For over two decades Robert Kraft was the toast of the NFL. He had the league’s best head coach, the league’s best QB, and the leagues best overall program. He boasted about the Patriots strategy, as “The Patriot Way”. It was a sort of austerity plan which focused on players 49-53, as much as players 1-5. He often mocked other programs who became top-heavy with bloated contracts.
He was fortunate that he had a QB who completely bought in, consistently taking contracts below market value. He was also fortunate that his QB was the best to ever play the position, and cover for other deficiencies on the team. He was also great enough to cover for bad draft, after bad draft.
For years there was a debate whether it was Tom Brady or Bill Belichick who spearheaded the dynasty. Recently Kraft has interjected himself into the conversation, wanting to take credit for the dynasty in his own right.
It is inarguable that this is the low point of the Kraft era of team ownership. He bought the team on the rise, with Bill Parcells already installed as Patriots HC. Kraft drove him out with his meddling. He then brought in Pete Carroll who lasted three seasons, before firing him after an 8-8 record. He brought in Belichick who started his Patriots career, going 5-11. He then began his second season 0-2, before Mo Lewis nearly killed Drew Bledsoe. Brady entered, and the rest is history.
In essence, Kraft is the luckiest man alive, and the chickens have now come hime to roost. He made the decision to move on from Belichick after a 4-13 season. He had Jerod Mayo already in place to be Belichick’s replacement. Mayo was never a HC anywhere else, at any level. And he was never even a play caller, or coordinator anywhere else either. In fact, the entire staff is filled with neophyte coaches
In his introductory press conference, Kraft said he trusts his instincts, and compared the hiring of Mayo, to getting married twice. When you dig your heels in and make that sort of a statement, it’s difficult to fire Mayo after only one season…but he has to at this point.
With one game left on the season, the Patriots are 3-13, and have the no.1 pick in the draft…after the no.3 pick last year. This offseason is far to important to keep in the hands of Jerod Mayo and his staff. Kraft has no alternative but to blow it all up.
Here is the blueprint for Kraft for 2025:
- Everyone needs to be fired. Mayo needs to go, as does GM Elliot Wolk, OC Alex Van Pelt, and DC DeMarcus Covington, all need to get their pink slips.
- If you look at most successful teams, they all have top-tier QBs. The Patriots feel they have one in Drake Maye. And although that remains to be seen, most solid teams with solid programs and systems, also have great GMs. The Eagles, Chiefs, Ravens, Packers, and Lions all have fantastic GMs. Kraft won’t be able to get the likes of Eric Decosta, Howie Roseman, or Brad Holmes, but he can bring back someone the team had in the height of their hayday.
Scott Pioli was the head of player personnel during the first half of the dynasty, and he’s not currently on anyone’s staff. He’s been out of the league since 2019, but still lives locally and is a relatively young man in his 50s. He needs to be given the reigns to “buy the groceries”. Especially considering they will enter the draft, most likely with the no.1 pick.
- Former Patriots LB and Tennessee Titans HC Mike Vrabel needs to be the new HC. He is defensive minded and can be the defacto DC.
- Former Patriots OC Josh McDaniels needs to be re-hired. He has proven to be an ineffective HC, but has already been considered one of the best OC’s in the game.
- They need to trade their pick, especially if they end up with no.1. They need to trade down and get the best package possible. They do not feel they need a QB and could easily find a partner who does need one. A package including a swap of first round picks along with a combo of other picks and players is what the Patriots need.
Pioli could call up old friend, and minority owner of the Raiders, Tom Brady, to get a deal done. The Raiders currently have the no.8 pick. Based on the draft board trade chart, the no.1 pick is worth 3000pts and the no.8 pick is worth 1400pts. They would need to include their second, third, fourth, and fifth round picks. Those picks total 840pts, which is still short.
The Raiders have two intriguing players that could be included. They could trade WR Jacobi Myers back to his original team. He has one year and $11M left on the free agent deal he signed two seasons ago. He is a true professional who thrived under Josh McDaniels. He could be the go-to guy to help Maye in his sophomore season.
The other player is Maxx Crosby. He is a true game wrecker on the defensive side of the ball. In his six seasons in the league he has 59.5 sacks. The Patriots are one of the worst teams in the league when it comes to pressuring the QB. He has two years and $41M left in his current deal.
He expressed dissatisfaction after the Raiders traded away Davante Adams, and there have been whispers he’d like out of Las Vegas. He will have ankle surgery in the offseason and the Raiders may very well be willing to trade him.
Getting Crosby, Myers, and that haul of picks, will be worth this abomination of a season. The team needs a ton of help on their offensive line. With the Raiders first round pick they’ll be able to get either tackle; LSU’s Will Campbell or Arizona’s Jonah Savaineau, who are each top 10 talents.
With this trade, they’ll have two, second round picks, four, third round picks, two, fourth round picks and two, fifth round picks, which includes their own current picks.This will give them 10 picks from rounds two thru five. This is what this team needs, a ton of picks and hitting on the majority of them. With Scott Pioli at the helm he’ll give them a great shot of improving quickly. Those picks can be used to move up or down the board and get the pieces they need. If done properly, the rebuild can happen fast.
With those second round picks they can further bolster their offensive line with names like, LSU’s Emery Jones, Oregon’s Josh Conerley, Minnesota’s Aientae Ersey, Georgia’s Earnest Greene, or Alabama’s Tyler Booker.
Or they can supplement another area of need, which is at receiver. Ohio St. WR Emeka Egbuka or TCU’s Savon Williams would give immediate help. They could take a swing at TE and grab Michigan’s Colston Loveland. Or, in a move I love, snagging former North Carolina teammate with Drake Maye, RB Omarion Hampton.
And with one of their mid-round picks they could grab Arizona St. RB Cam Scattabo. He’s currently ranked #147, and not even in the top 10 for RBs. He finished fifth in the Heisman race this year and had an amazing performance in the playoff game against Texas. And he’s the closest I’ve seen to Chrstian McCaffrey. His stock will surely rise, but he’s still probably going to be no higher than a third round pick.
Based on recent year’s we’ve seen quick turnarounds, so it is possible. Last season the Chargers ended the year 5-12. The Commanders were 4-13, and the Vikings were 7-10. None were playoff teams, and all of them are this season. Robert Kraft, (RKK as he likes to be called) can be the lynchpin of this turnaround…only he can make it happen, but it will take bold moves. The last time I checked, most billionaires didn’t become billionaires by being timid…it is possible.
