Daily news and links for Thursday
TEAM TALK
- Patriots Catch-22: Latest NFL news, trade candidates, best available free agents. (2 hours)
LOCAL LINKS
- Mark Morse analyzes the Patriots 90 man roster by position: Part 3 – Linebackers. Robert Spillane, Christian Elliss, Jahvani Tavai, Jack Gibbens, Monty Rice, Cam Riley, Marte Mapu, Kyle Dugger. ‘In a very surprising ranking, the Patriots Linebacker group was ranked #3 in the league by Pro Football Focus. Only Philadelphia and Los Angelas Rams were ranked ahead of the Pats.’ /More.
- Mike D’Abate points out how the Pats have a group of agile, athletic linebackers who are expected to thrive in the new aggressive new style of defense in 2025.
- Mike D’Abate notes undrafted rookie WR Efton Chism III has been training with former NFL receiver and coach Michael Bumpus, who had great things to say about this hard-working “GEM” on the roster.
- Ian Logue’s Patriots News: What will the McDaniels effect be?
- Sara Marshall calls the Patriots philosophy of releasing or trading nearly every player that has been a pillar of the team for several years a bold move that might not have been a wise decision in the first year of Vrabel’s tenure, especially since it then puts a lot of pressure on the young core to lead the team much earlier than expected.
- Thomas Valentine mentions Drake Maye was ranked 4th on a list of all the second-year quarterbacks, ahead of J.J. McCarthy and Michael Penix Jr.
- Matthew Schmidt highlights James White calling out the Dolphins for trading away TE Jonnu Smith.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Ben Solak (ESPN) The best NFL draft pick ever at every slot from No. 1 to 262. Patriots: 23. Ty Law, 25. Dont’a Hightower, 41. Andre Tippett, 42. Rob Gronkowski, 78. Joe Thuney, 87. Tim Goad, 116. Steve Grogan, 124. Ben Coates, 164. Dan Koppen, 198. Troy Brown, 199. Tom Brady “It was a close one between Brady and Ephraim Salaam, a 13-year journeyman at right tackle…” 232. Julian Edelman. /Click for commentary.
- Cody Benjamin (CBS Sports) Top 2025 NFL players by jersey number. No 48 Jahlani Tavai, No. 81 Austin Hooper.
- Frank Schwab (Yahoo! Sports) NFL offseason power rankings: No. 20 Pittsburgh Steelers find another stopgap QB in Aaron Rodgers.
- Diante Lee (The Ringer) The Steelers’ latest win-now move might only bring more mediocrity.
- Tyler Dragon (USA Today) NFL rookies to watch: Ashton Jeanty headlines most explosive players in 2025. No Pats.
- Chad Reuter (NFL.com) Seven-round NFL mock draft of active players for 2025 season: Every team’s full set of win-now picks. /Weird, but it IS the offseason.
- Bill Barnwell (ESPN) NFL ‘Bag’ Hall of Fame: Players who maximized contract leverage. No Pats.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Matt Rhule believes NFL experience will help in new college football landscape.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) De Smith: Some at NFLPA thought collusion case was “waste of time.”
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) De Smith’s upcoming book describes Aaron Rodgers as “isolated” and “dismissive.”