The latest edition of our Patriots mailbag answers questions about the coaching staff, free agents, and more.
The final game of the New England Patriots’ season is on deck, but all eyes are already looking towards the offseason where they currently hold the No. 1 overall pick and the most projected cap space in football — which will all be used after a potential coaching staff shakeup.
So with that, let’s get right into this week’s #PostPulpit mailbag.
Assuming Mayo stays, which is more likely: A: A new DC is brought in B: A new offensive coach is brought in, possibly a “passing game coordinator” type who takes over calling plays from AVP C: Both of the above? – Lurker von Troll
It feels like everything is still on the table entering Week 18. If this is the choices with Mayo ultimately staying, I’d start with A. after the defense’s performance this season and players now speaking out about disconnect with the coaching staff.
But, DeMarcus Covington has worked with Mayo for several years and was his right hand man for the defensive coordinator position. He might not be looking to fire him which could lead us to option B. Keeping Covington and only getting rid of AVP though, yikes.
If Kraft put you in charge, who would be the HC next season? – Matt102
I don’t love the idea of just staying close to those with ties to the organization but I get the appeal with Mike Vrabel. He’s a proven commodity and what you hoped Mayo would become, while I also wouldn’t rule him out potentially keeping Alex Van Pelt as his offensive coordinator. Van Pelt runs a West Coast system that Vrabel’s teams have run in the past and they both have ties to the Cleveland organization.
I’d also love Brian Flores (even if it’s another former Patriots coach). He again is someone with head coaching experience and while there were obviously issues with how he handled Tua Tagovailoa and other players, Flores has spent the last few years under Mike Tomlin and Kevin O’Connell — perhaps two of the best when it comes to player-coach relationships. I’d also be intrigued with him taking Vikings QB coach Josh McCown with him due to his relationship with Drake Maye.
While an experienced coach would be ideal, if Ben Johnson would take an interview you have to find out more about him. Liam Coen falls in the same bucket. And I’m not huge on the college-to-NFL path, but get Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman and Oregon’s Dan Lanning in for the hell of it.
Conducting a full coaching search outside of those I’m familiar with is the one thing I’d definitely do.
What’s your biggest pleasant surprise for this season? Biggest disappointment? – 1stStateSoxFan
The biggest pleasant surprise took way too long to think of. Drake Maye’s level of play is probably the easiest choice but I was very high on him leading up to the draft. With that being said, I’d probably lean Kayshon Boutte’s emergence from the bench to their top receiver in terms of production. Austin Hooper also deserves recognition.
The disappointment was an easy choice between two: Ja’Lynn Polk and the defense. We all know about Polk, but the defense is Jerod Mayo’s expertise and DeMarcus Covington was a rising young coach on that side of the ball — taking defensive coordinators interviews elsewhere in years past. Yes, they dealt with injuries and traded Matthew Judon, but the unit has completely fallen off and looks poorly coaches.
Which internal free agents do you think are worth retaining? – Matt Monitto
There really isn’t a must re-sign among the group, which highlights how much money the Patriots will have to work with when free agency opens. But among unrestricted players, I’d still like to bring back Jonathan Jones to have a veteran in the secondary. Jones is not the same player he once was, however, so it would need to be in more of a nickel corner or safety role. An upgrade at CB2 is needed.
Elsewhere, Hooper has earned another deal while Jacoby Brissett could be brought back as a veteran backup if his market does not exist. Neither would (obviously) break the bank and give you a reliable veteran if there’s no upgrade to be had.
How big of a priority will center be for the Patriots in the upcoming offseason? Was the Charger’s game too small of a sample to see Strange’s potential at center? Brown came into the league in 2022 and hadn’t been able to stick to 4 teams’ practice squads before coming here. Has Brown demonstrated any growth, or anything to believe that he might be more than just a backup? – cf27
It shouldn’t need to be much of a priority. David Andrews wants to come back but we’ll see how much he has left in the tank next summer. Ben Brown has showed he’s capable of filling in. Cole Strange will have the flexibility to assist at guard or center depending on Layden Robinson’s role. Plus, Jake Andrews is expected to be ready for OTA’s after missing this season. Between those four, they shouldn’t have to use assets at the position.
The best way to mess up a draft is to get caught up in filling needs. That leads to projecting who might be there later and the trading of picks at less than top value. Last year the run on tackles left us without one. Given the cap space, wouldn’t it make sense to fill the three biggest holes (OT, WR, EDGE) in free agency and then be able to take best player available? Even if you trade back, you’re dealing from strength instead of need, and adding good talent. Make sense? Do you think they understand the concept? – ed.liebfried
Agreed, Ed. The best case scenario for the Patriots is that free agency (and the trade market) has them in good shape to take the best player available in the draft — now they just need those players to hit the market and take their cash. But, chasing needs in the draft is how you end up with the Cole Strange pick again.
I’ve been pondering the idea that free agency may be more important to New England than the draft this year (outside of round one) to get some proven veteran talent and leadership in the room, especially if Mayo returns.
What is your under/over for Jerod Mayo’s tenure? What percentage would you give that the Patriots trade their first pick? What percentage would you give that the Patriots first picks is an OT? What percentage would you give that the Patriots first pick is a WR? What is your under/over for wins in 2025? – SlowPolk
1. 1.5 or 2.5 years? If he makes it back next season the seat will be hot.
2. 75 percent (if it’s No. 1 overall)? Feels like they were ready to deal the pick last year if the team had a quarterback. Now they have Drake Maye, so we’ll see what offers come through.
3. 50 percent. You said first picks here so I expect them to take a tackle at some point early on unless they add in free agency.
4. 10 percent. This could go up if they trade down, but it’s not a great receiver class at the top of the draft.
5. 5.5 or 6.5. It was 4.5 last year. Now they have Maye and what should be a more talented roster next year. The exact offseason moves determine whether they get that extra win on the line.
So, I get the whole Polk vs McConkey debate. But, I get the trade. The Pats had a ton of holes and needed to shoot as many shots as they could to fill them. Having said that, when they picked Polk, Adonai Mitchell was still on the board. If I remember, there were some potential maturity issues or something similar? Now, he hasn’t had an amazing season, 23 catches and 312 yards so far, but it is a good sight better than Polk, and he was actually projected as the outside receiver that would have fit what we needed better. Has anything been heard about the issues that caused that slide? Would having better QB play maybe had Mitchell fitting in better with us? I know, when we passed on him, I was pretty sad, as I thought he would have been the perfect fit, but I’m thinking it even more so now. – Loiosh
Mitchell did fit exactly what they needed from a stylistic standpoint as a 6-foot-2 outside receiver who can run (4.34 40-yard dash). There were effort issues on film at times and character concerns off the field, however. Reports included that Mitchell interviewed poorly at the Combine and teams questioned his attitude and preparation. Mitchell also has Type 1 diabetes which he reportedly did not always handle well which led to some of those attitude issues.
Based off how the Patriots’ seemed to prioritize high-character players and captains at their respective programs, it was not a surprise to see them go elsewhere at the position.
I see speculation from “experts” that the overall number 1 pick in the draft will not yield a bonanza despite the fact that there seems to be a number of quarterback needy teams. What say you? – coolbeanz
Due to their being no surefire quarterback at the top of the draft, it likely won’t return a package like the Bears got two years back — which included an additional first round pick, two seconds, and wide receiver D.J. Moore.
It’s still the first overall pick, however, and you will still get some package of picks from a team to move up — maybe just without a future first. But, all it takes is one team to love Shadeur Sanders or Cam Ward enough to get aggressive.
Everyone always has opinions on what the best course of action is with the possibility of the 1sr overall pick (trade back, use it, which position to use it on). But what the worst thing the Patriots can do with the first overall pick in this years draft if they end up with it? – CPelkey0203
Nick Wright already answered this one for us: draft a QB and trade Drake Maye.
That’s all for this week’s #PostPulpit mailbag. If you have questions you’d liked to be answered next week, submit them online in our weekly submission post or on Twitter using #PostPulpit. Make sure to be following @iambrianhines and @PatsPulpit as well.