Daily news and links for Friday
TEAM TALK
- Patriots 2025 Mock Draft Tracker.
- The Insiders: Breaking down Daniel Jeremiah’s Mock Draft 2.0. (3.40 min. video)
- The Insiders: Judy Battista on how the 2025 NFL Salary Cap will see ‘a big jump’ from last year. (1.40 min. video)
- Patriots Unfiltered: NFL Combine preview, roster building, offseason chats. (2 hours)
LOCAL LINKS
- Mark Daniels spotlights five free agents who could help the Patriots revamp their offensive line.
- Conor Ryan relays Dante Scarnecchia cautioning against drafting an offensive lineman with the No. 4 pick. “I’ve heard the saying that if I’m taking a guy with the fourth pick in the draft, I’m taking a guy who can sack the quarterback or score touchdowns.”
- Meghan Ottolini hears from three wide receiver specialists on who the Patriots can target to bring in, and how they can get better, fast.
- Chris Mason notes that when asked, Drake Maye picked 2 Patriots players who will ‘make a splash’ in 2025: WRs Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker.
- Phil Perry makes the case for Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan: Maye’s security blanket of the future? McMillan is the consensus top receiver in this year’s draft.
- Tom Carroll considers the Patriots selecting Michigan DT Mason Graham at No. 4.
- Darren Hartwell explains why the Patriots should pursue star WR Davante Adams if the Jets release him.
- Tom Carroll wonders of a Davante Adams-Josh McDaniels reunion is viable in New England.
- Tom Carroll notes the price for Tee Higgins went up as the Bengals reportedly plan to use the non-exclusive franchise tag.
- Meghan Ottollini looks at which potential trade targets make sense for the Patriots, and how much will they cost?
- Darren Hartwell notes that according to Phil Perry, the Patriots’ release of Sione Takitaki offering a clue as to who’s really in charge of personnel decisions in New England.
- Nick O’Malley reports former Patriots WR coach Tyler Hughes lands vague job at Alabama.
- Tom Carroll notes Matt Patricia was reportedly hired by Ohio State as a defensive coordinator.
- Scott McLaughlin reports Tom Brady enters the sports collectibles industry with an ownership stake in CardVault.
- Andrew Callahan and Michael Holley make predictions about Mike Vrabel’s first season. Can Vrabel lead the Patriots to 11 wins in his first season? (4.40 min. video)
NATIONAL NEWS
- Matt Verderame (SI) Five NFL rookies who will make the leap in 2025. No. 1 Drake Maye. “… If New England can add a few weapons around Maye and fix the offensive line, there’s a chance he will have a tremendous second season…”
- Matt Harmon (Yahoo! Sports) 5 pivotal questions (and predictions) for key AFC teams. Patriots: How will they surround Drake Maye with a support system?
- Kevin Patra (NFL.com) Ten players who could be misvalued in NFL free agency.
- Frank Schwab (Yahoo! Sports) NFL free agency: Top 10 storylines, including the Bengals’ spending and QB carousel. 5. The Patriots will be spending.
- Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz (USA Today) NFL coaching hire winners and losers: Who made out best in teams’ moves this year? Winners: Robert Kraft, Drake Maye. /Kraft???
- Albert Breer (SI) Takeaways: Jets moving on from Aaron Rodgers wasn’t that simple; Plus, Kellen Moore had a bizarre week and the Jaguars’ new hierarchy doesn’t possess much experience.
- Around the NFL (NFL.com) NFL news roundup: Veteran OL Jon Feliciano announces retirement after 10 seasons.
- Bryan DeArdo (CBS Sports) Final 2024 grades for all 32 NFL teams. Patriots: D.
- Nate Davis (USA Today) 2025 post-Super Bowl power rankings: Where do all 32 teams stand? Patriots 18th.
- Dan Parr (NFL.com) Five biggest NFL draft takeaways from Daniel Jeremiah’s pre-combine conference call.
- Cody Benjamin (CBS Sports) 2025 NFL QB market: Top free agents, best team fits, projected contracts; More.
- Garrett Podell (CBS Sports) 2025 NFL RB market: Top free agents, best team fits, projected deals; More.
- Jay Busbee (Yahoo! Sports) 2025 NFL Redraft: Who lands Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, all the biggest stars?
- Bryan DeArdo (CBS Sports) Tom Brady shares which NFL team still gives him ‘nightmares’. The 2006 Colts handed Brady arguably his most painful non-Super Bowl loss.
- Kyle Koster (SI) Five worst takes of the 2024 NFL season from media pundits. Bold takes that aged like milk.
- Jimmy Traina (SI) All-Traina Thoughts Mailbag: Greg Olsen, Netflix-NFL future and More.