The ramifications of the Patriots’ win over the Bills in Week 18 may finally be coming into the picture, and it’s not pretty for New England.

ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter said those in Foxborough may not be pleased to hear the тιтans plan to take a “generational” talent at No. 1, which could indicate either two-way phenom Travis Hunter Jr. or Penn State star pᴀss rusher Abdul Carter will be the first pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Since New England does not need a quarterback, the consensus belief is that the Patriots are hoping Hunter or Carter falls to them at No. 4.

“The defensive lineman from Penn State or the wide receiver/cornerback from Colorado,” Schefter told WEEI of what his expectations for Tennessee after the remark. “That quote told me that they are not locked into taking a quarterback at one. That is not what New England wanted to hear, that quote today.”

The Patriots entered Week 18 in control of the No. 1 pick, needing to just lose to a Bills team with nothing to play for to secure the top selection.

New England emerged with a 23-16 win, which dropped them to the No. 4 pick and pushed the тιтans (No. 1), Browns (No. 2) and Giants (No. 3) ahead of them.

The Patriots have their franchise quarterback in Drake Maye, whom they took No. 3 overall last year, so the No. 1 pick did not matter in that regard, but they would have then had no one to stop them from getting Hunter or Carter and, had they wanted, they could have received treasured draft capital to move down.

It’s possible Carter or Hunter could still fall to New England should two of the teams ahead of them take a quarterback, but this year’s group of signal callers is not regarded as “generational.”

Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Miami’s Cam Ward are considered the best two quarterback prospects, but there are questions about both.

Pundits agree that this year’s crop of quarterbacks would rank behind last year’s group that featured Maye, Jayden Daniels, Caleb Williams, Bo Nix, Michael Penix and J.J. McCarthy.

Even a team like the Giants, without a quarterback, may believe that Carter or Hunter are that much better than the quarterbacks and decide to punt on the position for another year.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper has Hunter and Carter as his No. 1 and No. 2 prospects in the class, ahead of Sanders at No. 4 and the fifth-ranked Ward.

Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham ranks third on Kiper’s board.

Whoever New England takes will be the first pick under new coach Mike Vrabel, the ex-Patriots linebacker who returned to Foxborough after being fired as тιтans coach last year.