As free agent additions and visits continue too trickle in, the New England Patriots main roster building focus shifts back to the NFL Draft which is just over a month away.
So let’s talk about it all and get right into this week’s #PostPulpit mailbag.
Can we pencil in now that the Pats will trade back up into the back of round 1? It’s the best chance to get a LT and all the pieces are in place.
Minnesota at 24 is the perfect partner. It would sense for them to recover some picks. 38 + 69 or 77 gets you right in that neighborhood. Simmons is likely gone but you can pick between Conerly and Ersery right before Houston. - ParaMeds
This move would make lots of sense and it’s one they tried to make last year when the need was still open at left tackle. Minnesota is also a logical spot to target as the Vikings enter the draft with just four selections and sit one spot above the Texans in the first-round who project as a prime spot for an offensive lineman. Using No. 38 and one of the two thirds should be enough to make the deal.
You hit on most of the potential trade up candidates as Kelvin Banks (Texas), Josh Simmons (Ohio State), Josh Conerly Jr. (Oregon), and Aireontae Ersery (Minnesota) are the second tier of tackles.
It’s tough to see a trade back up, however, if they use No. 4 on an offensive tackle or find a more creative route to fill that position. The draft route would likely end with Will Campbell or Armand Membou, while one thought on a more creative path could be through a trade with Green Bay as left tackle Rasheed Walker enters the last year of his deal.
The Packers signed guard Aaron Banks to a big money deal this offseason which seems to hint that last year’s first-round pick Jordan Morgan will stick at left tackle. With Walker and right tackle Zach Tom needing new contracts at the end of the year, Walker could find himself elsewhere for draft compensation as Tom is likely the priority.
I’d also explore the possibility of signing Tyron Smith to a deal in free agency. While he’s more of a stop-gap option at 34 years old, Smith was still solid last year and would add another veteran presence to the room.
Hypothetical - if Travis Hunter is available at #4 do we draft him or trade back and grab some more picks? I like the idea of trading back, drafting Tet McMillan, and then swapping #38 and whatever pick gained from the initial trade to try to move back up to draft Josh Simmons or a second WR like Burden or Egbuka to complete the receiver room makeover. - SomeRandomPatsFan
I have virtually zero interest in passing on Travis Hunter if he’s on the board at No. 4. New England needs playmakers on offense and I love Hunter’s potential as a wide receiver and pairing him with Drake Maye moving forward.
Looking to the draft our pick will have to be based on how the board plays out. If it plays out like below would we look to trade down and who would be potential partners for a trade. Which players would be available at the new spot?
1. Titans - Cam Ward
2. Cleveland - Travis Hunter
3. Giants - Abdul Carter
4. Patriots - trade? Campbell? Tet? - neelrrana17
Tough result in the top three there for the Patriots. A trade down would be ideal but it’s tough to see which team would be looking to move up at that point. If a trade could not be found, Will Campbell and Tet McMillan would surely be in consideration. I’d also make the case for Missouri OT Armand Membou at that position.
Others who project as best available on the board in this scenario: RB Ashton Jeanty, DL Mason Graham, TEs Tyler Warren and Colston Loveland, Edge/LB Jalon Walker, Edge Mykel Williams.
Disclaimer: I wouldn’t suggest this in a normal draft year, but the top of this draft seems especially uninspiring … Instead of reaching for Campbell or expecting Hunter to develop into a stud WR, what about taking Jeanty at #4?
Yes, we still need help at OL in general and LT specifically, and we still need more quality at WR, but Rome wasn’t built in a day. If Jeanty really is a Barkley or Gibbs level RB, wouldn’t he take a ton of pressure off of Maye? Wouldn’t a Maye-Jeanty combo the next five years or so be pretty dynamic? - Matt1102
Speaking of Jeanty, I get the appeal of adding one of the top offensive talents in the draft to a team that desperately needs offense. But, adding the running back before the rest of the offense — specifically the offensive line — is not my favorite path to building a team. Just ask Saquon Barkley and the New York Giants.
The other argument against this is the strength of this running back class. Teams should be able to find quality backs later in the draft after bolstering other needs early on.
To me, the Bradbury signing signals the desire to be more run productive. Building on the run block ability. Furthering the action of building from the trenches.
How high of a pick do you think they will use on a running back? One of the thirds? Or will they wait till later rounds? - PatsHowYouDoIt
With two third-round picks that’s the earliest I could potentially see New England adding a running back. No. 106 or 144 is probably the sweet spot depending on how the board unfolds and I’d be for them adding one in this class.
Who would have thought having the #4 pick would create such hand wringing about “worthiness” of draft pick? It seems the only thing we can all agree on is a trade back in round one is best scenario as taking the same LT at 6 or 8 or wherever they can end up is more palatable than taking him at 4 in terms of value. I think the Pats have to take tackle with first round pick as Conerly/Ersery/take your pick is not guaranteed to be there at 38 and jumping back into first round takes too much draft capital on a team with too many needs. - Spyponder90
The issue in this draft is there might not be a player who is ‘worthy’ of the No. 4 pick. If Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter are off the board there are holes to find in every other prospect. It’s unfortunate that there’s no Malik Nabers or Joe Alt sitting there this year but that’s the reality of the situation. You have to pick someone.
Is the hope that Bradbury has just been in the wrong situation and might be closer to his 2022 self than what he showed the last 2 years, or is this simply to create competition and raise the floor? - ed.liebfried
The hope feels to be Bradbury will be a veteran upgrade who can settle the position down. My issue is the team who he just started 88 straight games for doesn’t think he can be that player anymore and proactively paid a 32-year-old to replace him.
I’m not ready to bank on him starting this year and wouldn’t say no to an addition in the draft and training camp competition with those already on the roster.
How important is culture with Mike Vrabel? Is it possible that the Patriots draft players who will fit that culture more than positional need or best player available? - HB47
Extremely important. He’s highlighted the importance of building his culture in almost every interview since taking the job and has made it known he’s targeting certain kinds of people to add to the roster.
“We don’t want to be reckless through this process,” Vrabel said when introducing the first wave of free agents. “We want to be very intentional with the people that we bring on this football team, and we’ll continue to target all those needs that we feel like and the players that can help us.”
It’s easy to see the traits Vrabel is looking for in their free agent additions and I wouldn’t be surprised to see that continue in the draft (hello, Will Campbell).
That’s all for this week’s #PostPulpit mailbag. If you have questions you’d liked to be answered next week, submit them online in our weekly submission post or on Twitter using #PostPulpit. Make sure to be following@iambrianhines and@PatsPulpit as well.