We’re running a mailbag on Thursdays 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!
With a number of wide-receiver needy contenders out there, should the Patriots trade Kendrick Bourne at the deadline? — Charlie
For the right price, yes, but it depends on the return.
The wideout market has been all over the place, but if the Patriots can get a fourth-rounder for Bourne, it’d make a lot of sense. A fifth-round pick could work too, depending on the destination. New England needs to tear this thing down to the studs and keep building. Dealing Bourne would add draft capital and open playing time for younger wideouts they’re trying to develop.
Plus, Bourne’s contract could help inflate his value too; the 29-year-old is inexpensive and under control through 2026, so he wouldn’t be viewed as a rental. (That’s also a reason to keep Bourne if they can’t land anything better than a sixth or seventh-rounder). Even if nothing comes into place, it doesn’t hurt to ask. The Patriots were ready to send Bourne to San Francisco in the Brandon Aiyuk trade over the summer and the veteran is clearly unfazed by his name popping up in rumors.
“They were just transparent with me,” Bourne said. “They got a plan and they’re trying to see a future, trying to work on the future, trying to work on the present. They’re trying to do everything, and that’s their job. So I just look at it as them doing their job. And if I have value and they need to use me, then it’s a part of the game. So that’s just kind of how I looked at it.”
Bourne gets it. And with Aiyuk now done for the season with the torn ACL, Eliot Wolf should already be on the phone with 49ers GM John Lynch.
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Should the Patriots trade for Cooper Kupp? — James
No.
Though once an elite receiver, at 31 years old with a lengthy injury history and a bad contract, Kupp simply doesn’t fit New England’s rebuilding timeline. It just doesn’t make sense to deal draft capital for him at this stage of his career.
One thing I will say though: I think the Patriots receiver room would benefit from a stable, veteran voice. Something has been off there all year, and someone with Kupp’s playoff success (but less expensive) could go a long way in showing a young group what it takes to be a winner.
Whether it’s the Ja’Lynn Polk saga, Pop Douglas voicing his early frustrations, K.J. Osborn’s odd recent behavior, or Javon Baker’s early-season issues, it feels like they could use an older voice in the room, and putting his foot down doesn’t seem like Bourne’s forte. Maybe that’s something the Patriots target in free agency next offseason.
What would it take for Jerod Mayo to lose his job and Robert Kraft bring in Mike Vrabel to replace him? — Andrew C.
At least another year.
The Patriots could lose their next nine games and I still don’t think Kraft would make Mayo a one-and-done coach. He’s too fond of him on a personal level. Even if Drake Maye regresses down the stretch — which would obviously be cause for alarm — I think Alex Van Pelt would be the fall guy, not Mayo. Kraft chose Mayo without even conducting a coaching search. He trusted his gut. Now I think he’s going to stick with it even if his stomach starts rumbling.
What happens if the Pats are not competitive against the Jets? Fire a coordinator? — Fred R.
I’m don’t think there will be a firing, but I could see DeMarcus Covington losing the defensive play-calling headset if they’re bad on that side of the ball again. One complicating factor though: Mayo hasn’t called defensive plays before. That used to be Steve Belichick’s gig when they were co-coordinators without the title.
Are the Patriots tanking for the first overall 2025 or was the London game just because of jet lag? — Dominic D.
Worse, neither.
I don’t buy the jet lag excuse at all because of the way they started the game. The Patriots came flying out of the gate to a 10-point lead and then totally fell apart in the second quarter. It’s not like the slept through kickoff. And they’re not intentionally dropping games, especially in October.
They’re just a bad football team right now and Sunday’s loss in London was a testament to that.
The running game stinks. I feel a lot of it is scheme, selection, and Rhamondre Stevenson. Is there any way they can shore that up? Time of possession is the defense’s best friend — Richard G.
To me, it seems like an offensive line issue more than anything; the personnel up front isn’t getting the job done and there’s no easy fix. Agreed on the need for more time of possession, but I don’t think it’s Stevenson’s fault. Whether Stevenson, Antonio Gibson, JaMycal Hasty or even Terrell Jennings, nobody is moving the ball on the ground. New England’s most effective rusher over the past two weeks has been Maye — all unscripted — which tells you everything you need to know about the state of things.
How come Mayo doesn’t hold the coaches accountable like he does the players? — Conor M.
I’m not sure anybody in the building is being held accountable right now.
