We’re running a mailbag on Fridays during the offseason. 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!
Could the Patriots trade for Kyler Murray? — Ethan B.
It depends on who is running the show in Foxborough.
If it’s Bill Belichick, there’s no chance. Belichick’s no days off mantra stands in direct contrast with Murray’s no work away from the facility reputation. The Cardinals famously tried to put a you have to actually watch film clause into his massive contract and Murray hasn’t run from the dog-ate-my-homework persona.
“I think I was blessed with the cognitive skills to just go out there and just see it before it happens,” Murray said, via Sarah Kezele of 98.7 Arizona Sports. “I’m not one of those guys that’s going to sit there and kill myself watching film. I don’t sit there for 24 hours and break down this team and that team and watch every game because, in my head, I see so much.”
Wedding that approach with Belichick’s sounds like a recipe for a speedy divorce.
Now if the Patriots bring in some sort of new age coach that’s into avant garde quarterback play, there’s a way Murray could wind up in New England. For what it’s worth, he’s played his style relatively effectively with a bad Arizona roster and the cost to acquire him would likely be relatively cheap if the Cardinals decide to move on; the dual-threat is coming off an ACL tear and he still has $35 million guaranteed in 2024. With a ton of cap space, the Patriots could stomach that if they wanted to.
So could they trade for him? Probably. But personally, I’d err on the Belichick-ian side here.
I think you need your quarterback to be your strongest leader, and a guy that’s notorious for not going the extra mile isn’t somebody you want in the foxhole next to you. Can you imagine checking the film study hours on Tom Brady’s iPad — or Peyton Manning’s, or Patrick Mahomes’ etc. — and being like, “there’s a problem here?” Of course not. The best quarterbacks are maniacal in their preparation. Murray is not who I’d want leading.
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What would it take for Robert Kraft to fire Bill Belichick mid-season? — Darryn W.
Some sort of massive blow up behind the scenes.
For all the talk about the Patriots needing to move on from Belichick after 2023, the coach has earned at least the right to finish the season. That’s the grace that six Super Bowl rings buys you. And what are the benefits to moving on from Belichick in November instead of January? They’re really not there.
What’s up with Kayshon Boutte? Surprised he didn’t see the field with JuJu Smith-Schuster/Pop Douglas out this past game. He didn’t reel in his targets Week 1, but he seems to have some juice that they are missing with the Smith-Schuster and DeVante Parkers of the world — Jim
Honestly, I think it’s just that Boutte plays the X position that Parker holds down. Boutte’s only game on the active roster came during Week 1 — when Parker was injured — and though he didn’t play well, I don’t think that’s why he’s been buried. This doesn’t seem like a doghouse situation to me as much as a numbers one.
(Totally with you on the lack of juice though; I’d play Boutte this weekend. Just outlining the team’s thought process).
When does leadership start playing for the draft? And more importantly, how do they decide what’s most important for the Patriots in the draft? It’s exciting to think about landing a top QB prospect, but I feel QB isn’t our greatest weakness — Jesse O.
I don’t know if it’s playing for the draft specifically, but decision-makers need to turn an eye to 2024 soon. That means playing the rookies — like the aforementioned Boutte — and really seeing who on this roster deserves to stick around long term.
As far as the draft, I think the board will really dictate what the Patriots do in the first round. If they’ve got a Top 2 pick, then it’s a no-brainer to take either UNC’s Caleb Williams or North Carolina’s Drake Maye. Boom, there’s your franchise quarterback of the future. If they’re further down the board, I think they really need to just take the best offensive player available. The Patriots need help everywhere on offense, so if there’s a bluechip tackle or standout wide receiver, go that route.
Will they start Malik Cunningham? — Mark L.
No, Cunningham will not get the start against the Bills. Belichick wouldn’t even commit to him as a backup this weekend. But I think it does make sense to platoon him eventually.
Let Cunningham get his feet wet paired with a conventional pocket passer, then give him more and more snaps rather than just throwing him into the deep end. He’s an exciting change of pace, but did only complete 62.6% of his passes at Louisville. Life moves (way) faster in the NFL. No need to rush things.
What must Mac do to get back the trust of his teammates, staff and fans and how likely is it? — Dominic S.
Play better. It’s that simple. But I don’t think it’s terribly likely, given the mistakes he keeps repeating.
Between Adrian Klemm, Bill Belichick, Bill O’Brien, the personnel, and injuries, who/what is most to blame for the disaster that is the offensive line this year. By far the worst I’ve ever seen — Matt K.
In order:
1. Belichick/Personnel (they’re one in the same)
2. Klemm
3. O’Brien
4. Injuries
Sorry, not buying the injury excuse. This is life in the NFL and injuries happen. That’s why depth is so important, and the Patriots simply don’t have it. Tackle was a glaring need this offseason and Belichick largely neglected it. This isn’t second guessing, either. We covered it in this space repeatedly. They’ve needed help there and didn’t get it, and that’s how you end up with Vederian Lowe (and Mike Gesicki) getting dusted by Maxx Crosby with the game on the line.
Second up is Klemm, who has largely underwhelmed, and from there I’d go with O’Brien. It’s not the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach’s job to get the offensive line on track. That falls to the offensive line coach, who has done little to mitigate the personnel woes.
Will Robert Kraft trade Bill Belichick at the deadline? — Miller
Nope — but it would be kind of amusing to look back on retrospectively if he flipped Belichick for a second-rounder or something. Landing a coach for a first-round pick in 2000, then winning six Super Bowls and dealing him for a second-rounder 23 years later would be some ridiculously strong trade in value.
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