We’re running a mailbag on Thursdays during the season. If you have questions on the Patriots, NFL, or want to gripe about past answers, email cmason@masslive.com or tweet @bychrismason. Now let’s get to this week’s questions!
Does Jerod Mayo survive after the season or do the Krafts start all over again with possibly the top pick in the draft? — Ed H.
I think Jerod Mayo will be back for a second season.
Despite the calamitous on-field product, Mayo was Robert Kraft’s hand-picked successor to Bill Belichick. Call it stubbornness, pride, or whatever else you want, but I don’t think Kraft will make Mayo a one-and-done coach after writing a succession clause into his contract and punting on a coaching search entirely in the last cycle. He really, really likes him.
At this point, the most likely outcome is probably that Alex Van Pelt serves as the fall guy — which is foolish as hell, in my opinion — so the Krafts can save face and say, “See, losing is unacceptable!” That move would totally ignore the fact that Van Pelt has shepherded Drake Maye into the league wonderfully and he’s calling an offense with practice-squad talent on the offensive line and at wide receiver. It’s a personnel issue.
And to play this out a bit further, if the Krafts bring Mayo back but fire Van Pelt, who is taking that offensive coordinator job? It wasn’t desirable in the last cycle, and the next play-caller will be signing on to work for Mayo, who saw the last coordinator scapegoated and would inevitably be on the hot seat himself.
It doesn’t make any sense — but I still think it’s likelier than Mayo getting fired.
Why has Ja’Lynn Polk been so ineffective? With N’Keal Harry it was lack of separation, with Aaron Dobson it was injury. Is it a variety of factors? Something just seems off given all the hype preseason — Matt S.
I think it’s a little bit of everything for Polk.
He did deliver a really solid training camp, but when the drops started early in the season, I think Polk just spiraled. It didn’t help that Mayo said he was dealing with a “mental hump,” even if that was an accurate assessment. Polk doesn’t have first-round measurables, his attention to detail hasn’t been great, and he’s gotten into his own head.
It’s too early to label Polk a bust, but this rookie season has been almost as bad as they get.
If the Patriots end up with the No. 1 pick, would a double trade down be possible? For example, if the team with the No. 2 pick is a quarterback-needy team, would they be willing to give up a couple assets to ensure no one leap frogs them? Then take the best package from another Top 10 team for the number 2 pick. Or would this be too risky? That you make the first trade then don’t have a trade partner for the second trade? — Eric A.
It’s certainly risky, but not unprecedented.
When Miami traded back from No. 3 overall to No. 12 because the 49ers wanted to take Trey Lance in 2021, the Dolphins wound up jumping back up in the first round. They traded No. 12 and more to move back up to No. 6 and took Jaylen Waddle.
So two trades up high in the first round have happened, but it’s dangerous as heck for the reason you outlined. It takes two sides to get a deal done and I’m not confident that the current front office would be able to thread that double-trade needle. If the Patriots wind up at No. 1, the best course of action is probably to just create one giant bidding war.
Three scenarios. First, Jerod Mayo and Eliot Wolf return with “help” and mostly new coaching staff. Second, Wolf stays and a veteran head coach is hired and allowed to pick his staff. Third, the “reset” button is pushed and we start over, starting with a new GM. Which is most likely? — Nate G.
Option 1, though I’m not sure that’s the wisest course of action. I think both will be back.
Should the Patriots consider trading Rhamondre Strevenson this offseason, and if so, what round picks are fair for him?I know they just signed him to a deal, but I don’t see him getting much better as he gets older and even with the o-line issues, he seems like an average back — @bradyboy12.bsky.social
No, I wouldn’t trade Stevenson.
His value has never been lower given the season he’s had, so the Patriots wouldn’t get a reasonable return, and in an offense littered with holes that’d just create another. I think Stevenson’s 2024 will prove to be the exception, not the rule. He’ll get the fumbling issues cleaned up and look a whole lot better with a stronger offensive line in front of him next season.
How does Scott Pioli as GM, with Mike Vrabel as head coach and Josh McDaniels as offensive coordinator sound? — Miller
Vrabel sounds great, though I’m less bullish on the other two. Pioli has been out of the league since 2019 after underwhelming stints with the Chiefs and Falcons, and I’d rather see Drake Maye continue to progress in a West Coast offense as opposed to starting from scratch with McDaniels’ system.
Do you think they need to draft/sign FA center given David Andrews is hurt and Cole Strange is pretty unproven? — George
The do need to start planning for the future here, which is why getting Strange back for these final two games is really valuable.
If he looks solid there again against Buffalo — Strange held up well in his debut — I’d be comfortable heading into next season with Andrews, Strange, and Jake Andrews still on the roster. Still, it wouldn’t hurt to take a Day 3 flyer on another center to add to the mix given all three players are coming back from significant injuries.
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