Patriots focused on beating Bills regardless of draft implications, says Jerod Mayo

Alex Parker

u/alex

Patriots have a chance to secure the No. 1 pick, but their focus remains on beating the Bills.

Why it matters: The outcome of the game will determine the Patriots' draft position and potentially impact their future roster and team strategy.

What's new: The Patriots currently have a 78.1% chance of obtaining the No. 1 pick, according to ESPN Analytics.

Yes, but: The Patriots are not altering their game plan or approach despite the potential implications for their draft position.

What to watch: The Bills may limit playing time for key starters, including quarterback Josh Allen, due to their secured No. 2 playoff seed in the AFC.

  • Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott mentioned the possibility of resting injured players and giving opportunities to other players who haven't seen much action.

What's next: The Patriots are considering scaling back playing time for rookie quarterback Drake Maye to avoid risking injury.

  • There is a chance that rookie quarterback Joe Milton III could be elevated to the game-day roster and given playing time.

The bottom line: While securing the No. 1 pick would provide the Patriots with valuable draft capital, their immediate focus is on winning their final game against the Bills.