Bill Simmons has been hard on the Patriots this season.
Understandably so. New England enters Week 15 with a 3-10 record — tied for the second-worst mark in the NFL — and there’s very little for the franchise to hang its hat on in Jerod Mayo’s first year as head coach.
Drake Maye, the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, has flashed tremendous upside in his rookie campaign. So, perhaps the Patriots have their quarterback of the future. But New England’s offensive line stinks, its supporting cast on offense leaves much to be desired and even the defense has regressed since Bill Belichick’s departure.
The Patriots waiving K.J. Osborn — an OK wide receiver in his first season with the team — this week hardly was the straw that broke the camel’s back for Simmons, founder of The Ringer. Still, it was another sign of just how bad the situation has been in Foxboro.
“If you take out picking Drake Maye at #3 (which was the most obvious pick possible), the Patriots first offseason of draft picks and free agent signings without Belichick was legitimately an F-minus,” Simmons wrote Tuesday on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. “Bad draft picks and super-cheap discount spending. You get what you pay for.”
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The Washington Commanders since claimed Osborn off waivers, giving the 27-year-old wideout a chance to make an impact with a playoff contender. Again, not huge news in the grand scheme of things. Osborn totaled just seven catches for 57 yards in seven games with New England. But it’s nevertheless a tough look for the Patriots.
Simmons, a lifelong Boston sports fan, has been one of the Patriots’ harshest critics this season. He’s not alone in his angst, though. There’s plenty of headshaking to go around.