Could Patriots trade for Hunter Renfrow at deadline? (mailbag)

We’re running a mailbag on Fridays during the season. If you have questions on the Patriots, NFL, or want gripe about past answers, email cmason@masslive.com or tweet @bychrismason. Now let’s get to this week’s questions!

What’s the likelihood the Patriots make a trade for Hunter Renfrow? And ship DeVante Parker out in the process? — @Patsunlimited

Let’s start with the Refrow part of this question. I don’t see the Patriots trading for the Raiders slot receiver for a few reasons.

1. Even with a win in Miami this weekend, they shouldn’t buy at the deadline.

If the Patriots manage to upset the Dolphins and decide not to sell, that’s explicable I suppose, but at 3-5 they’ll remain a long shot for a playoff spot — and that’s just making the tournament. Given their personnel issues, they’re not close to contender status, and Renfrow doesn’t remedy that.

2. The Patriots already have seven wideouts on the 53-man roster.

Yes, you read that correctly. And that’s not including Matthew Slater, who is still technically listed as a wide receiver. As it stands, they’re going to be in a numbers crunch on Sunday afternoon in Miami — someone is going to be an unhappy healthy scratch — and Bill Belichick should be playing the young players on the roster.

3. Refrow hasn’t been productive at all under Josh McDaniels.

What gives confidence that Renfrow will turn things around when he hasn’t done anything in a Raiders offense that’s similar to the system the Patriots have run for ages (8 catches, 73 yards this season)? It’s not like Tom Brady is here and every wideout magically becomes more productive. Thus far in 2023, Pop Douglas has been far more effective than Renfrow, and the sixth-rounder has far more room to grow.

Trading for the veteran just doesn’t really make sense on any level.

As for Parker, I’d be stunned if anybody in the league would take him off Belichick’s hands given his contract and lack of production. Moving him feels like a pipe dream.

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Could the Patriots lose Jerod Mayo this offseason? — Ethan B.

Oh to be a fly on Mayo’s wall when the Belichick extension news broke.

Honestly, any season that Mayo isn’t the head coach in Foxborough, the Patriots will risk losing him. He’s a very charismatic and intelligent guy that has New England’s defense playing well once again. If suitors are interested again, Robert Kraft won’t be able to block Mayo interviewing for head coaching jobs elsewhere given his current title as linebackers coach.

Do the Patriots have the personnel and scheme to slow down Miami’s offense? – Miller

Slow, yes. Stop, I don’t believe so.

New England’s three high safety approach was lauded as a success against the explosive Dolphins in Week 2, but Miami has now seen it on film and the Patriots won’t have the element of surprise on their side, should they return to that game plan. It’ll be more challenging to pull off this time around.

I don’t think the Dolphins will hang 70 points on them or anything — hello, Denver — but Mac Jones is going to need to put some real points on the board if New England is going to win this game.

How many picks to the Patriots have next year’s NFL Draft? — John P.

They currently have eight, and it’s fair to presume they won’t pick up any compensatory picks, given how much salary cap space they’re entering 2024 with. Here’s a full list:

1st round (own)

2nd round (own)

3rd round (own)

4th round (own)

5th round (own)

6th round (own)

6th round (LV via Justin Herron trade)

7th round (CHI via N’Keal Harry trade)

Can you discuss Ty Montgomery’s role? All I see him doing is making bad decisions and mistakes – Julez

On offense, his role has been extremely limited. Active for all seven games, Montgomery has only played 30 offensive snaps and he’s picked up 30 total yards. However, on special teams he’s played 108 snaps (57%) and served as the team’s primary kickoff returner.

So, Montgomery’s role has essentially been that of a core special teamer.

In the NFL, a defensive back is allowed any sort of contact within the 5 yard bump zone except for holding the receiver. Why don’t DBs put the opposing WR on his butt at the line of scrimmage? — Richard F.

Because it’s not that easy. If they whiff — or just get too off balance — the wideout is gone.

The Patriots do value physicality though, and you can bet on a fair bit of jamming this weekend in Miami. JC Jackson believes physicality at the line of scrimmage is going to be a key on Sunday afternoon at Hard Rock Stadium.

“Especially these guys,” Jackson said. “This is like a track team. They’ve got a bunch of fast guys. So we’ve gotta be physical. We’ve gotta get hands on (them) and slow these guys down.”

It’s still early, but Patriots TE Pharaoh Brown has a PFF rating higher than either of the other TEs we have. Think he’ll be targeted more on Sunday? — Alexander S.

This is why PFF rankings make me roll my eyes.

Brown has certainly been a pleasant surprise, but most of his production has come because defenses aren’t giving the blocking tight end any attention. Could he have been any more wide open on the touchdown grab in New York? Juxtapose that with Hunter Henry, who defensive coordinators have clearly started scheming against because he’s Mac Jones’ go-to guy in gotta-have-it moments, and it’s amusing that Brown has a higher rating. That’s PFF for you, though.

Which Patriots team will show up? Last week’s or the one from the rest of the season — Lisa O.

That’s the million dollar question — especially now that gambling is legal around these parts.

Honestly, I’d expect a hybrid of the two. I don’t think the Patriots will play as poorly as they did in Dallas, nor do I think Mac Jones will be as mistake-free as he was against Buffalo. I think it’ll be a competitive game, but at the end of the day, my bet is that the Patriots will be flying home at 2-6.