and not exactly the most talented roster, the Patriots are expected to be near the bottom of the league.
If New England does finish with the worst record, they'll secure the first-overall pick for the first time since the 1993 NFL draft when they selected Drew Bledsoe.
Before the 2024 season starts, The Sporting News' Vinnie Iyer, released a pre-Week 1 mock draft, and he has the Patriots securing the top pick and selecting Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce Jr.
Here's what Iyer wrote about the projected pick:
"The Patriots would pass on a QB at first overall after just taking Drake Maye, but they could use this rising, explosive pass rusher in the wake of trading Matthew Judon late in the preseason."
Last season, Pearce recorded 28 tackles (14.5 for a loss), 10 sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception in 13 games.
While New England could use the help getting after opposing quarterbacks, they have so many holes that if they were to secure the top pick, they'd probably trade it to a team that needs a quarterback and get more selections.
Still, it would be nice to see the Patriots add a potential game-wrecker in the first round for the first time since they took Chandler Jones in 2012.
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