The latest edition of our Patriots mailbag answers questions about trade targets, draft scenarios, and more.
The offseason is off and running as things have started to heat up at the NFL Combine this week. For the New England Patriots that includes narrowing things down with the No. 4 overall pick and finding ways to spend their league-high cap space in free agency.
So let’s talk about it all and get right into this week’s #PostPulpit mailbag live from the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
Harold Landry III? BC guy. Vrabel guy. He’s only 28. Makes too much sense? – ParaMeds
Listed in our potential cap casualty post earlier this offseason, the Tennessee Titans are now allowing Landry to seek a trade. As you said, it makes a ton of sense for Vrabel to reunite with one of his first draft selections.
Remodeling the edge depth chart will be on the to-do list for New England this offseason. Landry is still just 28 and has been productive since a 2022 ACL tear posting 10.5 and 9.0 sacks the past two seasons. There is some level of buyer beware, however, as some of his pass rush metrics have fallen off (4.8 percent pass rush win rate last season ranked 114th out of 119 qualified rushers).
Landry cannot be the main pass rush addition, but he’s proven he can still play clean-up — making him a good fit next to Christian Barmore and perhaps another interior rusher as they can push the pocket from the middle. If the price is right from both a draft compensation and reworked contract, New England should definitely be interested.
I’ll steer away from the draft speculation for this one. In the off chance we somehow whiff on targeting our main needs through FA, are there any realistic trade candidates that you could see NE making calls about?
2 in the back of my mind are DK Metcalf and Jaire Alexander (who I know has been mentioned here before as a potential target) – LandenPatz1
Alexander was another name on a potential cap casualty list. The 28-year-old was one of the top cornerbacks in football but injuries have limited him to just seven games in each of the last two seasons. Still if the price is right, taking a gamble on pairing him and Christian Gonzalez is an intriguing option.
As for Metcalf, Seattle’s GM John Schneider and head coach Mike MacDonald seemed to have no plans on trading the receiver this offseason when speaking at the Combine. Certainly things can change, but it feels like Seattle hopes Metcalf becomes a bigger part of Klint Kubiak’s new offense.
Some other names that could potentially interest them: WR Christian Kirk, TE Kyle Pitts, TE Michael Mayer, and Edge Bryce Huff. Cooper Kupp and Deebo Samuel also remain available, although neither would solve New England’s receiver needs by themselves. They could also try to rekindle Brandon Aiyuk talks from last year.
What the Value of Joe Milton is at the moment is at the moment. Rather poor Quarterback class and some teams might be willing to take a chance on Milton with his raw potential. If the Patriots are offered a third or second, should they pull the trigger. – strovib
I’d say his current value is an early day three pick. Having a player with Milton’s upside on a rookie contract at quarterback is an extremely valuable asset that I would certainly not be rushing out the door. If some team did want to really get aggressive and offer a day two pick, however, it may be tough to say no.
If Travis Hunter is there at #4, do we take him knowing he can play a legit first round wr and/or(!) cb… or do we grab Campbell for LT? – Emperor Penguin
Hunter is one of the top two players in the draft so he would be my choice. I’m also still in the viewpoint that I would draft him to play mainly wide receiver for the Patriots.
If the Patriots drafted Campbell with the 4th pick or traded back and still got Campbell in the top 10, would it make any sense to also draft Simmons by trading back into the first round? – SoDak605PatsFan
Would be tough to see them go two offenisve lineman in the back-to-back in the first-round. If they go elsewhere with their top pick I could see a scenario where they move back up for Simmons, who could be the top pure left tackle in the draft. Depending on how the medical checks go for his torn patellar tendon, Vrabel could target the former Buckeye.
Since at this point in the offseason EVERYTHING is ‘Mock guesses and Trade wishes’ …. What 2 former Patriots players would be Time Machine Dream additions in the 3 areas of needs ( sorry no TB12, Gronk, Moss allowed) – PatsFanAloha
With no Brady, Gronk, or Moss I’d probably lean for the talent on defense over someone on the offensive line. Maybe some combination of Richard Seymour on the defensive line and Ty Law or Rodney Harrison in the secondary.
Does (arm) size matter? – ghosthaus
Yes (or so I’ve been told).
Dear Brian,
I’m thinking of no longer reading your columns. Your arms might be too short for Pat’s Pulpit. – GAPatriot
No worries, the arms check in past the Pats Pulpit reporter threshold.
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.