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Predicting the AFC East Champion for this upcoming season

By Mathis Gaglione

Oct 31, 2021; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver (91) applies pressure to Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) on a pass play in the second quarter at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 31, 2021; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver (91) applies pressure to Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) on a pass play in the second quarter at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports /
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AFC East
Mac Jones #10 (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

AFC East 4th place: New England Patriots (6-11)

If my prediction holds true, this would be the first time since 2000 that the Patriots would finish last in the AFC East. A truly remarkable run for New England, but this is pretty simple to me, they have the least talented roster as currently constructed. They let their best defender go this off-season in J.C. Jackson, one of the league’s premier corners with tremendous ball skills for nothing to show for it but a compensatory pick.

After Jackson left in Free Agency, the Patriots then decided to trade away arguably their best offensive player, and one of the best OGs in the league, Shaq Mason to the Tampa Buccaneers for a 5th-round pick. Did Belichick owe Tom Brady a favor or something? Regardless, the trade made zero sense, and their efforts to replace Mason was selecting the biggest reach in the 1st-round, Cole Strange. Strange has a lot of good traits and could be a very good player in this league, but to expect a 23-year-old whose highest level of competition is Chattanooga to replace one of the best guards in the league immediately, seems like wishful thinking.

I haven’t even touched on Josh McDaniels getting the head coaching gig in Las Vegas and actually showing up to the introductory press conference this time, but that’s a big loss. McDaniels ran the Patriots offense for about 20 years and changing up the play-caller, (who the Patriots refuse to name), will drastically affect the development of one Mac Jones, who’s entering his second year.

I liked the trade of acquiring DeVante Parker if he can stay healthy, but even then he’s the worst #1 WR in the division. Just everywhere I look on the Patriots roster I really feel like they have the worst overall collection of talent in the division, and it’s not particularly close. Many in the media have shared this opinion before, just for Bill Belichick to wave his magic wand and many of these young developmental players instantly excel. With no Tom Brady around to weather the storm, I truly think this is a developmental year for the Patriots.

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