During the season we have a post office on Thursdays. If you have questions regarding Patriots, NFL or want to complain about previous responses, please send an email [email protected] or tweet @bychrismason. Now let’s get to this week’s questions!
With plenty of wide receiver needs on the market, should the Patriots trade Kendrick Bourne at the deadline? —Charlie
For the right price, yes, but it depends on the return.
There was a wide market everywhere, but if the Patriots can get Bourne in the fourth round, it would make sense. A fifth-round pick could also work, depending on the destination. New England needs to tear it down and keep building. Dealing Bourne would add draft capital and open playing time for the younger wingers they are trying to develop.
Furthermore, Bourne’s contract may also help inflate his value; The 29-year-old is inexpensive and will be under control until 2026, so he would not be seen as a loan player. (Also a reason to keep Bourne if he can’t outperform a sixth or seventh rounder). Even if nothing fits, it doesn’t hurt to ask. The Patriots were willing to send Bourne to San Francisco as part of the Brandon Aiyuk trade over the summer, and the veteran is clearly unfazed by his name appearing in the rumors.
“They were just transparent to me,” Bourne said. “They have a plan and they’re trying to see the future, they’re trying to work for the future, they’re trying to work for the present. They try to do everything and that’s their job. So I just look at how they do their job. And if I have value and they want to use me, that’s part of the game. So that’s how I looked at it.”
Bourne understands this. And with Aiyuk already out for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, Eliot Wolf should already be on the phone with 49ers general manager John Lynch.
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Should the Patriots trade for Cooper Kupp? —James
NO.
Though Kupp, once an elite receiver, at age 31, with a long injury history and a bad contract, simply doesn’t fit into New England’s rebuilding timeline. It simply doesn’t make sense to sell seed money for him at this point in his career.
I will say one thing, though: I think the Patriots’ receiving room would benefit from a stable, experienced voice. Something has been off all year, and someone with Kupp’s playoff success (but cheaper) could make a huge difference in showing a young group what it takes to be a winner.
Whether it’s the Ja’Lynn Polk saga, Pop Douglas expressing his early frustrations, KJ Osborn’s strange behavior lately, or Javon Baker’s early season issues, it seems like they could use an older voice in the room, and pressing his foot doesn’t do it. doesn’t seem to be Bourne’s forte. That may be the Patriots’ goal in free agency next season.
What would have to happen if Jerod Mayo lost his job and Robert Kraft brought in Mike Vrabel to replace him? — Andrzej C.
At least another year.
The Patriots could lose nine straight games and I still don’t think Kraft would make Mayo a one-time coach. She likes him too much on a personal level. Even if Drake Maye regresses down the stretch – which would obviously be a cause for concern – I think Alex Van Pelt is Alex Van Pelt, not Mayo. Kraft chose Mayo without even conducting a coaching search. He trusted his gut. Now I think he’ll stick with it even if his stomach starts growling.
What happens if the Pats don’t compete with the Jets? Fire the coordinator? —Fred R.
I don’t think there will be a shootout, but I can see DeMarcus Covington losing his defensive headset if he plays poorly on that side of the ball again. However, there is one factor that complicates the situation: Mayo has never called defensive plays before. This was Steve Belichick’s performance when they were untitled co-coordinators.
Are the Patriots teaming up for the first time in the 2025 season, or is the London game due to a jet lag? — Dominik D.
Worse still, neither.
I don’t buy the jet lag excuse at all because of the way they started the game. The Patriots jumped out to an early 10-point lead before completely falling apart in the second quarter. This is not a missed match. And they don’t intentionally skip games, especially in October.
They are just a bad football team at the moment and Sunday’s defeat in London was proof of that.
The running game stinks. I think it’s largely a matter of scheme, selection and Rhamondre Stevenson. Are they able to strengthen it somehow? Time of possession is defense’s best friend – Richard G.
To me this seems more like an offensive line issue; front staff not doing their job and there is no easy solution. I agreed that more possession was needed, but I don’t think it was Stevenson’s fault. Whether Stevenson, Antonio Gibson, JaMycal Hasty, or even Terrell Jennings, no one moves the ball on the ground. New England’s most prolific hitter over the last two weeks has been Maye – all unscripted – which will tell you everything you need to know about the state of affairs.
Why doesn’t Mayo hold coaches accountable like they do players? — Conor M
I’m not sure anyone in the building is responsible right now.
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