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!
At 2-6, how should the Patriots approach the trade deadline? — Mike B.
Intelligently.
Yes, they should be sellers. And yes, they should listen on just about everybody on the roster, save for Drake Maye and Christian Gonzalez. But they shouldn’t go full Jordon Belfort in “The Wolf of Wall Street” and blindly sell everything that’s not nailed to the floor at Gillette Stadium.
Eliot Wolf and company need to know what their players are worth and hold firm if there’s nobody meeting a reasonable price. At a certain point, they need to let the market dictate their actions.
For example, it’d make little sense to move Jonathan Jones for a seventh-round pick. He’s a veteran leader and a versatile one at that. But a fourth-rounder? Then the Patriots should say, “Thanks for the rings,” and send him to Washington or wherever. That’s good value. Same goes for somebody like Davon Godchaux. He’s a darn good run defender who’s under contract through next season, but if somebody wants to get silly and send a third-rounder, by all means, make the deal. However, selling Godchaux for the sake of selling alone would be foolish. The value needs to be there.
I also wouldn’t mind if Wolf tried the old Chaim Bloom special in moderation — sell and buy a little — with an eye towards the future. At 2-6, it’d obviously be stupid to buy a pure rental, but if a player becomes available that the Patriots want to extend and keep around long-term, that could help expedite the rebuild. It’s tough to see many players out there like that, but for the right one, it’s worth keeping an open mind.
On Wednesday, Jerod Mayo said the Patriots will take locker room leadership into account with any deal they make.
“We’re in the business of bringing in good players and keeping our good players,” Mayo said. “I think you bring up an interesting point as far as, like, the culture guys. I do think that’s important. I also would say I think it’s important with the coaches as well, to bring in guys that really believe in the culture and where we’re trying to go. Definitely, we take those things into consideration.”
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Travis Hunter is one of the most dynamic players to ever play college football. The top overall CB and a first round WR talent too. However, it’s highly doubtful he’ll play two ways in the NFL. And neither of these positions protect Drake Maye from a blindside sack. Can we get ahead of the noise and go ride-or-die for OT Kelvin Banks Jr./Will Campbell (barring a trade)? — Vin P.
Absolutely.
I’d be stunned if the Patriots don’t take a tackle at the top of the first round next spring. They honestly have a need at both tackle spots and it’s a thin free agent class — what else is new? — at the position. While Travis Hunter would obviously sell more jerseys, a tackle would help New England win more football games in 2025, and that needs to be the focus.
I also think Wolf might be able to snag an impactful wideout in free agency to fill the hole there. While Tee Higgins and Stefon Diggs are both set to hit the open market, it could make a lot of sense to buy low on Chris Godwin coming off his injury. Twenty-nine years old next season, Godwin would check multiple boxes: He’s a really good player and would be an adult in the room that could show young wideouts what it takes to win.
Every rebuild needs a strong foundation. Who do you see as cornerstones for this team and can they trade for one who might be on an expiring contract? The draft seems like a crapshoot to get a character/leader type of player. — Miller
Current players that I’d bet will still be cornerstones in 2026: Drake Maye, Christian Gonzalez, Ja’Whaun Bentley, Rhamondre Stevenson, Hunter Henry and Kyle Dugger.
As mentioned above, I’m all for signing and extending a player, and you’re right about the draft being a crapshoot when seeking leadership. In addition to the unknown element, all of those players are going to be really young when they come into the league. It takes time for leaders to grow in an NFL locker room.
Seems like the defense responded well to Mayo calling them soft. Why did that work with the defense but the receivers didn’t respond at all? — Matt K.
Simple: The defense is better.
I don’t think the wideouts struggling last week was a product of them not responding to Mayo. I think it’s that they just weren’t catching the football. For all five drops, the wide receiver was in the right spot, they just didn’t haul the ball in. That’s not an anti-Mayo thing. It’s poor execution.
Should we read into Jaheim Bell getting some snaps that he has been improving in practice and might even get some touches this year? — @NewRoyalRooters
While it’s always encouraging to see a young player getting on the field, I wouldn’t read too deeply into snap counts moving forward. In the second half of the season, the Patriots have two major priorities:
1. Develop Drake Maye
2. Figure out what they have moving forward
I think you’re going to essentially see open tryouts over the next two months, where the Patriots are auditioning players for 2025 and beyond. That’s already begun with players like Ben Brown and Jaquelin Roy, and I believe the bottom of the roster churn is going to continue down the stretch.
Does anyone miss Chad Ryland? Can’t kick him around anymore — Ed H.
While Ryland has found a wonderful home in Arizona, I still think the Patriots made the right call in keeping Joey Slye.
Ryland was erratic as a rookie and over the summer. Though he’s found his footing (no pun intended) with the Cardinals, Slye showed more consistency during their competition and that hasn’t changed since the regular season began. Slye has drilled 22 of his 24 kicks for the Patriots, and one of the misses was a block.
