The Patriots’ hopes for a top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft received a boost Thursday night.
The Cleveland Browns’ convincing home victory over the New York Jets trimmed the strength-of-schedule gap between New England and the Commanders. Strength of schedule is the first draft-order tiebreaker, with the team with the lower opponents’ winning percentage receiving the higher pick.
Entering Thursday, the 4-11 Commanders held a .518-.522 SOS edge over the 4-11 Patriots, who still are slotted one spot behind Washington at No. 4 in the draft order. But while Cleveland’s victory lowered the SOS for Washington, which played the Jets last weekend, it lowered New England’s even more because New York counts twice on the Patriots’ schedule.