We’re running a weekly mailbag during 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!
Any chance Abdul Carter is available at 4 in the draft? Would the Patriots go that route? – Matt K.
I’d say there’s roughly an 8% chance Carter is still there at No. 4 overall, but make no mistake, that would absolutely be the best case scenario for the Patriots.
Carter is a game-wrecker.
Though a woeful offensive line got plenty of attention last season — and deservedly so — New England’s defensive line was bad, too. They couldn’t stop the run consistently and finished dead last in sacks with just 28.
Carter could immediately change that outlook. The All-American edge rusher from Penn State had 12 sacks and led the nation with 24 tackles for a loss. Playing through a significant shoulder injury in the CFP semifinal, Notre Dame still couldn’t block Carter, and he finished with nine pressures, a pair of tackles for a loss, and a sack in the Nittany Lions’ season-ending defeat.
Injecting some venom into the pass rush seems like a priority for Mike Vrabel, too.
“When you look at statistically what wins in the National Football League, our ability to affect the other team’s quarterback and our ability to provide for an efficient quarterback and passing game is a high contributor to success,” Vrabel said in his introductory press conference.
Carter would be the coveted combination of satisfying a need AND taking the best player on the board.
However, the other 31 teams in the league have Carter’s film too, so it’s probably wishful thinking that he lasts until No. 4 overall.
The Patriots would have to hope that stock in quarterbacks Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders skyrockets over the next two months, and that a third team in front of them is enamored with two-way star Travis Hunter.
Could Mason Graham be a possibility at Number 4? – Vincent
Yes, and this is probably a more realistic option.
The 6-foot-3, 320-pound interior defensive tackle out of Michigan is stout in the run game and disruptive in the passing game. If the Patriots draft Graham in the first round, they could hunt plenty of mismatches on opposing offensive lines.
NFL Network Draft whiz Daniel Jeremiah identified Graham as the 4th ranked prospect in the 2025 class, so he could be a natural fit if New England doesn’t trade down.
“Graham is a powerful defensive tackle with outstanding leverage and instincts. He’s one of the most consistent players in the draft class,” Jeremiah writes. “His effort is outstanding. Overall, it’s easy to identify Graham as a former wrestler. He always has a full gas tank and he set the tone for the entire Michigan defense.”
The Patriots could certainly use a tone-setter up the middle.
Which is more critical to a successful offseason, having a good free agency period or having a good draft? – Conor M.
The draft.
While free agency absolutely helps in the short term, it’s a good drafting that sets teams up for long-term success. Given the Patriots aren’t one piece away from contention, a quality draft is more paramount than anything else.
Is Alaric Jackson or Ronnie Stanley a better fit? – Chris
Stanley has put more good film out there, and he’ll be highly-coveted accordingly. He’s the best fit. Either free agent tackle would be a significant upgrade over what the Patriots trotted out there last season though.
Given the time the Rams have spent developing Jackson — the 26-year-old was an undrafted free agent in 2021 — he might not even make it to free agency. I’d expect Los Angeles to make a major push to retain him in the coming weeks.
Do you see them trading No. 4 pick for Myles Garrett? – Rick
I don’t.
The Patriots need to prioritize their extended future with No. 4 — Garrett turns 30 next season — and I don’t think he’d want to come to New England regardless. Garrett has said he’s seeking a trade to a contender, and lest we forget, the Patriots finished 4-13 last year and haven’t won a playoff game since the 2018 season.
What’s the Patriots first offseason priority? Better yet, what should it be? – Ed H.
It should and will be reinforcing the trenches. That was a priority for Vrabel and company before the Super Bowl, and the entire country saw how that game played out.
There should be at least three — perhaps four — new starters on New England’s offensive line and the front seven could use an infusion of new blood too. Expect Vrabel to build this thing from the inside out.
Germaine Pratt requested a trade from the Bengals. Could he make sense for the Patriots? – Amy
Just about any decent linebacker on the market could make sense for the Patriots given the level of play they got from that group a season ago. Ja’Whaun Bentley’s return should help, provided he’s back at 100% after tearing his pec, but the Patriots don’t boast much beyond that. Jahlani Tavai regressed last season while Sione Takitaki was never able to make a real impact.
Pratt is an interesting case.
At 28 years old, he has one year left on his contract and is likely asking out of Cincinnati because he wants to get paid and sees the writing on the wall with other guys like Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins waiting on new contracts. He’s coming off a career year, as 143 tackles were easily the most he’s ever recorded, but he missed quite a few, too.
Pratt isn’t a perfect player, but for a late-round pick, he could certainly represent an upgrade for New England.
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