ESPN analyst and former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky voiced his opinion regarding the New England Patriots who failed to find their erstwhile dominant form and are struggling in their 2020 campaign as of late.

“The dynasty is over,” Orlovsky began. “It really ended on March 17 when Tom Brady left.”

The University of Connecticut product noted a handful of aspects which will make the coming years more difficult in Foxborough:

“They have been a very poor drafting football team,” noted Orlovsky. “We know that the roster right now is depleted, mainly because of free agents that have left, and poor drafting, and some COVID opt-outs. Some of those COVID opt-outs are free agents next year as well. So you’re going to figure out can you re-sign them?”

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Several tenured veterans have decided to opt out of playing this season for concerns over the dreaded coronavirus pandemic which garnered a league-high tally for the Patriots. The list is bannered by linebacker Dont'a Hightower, safety Patrick Chung, and tackle Marcus Cannon, among others.

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick also recently admitted that the team is not financially capable to make significant acquisitions in the next few years due to the money spent in previous seasons which landed them several Super Bowl championships. The $1 million bargain deal signed by quarterback Cam Newton spoke highly of the Patriots' financial situation heading into the 2020 NFL season.

Their inability to spot talent in the draft hurts their chances to get back as contenders even more. Midway through their campaign in 2020, the team currently finds themselves in an unfamiliar territory with a 2-5 record to nab third in the division which they previously ruled for 11-straight seasons and 17 of the past 19 years. Despite the struggles, the Patriots are hoping for a turnaround in the latter stages of the season to prove that they can still be relevant in the league under the post-Tom Brady era.