The Patriots have a brand new head coach, the No. 4 general decide and $130 million in wage cap area, so morale is enhancing among the many fanbase.
Let’s reply some questions within the newest installment of our Patriots mailbag.
@rockstarshitfr
Are there any WR1s you might see the patriots realistically focusing on in a commerce?
The apparent one right here is Eagles extensive receiver A.J. Brown, proper? Mike Vrabel was a part of the Titans group that drafted Brown within the second spherical of the 2019 NFL Draft (after the Patriots chosen N’Keal Harry). Vrabel stated this week on WEEI that he maintains a “very, very shut relationship” with Brown.
The largest query is whether or not the Eagles would even be open to buying and selling him as a result of even when he’s sad, which he’s appeared at instances this season enjoying with Jalen Hurts, he’s nonetheless considered one of their greatest offensive gamers.
His contract can also be prohibitive in doubtlessly dealing him. Buying and selling Brown earlier than June 1 would truly subtract cap area from the Eagles’ books.
So far as different potential No. 1 extensive receivers go, it’s by no means a foul concept to take a look at gamers who’re due main contract extensions. Drake London, Garrett Wilson and George Pickens have been all drafted in 2022 and are actually free to signal new offers.
DK Metcalf has additionally been a well-liked commerce candidate because the Seahawks are in wage cap hell.
Patriots followers won’t love this title, however Tyreek Hill additionally appeared to need out of Miami after Week 18.
Buying and selling for a prime extensive receiver will surely make some choices in free company and the draft lots simpler for the Patriots. Brown most likely isn’t essentially the most sensible choice, however there does appear to be a path to amass a prime extensive receiver through commerce this offseason.
@its_BenScheffer
Abdul Carter, Tet McMillan, Will Campbell, Kelvin Banks. Are all on the board at 4 and you’ll’t commerce down. Decide one and inform me why.
First I must know who else the Patriots have added in free company and trades.
However of these 4 gamers, I feel Penn State defensive finish Abdul Carter has the best potential, so I’d decide him. I’d additionally make the case that go rusher is a good better want for the Patriots than extensive receiver. The Patriots’ go rush was mainly nonexistent final season outdoors of their Week 10 win over the Bears. A minimum of they’ve a number of guys at operating again, extensive receiver and tight finish who can catch the ball.
We’ll see how he assessments, however I fear a little bit bit about Tet McMillan’s velocity at extensive receiver.
Offensive tackles Will Campbell and Kelvin Banks aren’t best prospects at offensive sort out given their measurement, however I nonetheless suppose a man like Campbell may make sense there because it’s so troublesome to discover a franchise left sort out outdoors of the draft.
@stoned_podcast
Should you have been to guess, what position is Vrabel going to play within the entrance workplace? How a lot say is he going to have in gamers which might be focused this offseason climate it’s by free company or the draft ?
I’d guess a giant position. I feel a few of these issues are still being ironed out, and there’s lots to nonetheless be determined because it’s solely January.
However, yeah, I’d anticipate Vrabel to have a significant position in front-office choices.
@thiagosaloma0
Decide 4: BPA or OT?
It’s smartest to go greatest participant out there with the fourth general decide within the draft.
However I nonetheless do know logically that it’s troublesome to discover a prime offensive sort out outdoors of the draft. However you need as near a sure-thing with the No. 4 general decide, and also you need the participant who’s going to make the most important affect. And that’s the most effective participant.
@CadeMckernan
How a lot of the 130 million do you suppose the patriots realistically spend
I personally see no purpose why they’d go into the 2025 season with greater than $10 to $20 million in cap area. They should enhance their staff, and they should do it quick.
@toro1566
Not a query, simply prepared for Draft Doug to emerge from hibernation #MailDoug
As you would possibly be capable of inform from the mock draft I wrote for Thursday, I’m prepared for the draft.
Discovering gamers for that mock draft like Utah State extensive receiver Jalen Royals and Rutgers offensive sort out Hollin Pierce obtained me excited.
@John_Carpenter1
Do you suppose prime FAs will select to come back to the Patriots even when the Pats are paying prime of the market?
I don’t suppose that might be a significant problem. I do suppose the Patriots might need to overpay a little bit bit to compensate for state taxes and enjoying within the northeast, however additionally they have loads of cap area. So, they will afford to overpay a little bit bit.
@clarkie57
Does having Vrabel make it extra seemingly to have the ability to appeal to high quality free brokers? If that’s the case, who do you suppose he targets?
I definitely don’t suppose it hurts.
And I’d begin by taking a look at gamers on the Titans and Browns that he labored with. Titans sort out Dillon Radunz, Browns left sort out Jedrick Wills and Titans extensive receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine are all free brokers.
In addition they may pull from the Giants, the place front-office govt Ryan Cowden labored. Large receiver Darius Slayton and edge defender Azeez Ojulari are potential choices.
@KevinPOBrien
Which place is greatest addressed by FA or commerce : WR, OT, DE?
Large receiver has the most effective general participant in Tee Higgins however not nice depth. Defensive finish additionally has some very nice choices like Ojulari, Josh Sweat and Khalil Mack. Offensive sort out is fairly shallow, however Radunz, Wills, Ronnie Stanley and Alaric Jackson are potential beginning choices.
So, I’d most likely say defensive finish, however offensive sort out is shut behind.
@markclimbs
greatest, worst, and principally seemingly alternative for OC?
Essentially the most thrilling choice, to me, is Vikings QB coach Josh McCown. The least thrilling choices could be Tim Kelly, Todd Downing or Alex Van Pelt. And it feels just like the most likely choice is Josh McDaniels, who would even be proper smack dab in the midst of most and least thrilling.
@Siepiramey
Why the Josh McDaniel hate by so many, aside from the historical past w BB, the dude has achieved nice nice work in essentially the most elite moments? To me, he’s far more dependable a rent than the following good OC guru.
I don’t know, however my greatest guess is that individuals simply need one thing new and are questioning why McDaniels hasn’t acquired curiosity from different groups as an offensive coordinator.
To the second half, I’m unsure, however he’s nonetheless gathering a examine from the Raiders and residing regionally within the New England space. So, it’s doable that he’s simply ready for the proper alternative whereas nonetheless being paid by Mark Davis.
I perceive wanting one thing new, and clearly McDaniels hasn’t labored out as a head coach, however the final time he was an offensive coordinator was in 2021 with the Patriots, and so they ranked sixth in scoring. That’s not half unhealthy with Mac Jones at quarterback.
I agree that he has the next flooring than much less skilled candidates. I nonetheless suppose I nonetheless suppose it’s price in search of out somebody who can convey extra creativity.
@PlayboiiMm
Is Robyn Glaser nonetheless with the Patriots?
Patriots govt vice chairman of soccer enterprise Robyn Glaser was within the facility on Thursday, per a number of sources. It’s most likely too early to say what is going to occur sooner or later, but it surely feels like no matter that’s might be her determination.
@garylanglais
The 2023 Patriots draftees is an attention-grabbing group. They’ve now been by two entrance workplace modifications in two years.
However they have been drafted by Invoice who seemingly values a variety of what Vrabel does. For these nonetheless right here, does this variation assist them? Harm them? Or no change?
I feel the head-coaching change hurts gamers chosen within the 2023 NFL Draft greater than helps them.
Jerod Mayo at the least had been within the group with these gamers earlier than he took over as head coach in 2024. Mike Vrabel has no historical past with the gamers drafted in 2023.
@SoxPatsCsplswin
Should you may decide between the two, would you fairly signal Trey Smith to play left guard or Alaric Jackson to play left sort out? Assuming Smith makes an honest bit for cash per 12 months
I waffled forwards and backwards on this one, however I’d most likely fairly signal Jackson.
Eliminating a necessity at offensive sort out would actually assist the Patriots within the draft to not have to achieve for a participant.
Will Campbell and Kelvin Banks include the next ceiling than Jackson, however a free agent, whether or not or not it’s Jackson, Wills or another person, would most likely play at the next stage from Day 1.
It does appear seemingly {that a} participant like Jackson will attain a long-term take care of the Rams earlier than he hits free company, nonetheless.
@KimmelmanLouis
If the Patriots take Travis Hunter would you need him to primarily play WR or CB?
It feels like groups desire him at cornerback with a gadget position on offense.
The place the Patriots would put him may rely on the place he’s wanted extra, nonetheless, which might be a pleasant luxurious to have.
@K__VET
“Take away entitlement”
These phrases have been loaded, however signaled to me that quite a lot of gamers are on discover. “If” it’s a must to decide one shock starter to be lower and/or traded earlier than subsequent 12 months, who do you suppose it will likely be?
Only one? There have been numerous Patriots veteran gamers who didn’t carry their weight in 2024, together with however not restricted to Kyle Dugger, Davon Godchaux, Jahlani Tavai and Sione Takitaki.
One problem is that contract extensions for Godchaux and Tavai haven’t even kicked in but.
@tha_KIDD25
Ideas on Josh Simmons for the Pats? One of many few tackles with out measurement/size points however does have the knee damage
I like the concept of drafting Ohio State left sort out Josh Simmons, however he’s form of in no-man’s-land the place he’s ranked in comparison with the place the Patriots are selecting.
They’ve the fourth general decide and No. 38 general. Simmons’ consensus rating is round No. 18 general proper now. So, he must be a significant riser, or the Patriots would have commerce was down or manner again up within the draft to get him.
@Jcookeindahouse
Query: how did the Patriots get themselves right into a place the place they’ve $130m in cap area?
They didn’t draft properly, so that they didn’t signal younger gamers to huge extensions.
And so they (fairly properly) didn’t overextend themselves in free company final offseason.
There was actually no level in spending freely.
@marchandsteve
I do know it’s theoretical, however: How far down within the 1st spherical would you be keen to go for a staff making an attempt to maneuver as much as #4? Groups who may theoretically strive embrace 3 within the High 10: LV (6), NYJ (7), & NO (9).
I may be keen to go all the best way all the way down to No. 9 general. Assuming two quarterbacks go within the prime 9 picks, that would go away you with Hunter, Carter, McMillan, Campbell, Banks, cornerback Will Johnson or defensive sort out Mason Graham.
In some methods, buying and selling down, if there’s a suggestion, nonetheless may be the most effective plan.
@MarrcussDarling
With Jacoby probably going into free company, would we go after one other veteran corresponding to a Cousins, Mariota or can we convey again Mac or Jimmy G since this might be a brand new employees, however all in fact if we hold 3 qbs within the roster..
I’d signal a veteran quarterback, however I don’t know if it must be a bona-fide No. 2. I do know it was towards backups, and I do know the Payments have been operating primary coverages, however I really feel ok about Joe Milton III to make him the backup quarterback in 2025.
So, I’d most likely goal somebody who may compete with Milton for that position and function a veteran chief like Marcus Mariota, Andy Dalton, Case Keenum, Joshua Dobbs or Will Grier.
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