We’re running a weekly mailbag in the offseason. If you have questions on the Patriots, NFL, or want to gripe about past answers, email cmason@masslive.com or ask @bychrismason on Twitter or Bluesky. Now let’s get to this week’s questions!
With Myles Garrett requesting a trade and Cooper Kupp being told he’s getting dealt, is either player a Patriots fit? – Amy O.
Not really — for different reasons though.
Garrett can still flat-out play — he’s a game-wrecker — but neither his desire nor cost aligns with where the Patriots are currently.
“I just want to go to a contender,” Garrett said on the Rich Eisen Show in New Orleans this week.
Coming off a 4-13 season, that certainly isn’t the Patriots right now. Even if Mike Vrabel tears down much of the roster over the next few months, this is a multi-year rebuild. Beyond Drake Maye and Christian Gonzalez, it’s a gut renovation. Garrett will also cost at least a first-round pick, and three executives told The Athletic they thought he’d yield a pair of first rounders. New England absolutely isn’t in a position to pay that freight right now. They need to take a longer view.
As for Kupp, the wideout turns 32 years old in June and hasn’t played more than 12 games in a season since 2021. Kupp has a base salary of $12.5 million and a roster bonus of $7.5 million due on March 17. In 2026, that base salary is $14.85 million and the roster bonus is $5 million. At this stage, Kupp’s production doesn’t match his contract, which is why the Rams are ready to move on from him.
If Los Angeles wanted to essentially give Kupp away and eat some of his salary, it’d be fine for the Patriots to go that route, but giving up any real asset for the one-time Pro Bowler at this stage of his career doesn’t make sense in the rebuild. There are teams closer to contention that are more likely to give up something real for Kupp, so the “free” sign is probably a pipe dream.
Given where the Patriots are right now, they need to identify long-term fixes, not Band-Aids.
With so many former head coaches on the Patriots staff, will the war room be too crowded this draft season? – Miller
Not if Mike Vrabel is at the head of the table.
I think it’s fine to have plenty of voices in the room. Heck, that’s why you want experienced coaches on the staff. But with Vrabel running the show, I don’t think he’ll hesitate to tell anybody to pipe down when it’s warranted.
In your estimation, which position groups need significant work or entire makeovers during the Pats offseason? Or does this roster need a general major overhaul? – Ed H.
With Kyle Dugger’s ankle finally healing correctly and Jabrill Peppers’ legal issues behind him, they seem to be pretty set at safety. Especially with the emergence of undrafted rookie Dell Pettus.
Beyond that, the roster could use an infusion of new blood just about everywhere else. From the offensive line, to wide receiver room, to the linebackers, there are areas of need all over the place.
Any chance of raiding the cap strapped Saints and getting a player like Alvin Kamara? – Jonathan S.
As mentioned in the first response, I don’t think it makes a ton of sense to add aging stars given where the Patriots are at in their rebuild. Kamara turns 30 this summer and hasn’t been at a Pro Bowl level since 2021.
Mid level free agents Chase Young and Dayo Odeyingbo are both 25 with nice size. What would signing each of them take money wise? Could you see the Patriots signing both? – @chrisinma.bsky.social
Now we’re talking.
I don’t think the Patriots will sign both, but they could certainly take a run at one of them.
Obviously Chase’s ceiling is enticing — he was Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2020 and quietly hit opposing quarterbacks 21 times last season with the Saints — while Odeyingbo is an ascending player.
I’d imagine they’ll be in the same ballpark with deals around the 3-year range at $15 million-$20 million per season depending on guarantees. Thus, it makes sense for the Patriots to take a run at one of them, but not both.
Will the Patriots organization ever acquire a true WR1 again? – @NFL_Ticker
Yes — but I wouldn’t bank on it being this year.
With many holes on both sides of the ball, which side do you see getting prioritized? – Michael R.
I don’t believe Vrabel and company will view it as offense vs. defense. I think the trenches will be prioritized on both sides of the ball and they’ll build inside-out in that fashion.
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