FOXBORO — Happy Thanksgiving.

It’s been a tough road here for the Patriots.

A 3-9 start. Too many penalties. Poor coaching.

But enough about all that for one day. It’s time to give thanks.

Here are nine Patriot-related reasons to be thankful this holiday season:

1. Drake Maye

Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt called Maye’s high-level play an “anomaly” Wednesday. He’s right, in the best possible way.

Maye is not only residing in the same neighborhood as quarterbacks like Justin Herbert, Kirk Cousins and Jared Goff by metrics like QBR, he’s powering the Pats’ entire offense. He’s creating explosive plays, extending plays and elevating the play of teammates around him. Few quarterbacks could overcome the NFL’s worst pass protection or a bottom-5 receiving corps, let alone both.

Maye is doing exactly that — as a rookie. So, yes, It’s only been seven starts, but he is more than legit. Maye is a true franchise quarterback.

2. Maye’s development

Quarterback Drake Maye and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt look on during a Sept. 12 New England Patriots practice in Foxboro. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)

It wasn’t long ago that draft evaluators had gripes with Maye as a prospect.

Footwork. Decision-making. A tendency to play hero ball. Spotty accuracy on short throws.

Not all critiques were completely fair or accurate, but as talented as he was, Maye undoubtedly had his weak points. And for a 21-year-old kid who played just two full seasons the previous four years, it was reasonable enough to label him a high-potential prospect who may need to sit and learn as an NFL rookie.

How long ago does that feel?

The Patriots have brought out the best in Maye, a delicate, daily balance of allowing his talent to take over but also harnessing that ability with proper mechanics and drill work. The results have been undeniable. That’s a credit to Van Pelt, quarterbacks coach T.C. McCartney and Ben McAdoo, who took a gun-shy passer out-played by Jacoby Brissett for most of training camp and molded him into a true NFL starter.

3. Christian Gonzalez, stud

New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez (0) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

The only other blue-chip talent on this roster, Gonzalez is a burgeoning star.

He’s earned the respect of the NFL’s best wideouts, from A.J. Brown to Tyreek Hill and Ja’Marr Chase. Gonzalez may only have one interception this season, but the deeper numbers tell the story of how well he’s played while often going head-to-head with No. 1 receivers. This season, opposing quarterbacks have posted a 77.3 passer rating and 55.6% completion percentage when targeting him.

4. Another top-10 pick incoming

This is how rebuilds are supposed to work.

New regimes shed old players and bad contracts in their debut offseason, then prioritize snaps for young players in Year 1 and suffer through the growing pains. By the end of the season, they’ve clinched another top pick and continue to stockpile cost-controlled talent through the draft, where all the best teams are built.

If the season ended today, the Patriots would own the No. 4 overall pick in the 2025 draft. That pick should yield a blue-chip receiver, offensive linemen or more picks in a trade back. In any scenario, this will be a long-term win for the talent-starved Pats.

5. $132 million in cap room

New England Patriots director of scouting Eliot Wolf speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

The Patriots are currently projected to lead the NFL in cap space next offseason. Whether they spend every last dollar is obviously another question.

But the financial flexibility to sign multiple top free agents like Bengals receiver Tee Higgins, Buccaneers receiver Chris Godwin, Dolphins safety Jevon Holland and Ravens left tackle Ronnie Stanley is a clear positive. Not to mention, the Patriots have only a few in-house free agents to attend to (Jonathan Jones, Jacoby Brissett and Austin Hooper, among others), so this money can and should go elsewhere.

The front office might also use this space to trade for and sign big-name receivers expecting major extensions or new contracts from their teams who are either unable or unwilling to pay them; a common practice among contending teams.

6. The Matt Judon trade

Imagine a malcontent like Matt Judon on this team?

Instead, the Patriots shipped off the four-time Pro Bowler for a third-round pick last August. Despite playing 11 games, Judon still has fewer sacks (2.5) and QB hits (4) for the Falcons than he did all of last year, when he suffered a season-ending injury in Week 4.

Callahan: The Patriots won the Matthew Judon trade and 4 more Week 9 thoughts

This trade marks the biggest win of Eliot Wolf’s early, rocky tenure as the Patriots’ front-office leader.

7. An easier 2025 schedule

After laboring through the NFL’s most difficult schedule in 2023, the Patriots were handed the league’s second-most difficult slate this season by opponents’ preseason over-under win totals.

While those projections haven’t all come to pass, the Pats can bank on a lighter schedule next year.

They will play nine home games compared to eight road games. Assuming they finish last in division, they will meet fellow last-place finishers in the AFC West, AFC South and NFC East. Regardless of how those matchups shake out, the Patriots are guaranteed to host the Browns and Panthers and visit the Saints in 2025.

8. Silver pants return

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Be gone, navy-on-navy!

The Patriots’ home uniforms are the most bland in the league. Here’s hoping the on-again-off-again reintroduction of the silver pants, which nicely complement their silver helmets and have been worn at home and on the road, are a sign the Pats plan to move away from boring and back toward a classic look. The Patriots do not need a complete uniform overhaul.

Just wear what works.

9. The Jets

Yes, the Jets.

Because even in the franchise’s darkest days, the Patriots can always bank on beating these turkeys. The Jets have again fired their head coach and general manager, and the quarterback could be gone, too. Dysfunction of the highest order.

Gobble, gobble.