We’re running a mailbag every week during the offseason. 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!
Obviously it’ll depend on how guys do in camp, but who do you expect gets cut/moved from the receiver room? Seems like a crowded group after drafting Javon Baker and Ja’Lynn Polk — Matt K.
As long as everybody is healthy, Kendrick Bourne, K.J. Osborn, Pop Douglas, Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker should all be on the 53-man roster. Those five are virtual locks. Bourne and Osborn are productive veterans that should be in their prime, Douglas was New England’s best receiver last season, and it’d be stunning if the two rookies taken in the first four rounds aren’t on the roster.
The real question is whether Jerod Mayo opts to carry six wideouts — they might have space with fewer roster spots devoted to core special teamers — or if Bourne needs to open the season on the PUP list coming off his ACL tear. That could save a spot.
From there, a lot depends on JuJu Smith-Schuster’s knee and how explosive he can be.
The veteran’s first season in Foxborough was largely underwhelming, and that’s not just juxtaposed to Jakobi Meyers, who Bill Belichick let walk to sign him. Smith-Schuster finished with 29 catches for 260 yards and one touchdown. He may have already been cut a la DeVante Parker, but there are virtually no cap savings by releasing Smith-Schuster. It’d cost the Patriots money on the cap to move on from him right now, and if they wait until after June 1, New England will save $647,059 while putting $9.63 million in dead cap on their books; it’s not an easy deal to get out of.
So the bet here is that Mayo and company let Smith-Schuster come to camp, compete, and then bite the salary cap bullet if he doesn’t look better than last season.
If I have to make a prediction in early May — and again, this is presuming health for everybody — I think Smith-Schuster, Tyquan Thornton, Kayshon Boutte, Jalen Reagor, T.J. Luther and Kawaan Baker are all cut or traded, with the five locks I mentioned above making the roster. Then the Patriots may try to sneak Boutte and Reagor back onto the practice squad.
Fanatics Sportsbook
10X$100 BONUS BET
BET MATCH BONUS
Must be 21+. GAMBLING PROBLEM? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (CO, KY ,MD, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV); (888) 789-7777 or ccpg.org (CT); 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA); (800) 327-5050 or gamblinghelpline.org (MA), mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), 1800gambler.net (WV)
What do you see in Bailey Zappe’s future? Also do you think they carry 3 quarterbacks? — Miller
With Justin Fields, Mac Jones, and Zach Wilson landing meager returns, Zappe’s trade value is likely zero at the moment. It makes sense that the Patriots keep him on the roster, let him compete in camp, and then try to deal him when an inevitable August injury befalls a team somewhere around the league. If they cut Zappe again, I doubt he’d re-sign to the practice squad given the rookies on the depth chart that’ll slot in ahead of him.
If Jacoby Brissett starts the season, what would be plans at backup QB? Most people believe Maye should sit and be developed, and may not be ready to start season. If Brissett gets hurt, who goes in? Joe Milton? I think Bailey Zappe should be backup to start season. Thoughts? — Chris G.
Like I said, I don’t think Zappe will be on the 53-man roster. If it’s Brissett starting, I think Maye will serve as the backup. Jerod Mayo has made it very clear that this summer will bring a real competition and I think those two will be head and shoulders above the rest of the field.
“At the end of the day, our philosophy is the best players will play. Coming in as a rookie, hopefully (Maye is) a sponge. A lot of good players in that locker room,” Mayo said. “Jacoby understands, he’s a mentor. He’s very smart, has great leadership skills, and hopefully Drake can learn something from him, as well. I would say we’re going to compete all spring, we’re going to compete during training camp, and the best player will start.”
So what message does it send if Maye finishes second and they banish him way down the depth chart just to keep him in bubblewrap? Not a good one. I think we’re looking at either Maye or Brissett starting, the other backing up, and Milton occupying the third spot in a developmental role.
Who’s going to play LT? Especially if Chukwuma Okorafor can’t really do it? — Dave
So based on my read, these are the Patriots’ current left tackle plans:
Plan A: Caedan Wallace makes a seamless transition to the left side
Though he didn’t play a single snap at left tackle at Penn State, Eliot Wolf and company believe Wallace has the athleticism to switch sides at the NFL level.
“Really, his teammate Olu Fashanu that the Jets drafted (in the first round) was the reason that he played on the right. So athletically there’s no reason why he couldn’t make the switch over there. He’s a really smart, dedicated kid that we feel like can handle that,” Wolf said. “Really good pass protector, really took a huge step forward this year as a four-year starter. Athletic, can bend, strong, powerful, tough. He could possibly play guard. We think he could be a four-position guy, but definitely feel like he can play on the left side.”
Plan B: Okorafor shows that he’s good enough to start there
Benched in Pittsburgh at right tackle last season, Okorafor hasn’t played on the left side since college, but if there are some growing pains for Wallace — and history says there often are for Day 2 linemen — perhaps Okorafor is good enough to start the season there.
Plan C: Somebody else emerges from the field
The Patriots still have veterans Vederian Lowe, Calvin Anderson, and Tyrone Wheatley still on their roster. If neither Wallace nor Okorafor can cut it at camp, maybe one of the depth veterans from the field emerges. After missing most of last season with illness issues, maybe a healthy Anderson separates from the rest this summer.
Plan D: Mike Onwenu flips sides
New England’s best all-around offensive lineman, Onwenu hasn’t been told he’s going to play any left tackle this season. However, he does think he could man the spot if given adequate reps to ramp up there.
“This year? I wouldn’t say so,” Onwenu said of New England’s blindside plans. “Definitely with practice and trying it out, I definitely think I could.”
Do you think the Patriots would be a good NFL draft host? Where would they hold it? Government Center? Seaport? Boston Common? Copley Square? Would fans show up? — Bill in Everett
I don’t think Boston would be a great host, and your second question plays into that. There’s no obvious spot to hold it. I guess it’d be City Hall Plaza based on the parade routes, but there’s no logical outdoor venue. Beyond that, I think attendance would suffer because of the weather, a large chunk of a region’s indifference to college football, and a Patriots fanbase that wasn’t super into the draft for decades because their picks were generally late in the first round. Plus, there’s a lot more to do here than there is in Detroit — which is a wonderful thing.
