As you likely know by now, the Patriots’ 2020 season came to an end Sunday after failing to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in 12 years.
While the 7-9 record marks their lowest win total since 2000, there is one perk of having a bad season: getting a higher draft pick.
Following the Patriots’ defeat of the Jets and the 49ers’ loss to the Seahawks on Sunday, New England is locked (for now) into the 15th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. If the Patriots don’t trade the pick and select a player at that spot, it’ll be the highest pick they’ve made since 2008, when they drafted Jerod Mayo with the 10th overall pick.