The Patriots entered Week 18 with a 4-12 record, tied with the Cleveland Browns, Tennessee Titans, and New York Giants. However, they hold a league-highest 78% chance at landing the pick thanks to their lower strength of schedule, giving them the tiebreaker.

Drake Maye’s road to becoming the Patriots’ starting quarterback was slow and deliberate. Understandable — the rookie is the franchise’s prized asset who must be treated with care. But once it became official,