Heading into Thursday night’s preseason opener, the only real item of interest was rookie quarterback Drake Maye, and how he would perform in his first NFL action.
Quarterback Joe Milton III didn’t get the memo. After one uninspired offensive possession for Maye, the No. 3 overall pick in the Draft (2-of-3, 19 yards), he gave way to a pair of quarterbacks not expected to play in 2024, third-year pro Bailey Zappe and rookie Milton, a sixth-round draft pick.
Zappe was, as expected, an efficient placeholder. But Milton was a revelation, scrambling for first downs and throwing the game’s only passing touchdown. When head coach Jerod Mayo was asked about standout players, he immediately pointed to Milton.
“I don’t think we’ve ever seen a quarterback here run around as much as he did and still was able to get the ball down the field. He’s one of those guys. It was good.”
Maye wasn’t bad, and the investment in him is too high for anyone to get too excited about the prospects of Milton in New England. But the Pats do have a pretty good history when starting a sixth-round draft pick (Tom Brady), so don’t be surprised if Milton makes the final roster.
New England Postseason Odds
There is a new head coach, a pair of new quarterbacks, and a new era in New England. But none of that will make 2024 an exciting year in Foxborough. The Patriots have the longest odds of anyone in the NFL to make the playoffs. They are +900 to make the postseason and +2500 to win the AFC East.
The Patriots are +10000 to win the AFC and +18000 to win the Super Bowl. The over/under on wins for the 2024 regular season is 4.5, their lowest total since 1991.
Offensive Award Odds
There is a dearth of talent on offense for the Patriots. Running back Rhamondre Stevenson has the shortest odds of any of the Patriots confirmed starters to win the MVP award, and he’s at +50000. Maye is +18000, but it’s possible that Jacoby Brissett begins the season as the New England’s QB1, which would tank Maye’s odds.
Because of his position and New England’s hope that he is indeed the future, Maye is a much better bet to win Offensive Rookie of the Year, paying +2500, which has him tied for seventh on the odds board.
For Offensive Player of the Year, Stevenson is paying +15000 and Maye is paying +15000. No one else is on the board.
Defensive Award Odds
The saving grace for the Patriots in 2024 is their defense. It’s why their 4.5 win totals line isn’t smaller. Pass rusher Matthew Judon is working his way back this season after missing 13 games in 2023. The year before, in 2022, he had a career-high 15.5 sacks. He is in a contract dispute with the Pats, and as the team’s best defensive player, he is paying +10000 to win Defensive Player of the Year.
Cornerback Christian Gonzalez was off to a great start last year as a rookie, but he also missed the final 13 games with an injury. He is back, and he, too, is paying +10000 to win Defensive Player of the Year.
Comeback Player of the Year odds for the two injured defensive stars has Judon at +7500 and Gonzalez at +8000.
Safety Jabrill Peppers is the last of the three DPOY candidates, and he is paying +20000.
First-year head coach Mayo is +2800 to win Coach of the Year.
With over 25 years of experience as a distinguished sports writer for renowned platforms such as Fox Sports and ESPN, Kyle Garlett is a sports betting specialist who has been at the forefront of documenting the global surge in sports betting and online gaming. Based in Denver, Colorado, Kyle hosts an NFL betting YouTube show and podcast. Kyle also has two sports books published by HarperCollins.
Kyle graduated the Azusa Pacific University in 1996 with a B.A. Degree in Communication and Journalism.
