Did Robert Kraft Speak With Jerod Mayo About Tanking Week 18?

The New England Patriots bid farewell to their season and head coach Jerod Mayo in Sunday’s Week 18 win to the Buffalo Bills, leaving everyone from the outside perplexed for one reason or another.

Specifically, the team’s decision to compete with nothing to gain but the No. 1 overall selection in this year’s NFL draft prompted a collective head scratch at Gillette Stadium. New England knew its early offseason fate since early December, remains in rebuild mode and could benefit from being in the driver’s seat in April’s draft.

Still, the Patriots pursued the costly 23-16 victory over Buffalo. Team owner Robert Kraft addressed whether he was involved in New England’s Week 18 approach or whether a discussion with Mayo and the coaching staff occurred beforehand.

“No,” Kraft told reporters during Monday’s press conference, per team-provided video.

The Patriots instead dropped three spots, giving the Tennessee Titans the first overall pick, followed by the Cleveland Browns at No. 2, the New York Giants at No. 3 and New England at No. 4. It’s possible that a meaningless pat on the back from the Patriots could lose the franchise its shot at Colorado’s wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter, who’s touted as the standout prospect in the 2025 class.

It’s hard to imagine that three organizations will pass up the chance to select Hunter and leave the 21-year-old available for the Patriots.

In other words, New England’s case for winning was as strong as a wet paper bag.

Mayo’s job security, evidenced by the team’s quick postgame farewell and Kraft’s commentary, reveals that the Patriots had their mind made up. Kraft mentioned that parting ways with Mayo was a done deal before Week 18, so cleaning up for the outpour of “fire Mayo” chants raining down Gillette Stadium in Week 17 was a lost cause.

“It was one of the more difficult things that I’ve had to do in my life cause I had such affection for him and I believe in him,” Kraft said. “And I really do believe he will go on and as he gets more experience, he’ll be successful. It was not easy. He was a gentleman and he accepted it that way.”

The Patriots, moving forward, will need to examine candidates for their soon-to-be new coaching staff and prepare for the draft and other offseason obligations to get the team back on track for next season.