It comes with a heavy heart that I bring the news of Bill Belichick’s departure from the New England Patriots. 24 seasons and 6 Super Bowls later, I speak for all Patriots fans when I say we are grateful for the greatest dynasty in pro sports. However, it was definitely time for good old Bill to go. A 4-13 record is not exactly something to be proud of and I think that Jerod Mayo will bring a breath of fresh air to the team. Now raises the question, what will happen to Belichick now?

Belichick’s New Team, or Not

After Bill’s departure, there has been much talk around the league about where he will go now. Surely the coach who is routinely called the greatest of all time can find a job…well maybe not. A few weeks ago when the announcement was officially made, there were two teams that seemed likely: the Chargers and the Falcons.

For the Chargers, the hiring of Bill Belichick would have just made sense. Bill’s struggles over the last few years have largely been due to the talentless roster he put together as the general manager of the team. There has never exactly been much questioning of his coaching ability, but rather his ability to evaluate players and make good draft pick and free agent signings. The Chargers have one of the most stacked rosters in the league, with star QB Justin Herbet who is entering his prime, stud WRs in Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, and a few star defensive players in Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa. The only thing the Chargers are missing is a competant head coach. Fortunately for them they got one, but it wasn’t Bill Belichick. Former Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh has just been hired by the Chargers, crossing that team off the list of potential landing spots for Bill.

The Atlanta Falcons were another team atop the list due to the fact that they brought Belichick in for two interviews. For a few days it seemed as if Belichick was a lock to go to the Falcons because they showed so much interest in him, but on January 25th, it was announced that former Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator, Raheem Morris, would become the next head coach for the Falcons

With most head coach vacancies around the field, Bill Belichick is put in an interesting situation. In my opinion, Belichick is above being hired as a lower tier coach (offensive or defensive coordinator), but I do think he wants to break the win record before he retires. He currently sits a mere 14 wins–including playoffs–shy of Don Shula’s record of 347. I do not see Belichick just outright retiring if he does not get a head coach job, but what would he do if he doesn’t? An interesting prediction is that he would take a year off and take on a role at a television network to stay relevant as a football mind. Belichick has never been the greatest TV personality though so that could be a strange, yet intersting route to take. As of now all we can do is wait and see what happens, but it certainly is unprecedented times for coach Belichick.

It has been just over two months since my last post where I expressed zero optimism for the Patriots’ trajectory through the rest of the season. For those who don’t follow the NFL and are curious about how the rest of the season went, I will give you a few words and phrases that sum up: abysmal, tough to watch, laughable, left a bad taste in my mouth.

In my opinion, watching the season’s final weeks was described best by my mother. When I asked her why she still chooses to watch she said, “I don’t watch because I want them to win; I watch because it’s like a soap opera…you never know what will happen next.” It’s honestly difficult to dispute that sentiment. For the duration of the final four to five weeks of the season, I was rooting against the Patriots in hopes of them securing a favorable draft pick in the offseason (which they successfully clinched with the third pick in the 2024 draft). The real entertainment value in watching and following the Patriots was the drama-filled headlines that came out of New England seemingly every week. From Mac Jones’ benching in favor of the extremely mediocre Bailey Zappe to rumors of Bill Belichick being fired after the season, headline-worthy plot twists were delivered very frequently.

Ending with a very impressive 4-13 record, the Patriots unsurprisingly missed the playoffs and all I can say is “Thank God that’s over.” Now the real fun begins, the offseason, which will in all likelihood be more exciting than the actual season.

My Perfect Draft

I will discuss topics such as who I would like to see the Patriots sign in free agency and what decisions should be made regarding the coaching staff in future posts. However, considering the loss in the final game of the season last weekend to secure the third pick in the upcoming draft, it is fitting to share my vision for the perfect draft.

In the current draft order, the Chicago Bears possess the first overall pick courtesy of the trade the Carlina Panthers made last year to acquire Bryce Young, followed by the Washington Commanders and the Patriots. Contrary to popular opinion, I hope the Patriots can secure wide receiver, Marvin Harrison Jr. out of Ohio State with their first pick.

I am sick and tired of watching that abomination that is the Patriot wide receiver group and in today’s game, it seems to me that a great wide receiver can elevate a decent quarterback to borderline “elite” level. A prime example is evident in Miami with Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill. Prior to Hill’s arrival, Tua was a mediocre, maybe even below-average quarterback. Now he is often regarded as a top ten quarterback in the league, but has shown to be ineffective when Tyreek is not playing due to injury or is successfully shut down by opposing defenses.

Given the wealth of quarterback talent in this year’s draft, securing a stud receiver like Marvin Harrison Jr. could be a game-changing move for the Patriots since there are less viable receiver options than quarterback options.

The other glaring issue with the Patriots’ roster is the quarterback position. Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe are both far too flawed of players to be elevated by a great receiver to an effective level. While the Patriots lack a second first-round draft pick, I think they could–and should–explore trade options to acquire another. possibly using Bill Belichick as a bargaining chip. A promising partner for this operation would be the Los Angeles Chargers who have the fifth overall pick. With the Patriots securing this pick in my perfect world, I would have them choosing LSU’s quarterback, Jayden Daniels who was this year’s Heisman winner.

With the remaining draft picks, the Patriots must bolster the offensive line (another weak spot on the team). There are no glaring issues with the defense so I would not like to see valuable draft picks going into highly touted defensive players. The offense needs all the attention this offseason. Unfortunately, the world is not perfect and I will probably not get my wish in Marvin Harrison Jr. but one can hope. I’m just praying that next season will be slightly more enjoyable to watch.