Despite Playoffs 'Expectation' New Patriot Way Is So Far A Slow Speed Zone

That somber moment back in January when Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick said their goodbyes after 24 seasons was supposed to be both the final sunset of a faded dynasty and the birth of a new day for the New England Patriots.

What followed was supposed to be an invigorating, exciting start toward new success.

But what if I told you that bittersweet moment was as good as it's been for the Patriots so far this offseason? What if I told you that a lot of what followed has so far been disappointing?

What if I told you the club that traveled the Patriot Way to six Super Bowl championships this century is now in the slow lane being passed by rivals? 

Patriots owner Robert Kraft and his foundation will air a 30-second Super Bowl add as part of the "Stand Up To Jewish Hate" campaign. (© Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)

Playoffs? Playoffs? For Patriots?

"My hope and expectation is to make the playoffs," Kraft said at the NFL meetings in Orlando last week. "That's something, realistically. We have a new leadership team. We're going to have a lot of young players we don't know. A lot can happen. We might struggle more than I want. 

"I really feel we have a good, young team. I just hope we don't struggle. But in the end, everything is chit-chat until you get on the field."

Honestly, this hope and expectation is probably all hope. Because there's no way Kraft sees what has been happening the past few weeks and thinks it leads to a playoff game.

Consider that, three weeks from the NFL draft, the Patriots are a team without a future starting quarterback. And they're a team not promising to find that future hope with their No. 3 overall pick in the draft because they say they might be tempted to trade that away.

The Patriots are a team without proven offensive tackles. They're a team without receivers that scare anyone. They're a team without a named general manager, for goodness’ sake.

Patriots Spending Spree Fizzled

It's not because this was some grand plan the Patriots are sticking to without anyone understanding some eventual big reveal. We're not buying that idea.

This is stuff that's gone sideways. 

During a January visit with local broadcast partner WEEI, new coach Jerod Mayo raised expectations that free agency was about to bring a spending spree because the Patriots had tons of salary cap space, tons of needs, and tons of intentions to make moves.

"We’re bringing in talent, 1,000 percent," Mayo said. "We have a lot of cap space and cash. We’re ready to burn some cash."

But the talent influx at One Patriot Place so far has been modest. It's probably led by receiver K.J. Osborn, whose best season came in 2021 when he scored 7 touchdowns and had 655 receiving yards.

Osborn leads a free agent class that consists mostly of  solid role or depth players – Austin Hooper, Jaylin Hawkins, Antonio Gibson, Sione Takitaki, Armon Watts. 

There's nothing wrong with those signings. But there's also nothing that will alter the course of a franchise that finished last in the AFC East and won only four games last season.

The fact is, the Patriots, holding top five salary cap space when free agency began, have been shopping the clearance rack for talent.

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JANUARY 07: Calvin Ridley #0 of the Jacksonville Jaguars celebrates a touchdown catch during the first half against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on January 07, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)

The Ridley Attempt Failed

And the one time they ventured out to sign a big-name player with impressive credentials, they failed. The Patriots wanted receiver Calvin Ridley and were willing to outbid anyone to land him.

He signed with the Tennessee Titans instead.

"There was one outstanding receiver that unfortunately we couldn't close," Kraft lamented. "It was not because of finance. Clearly, his girlfriend wanted to be in the South. 

"And we had a situation where the taxes were, like, almost 10 percent higher. And we offered, or were willing to keep going at that premium, but he didn't want to be in the Northeast. And part of it might be the quarterback situation as well."

Can you imagine? The Patriots were once a franchise players volunteered to join, often for less money. But last month they couldn't land a receiver despite wanting to outbid everyone.

And, with respect, the Patriots being in the Northeast never seemed to hurt them the previous two decades. Massachusetts voters didn't just recently lose their minds and vote for politicians who are now taxing them exorbitantly. 

That's been happening for decades.

The Patriots lost out on Ridley because everyone sees them as a franchise with a great past but no immediate great prospects.

Kraft doesn't believe that. He's holding up the banner of optimism. He's myopic to the difficulty ahead. 

"I believe," he said, "we're going in the right direction…"