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Any chance Robert Kraft brings the band back together next year? Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels back, now that we have Drake Maye? (Not Bill the GM, though.)<\/b><\/p>\n
\u2014 Dave, South Portland, Maine, via Bluesky<\/b><\/p>\n
When it comes to the Patriots over the years, there have been so many wild stories that I\u2019ve learned to never say never. That being said, I\u2019d be stunned if that happened.<\/p>\n
Vederian Lowe is clearly a problem. I can\u2019t count how many opportunities that have been snuffed out by his poor play and costly penalties at crucial times. When does Jerod Mayo sit him down and try something else? He\u2019s holding back the offense and making Mayo look bad in his first season as head coach.<\/b><\/p>\n
\u2014 Scott Learnard, Jupiter, Fla. (via New Hampshire)<\/b><\/p>\n
No argument, Scott. While Lowe has had some good moments \u2014 remember, he was the one who stepped in at left tackle following the abrupt departure of Chukwuma Okorafor and played reasonably well \u2014 Sunday was a bad game. I\u2019d volley the question back into your court, however, and ask who you\u2019d replace him with? While Lowe will never be confused with Jonathan Ogden, New England doesn\u2019t have much tackle depth to speak of. Jalen McKenzie and Caleb Jones are offensive tackles on the practice squad, but I\u2019m not sure they\u2019d be any more competitive at this point.<\/p>\n
I think an offseason issue for the Patriots will be all the money they spent this past offseason on their own players, which in many cases have turned into poor investments. This will inhibit their ability to sign quality free agents at year end. What do you think?<\/b><\/p>\n
\u2014 Bob Carvin, Plymouth<\/b><\/p>\n
The way most of the current contracts are structured, the Patriots have left themselves with plenty of financial flexibility heading into 2025. While reports vary, it\u2019s safe to say New England will be among the league leaders in cap space this offseason. And based on the regression we saw last Sunday, Wolf might have to use every last cent.<\/p>\n
The Patriots obviously need to protect Drake Maye moving forward. Which offensive linemen, if any, would you retain? Conversely, do you agree with me that offensive line is the Patriots\u2019 biggest need in the draft?<\/b><\/p>\n
\u2014 Greg, Arlington, via Bluesky<\/b><\/p>\n
What\u2019s that they say about great minds? Agree with you when it comes to putting a priority on the offensive line. Whether it\u2019s in the draft or free agency, that\u2019s got to be the first spot you target. (Game-breaking receiver is No. 2 on my list.) As for guys I\u2019d keep, I\u2019d build around Mike Onwenu, the best and most versatile offensive lineman on the roster. I\u2019d also keep a locker open for David Andrews if he wants to return for 2025. I\u2019d also find a spot for Cole Strange, keep Caedan Wallace and Layden Robinson as depth pieces, and go from there.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s the realistic future for this team and Jonathan Jones? He\u2019s been a good player for a long time. Is he still in the cards with the rebuild?<\/b><\/p>\n
\u2014 Nick from Washington, D.C. (by way of Narragansett), via Bluesky<\/b><\/p>\n
Great question, one that came up a lot at the trade deadline. He doesn\u2019t have a captain\u2019s \u201cC\u201d on his jersey, but right now I\u2019d say Jones is their best leader, at least among active players. It\u2019s important to keep a guy like that around. (That\u2019s with the understanding that he\u2019s lost a step.) Now, that being said, I still maintain he would make a great complementary cornerback for a playoff team that needs to build depth in the secondary. At the end of the day, if you can get a team to overpay a bit for him on draft weekend, that\u2019s a deal I\u2019d take a look at. (Providing you\u2019ve addressed the cornerback depth in free agency or the draft.)<\/p>\n
With talk of Cole Strange moving to center, do you think David Andrews is retiring? Should Caedan Wallace be tried out at left tackle when he returns, or right tackle to develop with Big Mike?<\/b><\/p>\n
\u2014 Rick Lawson, Riverside, R.I., via Bluesky<\/b><\/p>\n
I think Andrews comes back for one more year; I don\u2019t think he wants to go out with these back-to-back seasons on his r\u00e9sum\u00e9. Strange will likely play some center this year, which could make him part of the mix for a variety of interior positions heading into 2025. As for Wallace, some of it hinges on the draft and free agency, but I think there\u2019s value in seeing if he can be a swing tackle next season. One of the many things missing from this roster are guys who can play multiple spots in a pinch. Right now, Onwenu is the only guy who can hold up capably at two positions. If they can develop a couple more guys with positional flexibility, it\u2019ll be a step in the right direction for the group for next year.<\/p>\n
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Christopher Price can be reached at christopher.price@globe.com. Follow him @cpriceglobe.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
There are also questions about how to best to help the team down the road.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":14030,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14026","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"\n
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