Do you get the impression David Andrews will return next year? The team seemed to put a lot of effort into converting Cole Strange to center, which would be a strange (pun intended) move just for two games, given Ben Brown was playing pretty well at the time. Was that just for last year or do you think Andrews has already told them he plans to hang up his boots? -Tom Hutchinson

Based on what Andrews said after going on IR and then earlier this offseason I get the impression he'd like to return but even he isn't quite sure how it will go. He said he hoped surgery would give him the chance to return, so until he gets to camp and sees how he feels it's hard to say what the future holds for the captain. It's an interesting position to consider. Andrews' experience would be a huge plus for Drake Maye's second year and if Josh McDaniels were to return as OC, Andrews could be even more vital to helping the young QB adjust to a new system. I believe the Pats have some options to keep the center position lower on the priority list though. Strange will be back and Brown is an ERFA that the team can pretty easily retain if they choose to. That's three players you can take to camp as decent contingencies if Andrews can't get back up to the level he expects. -Mike Dussault

As you guys have mentioned on PU, Washington is a great team to reference when looking at our path to contention. A team that went from bottom cellar to contenders within one year. What are the odds we can do the same for next season? I feel that Vrabel & Maye is a good start toward building something. I also believe that we if we button up the trenches on both sides a WR1 will get us there. What do we think of these moves, Kelvin Banks Jr (or Will Campbell if he measures up), Tee Higgins, and trade for Jeffrey Simmons. -Anthony Pedota

I feel like the Pats should follow in Washington's footsteps and bring in a wide range of veteran guys to help out several positional groups… What veterans would you be eyeing in free agency? -@NestPgs

Washington's GM Adam Peters deserves a lot of credit but I still think the Commanders are the anomaly this season who caught lightning in a bottle somewhat and I wonder if they're just getting the one-year free agency bump and will regress back toward the mean next season, kind of like the '22 Pats. That said, the Pats need a lot and they have the means to make an impact through free agency. In a perfect world, they could fill their biggest needs like tackle, receiver and edge in free agency and not have to chase positions in the draft. I just don't know if they can thread that needle at all those positions. It's easy on paper here in January to say "just sign Tee Higgins, Ronnie Stanley and Josh Sweat to monster deals and get the Titans to trade their best defender," but there will be plenty of other teams interested if those big-name players even make it to free agency. Right now I could see positions that are not atop the list of needs being where they make the biggest splashes. Linebacker and cornerback are two spots that have some intrigue for me, there are a handful of good free agents that would make sense. More on specific names coming up… but I'd still stick with my general free agency preference which is signing players in their mid-20s to their second deals and not players in their early 30s to their third deals. -Mike Dussault

While Vrabel was the obvious choice as HC, there may be some cause for consternation as far as Vrabel & Ryan Cowden as talent evaluators from their years together in Tennessee, including some potentially alarming red flags. During the Vrabel regime from 2018-23, the trio of GM Jon Robinson, Cowden & Vabel oversaw a checkered draft history at best & disastrous at its worst. Certainly, the Pats cannot afford such cloudy talent judgment just 1 year after Wolf's choices of Polk, Wallace & Baker. Any cause for concern here heading toward April? -Art Cote

The 2019 draft stands out and is a big reason why they had success for a couple of years. It's a difficult evaluation for me as well because a lot of the players they drafted who didn't work out are players I liked coming out, many who landed on my annual big boards. For that reason I can't entirely fault their drafts, sometimes they are simply crapshoots in that way. But still, there is some concern as there always is for me because the best teams are the teams that consistently draft well. Just look at three of the final four teams this year and what outstanding jobs they've done in recent years with their draft picks. The Commanders are a bit of an exception with their standout 2024 free agency class but of course, you've got to consider Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin and other Washington draft picks who have been a big part of their success this season. Hopefully, Vrabel and Cowden's experience along with the scouting department makeover that Eliot Wolf began to implement last season will pay dividends and the Pats can kick things off under this new regime with a draft like the Titans 2019 class. -Mike Dussault

I assume they are all false, but there's a lot of trade rumors about how to Patriots should trade Maye and keep Milton. This is complete idiocy and don't know why people say this nonsense on TikTok, etc. So this leads to my next question of why Milton seems so valued now? He played one good game against 2nd and 3rd string players. Why would any person or team assume this is the next Tom Brady? -Jeff McCarroll

I try not to get too carried away with the social media scuttlebutt. Just because fans post things doesn't mean the league sees it that way. We all know the real context of Milton's performance, which was still really encouraging just for how much he improved from the guy we saw in training camp who struggled to process in 11-on-11. Even for a league that's desperate for quaterbacks, it's hard to see someone ponying up major compensation for Milton. Let's just be happy the Pats might have found a backup quarterback for next season and won't have to pay a veteran $5 million. As I've often said, it's good business to develop quaterbacks. I'd draft one almost every year and you never know when you're going to have to turn to them. If you have a young guy who is improving and can hold the fort for a bit if your starter goes down, it's incredibly valuable. I think Milton would have to get an extended opportunity to start multiple meaningful games to draw real and significant trade interest. -Mike Dussault

If you got to pick any 3 free agents and 3 drafted players who would it be? Thanks Deuce. -@HappyPatsFan

Who should be our top defensive free agents? I think we should be targeting a LB, our depth was tested this year losing Bentley. Someone like Zach Baun or Dre Greenlaw would be nice. -@AdamDiez

Dre Greenlaw, Alaric Jackson and Charvarius Ward for free agents. Abdul Carter, Jalen Royals and Shemar Turner for draft picks. Admittedly I don't have much depth of knowledge yet on the draft other than the tackle and edge groups. Call me crazy but I'm focused now on free agency since I expect the Pats to be active there first. Greenlaw is my number one target overall. Pair him with Bentley and give the middle of the defense an injection of leadership, speed and playmaking. Jackson has been really good for the Rams and is just hitting free agency for the first time. Rams should probably franchise him if they can't get a deal done. Ward is a good, long cornerback who can handle the outside opposite Gonzalez. I wish there was an impact edge I liked more. I'd take Josh Sweat but not sure what scheme the Pats will run and how he might fit. Throw in DL Milton Wiliams from Philly too. Baun scares me a bit, he's been a special teamer until this year and then was all over the place playing behind the best DL in the league. Is that what he really is or is he a product of an uber-talented defense around him? Give me Greenlaw please and thanks. -Mike Dussault

Hi Deuce! There's plenty of speculation around the OC position. Are you aware if AVP has officially been let go? And in your opinion if they can maintain him in some capacity, do you believe that would be a good move considering it could create continuity with Maye's development? -@clazzyclare

I've only seen the reports that he's still in the mix to remain and I'd be all for it, especially if they bring in a West Coast OC who matches AVP's systemic roots. Not sure if he'd fit with Josh McDaniels. But either way, AVP did a good job last year with Maye and Milton and was one of my favorite coaches to listen to on a weekly basis. He's a no BS football guy and I really appreciated his approach. If they could keep him around in some capacity I'd be all for it, but I do think it will depend heavily on their schematic direction. -Mike Dussault

Does the Commanders success this season give you hope that a quicker turnaround is in play for 2025 or is the roster simply too far away? -@ChriswithaTIAN

I still think the draft is the way you have to build the main core of your team but yes, Washington is a great example that things can turn around quickly when you find some magic in a number of spots. -Mike Dussault

In your opinion, should the Pats build their roster via the draft, or might they go the free agent way instead? -@MrEd315

For me it has to be the draft. Look at how the Rams rebuilt themselves, by hitting on a ton of impact picks, especially on defense, and also impact offensive players like Puka Nacua. If you hit on your picks, fill some specific holes in free agency and it all comes together you've got a Super Bowl team. That's like the Bills with their drafts, sprinkling in Amari Cooper and Von Miller, or the Ravens with their drafts, sprinkling in Derek Henry. Of course, it all requires you have the QB and the Chiefs have Patrick Mahomes but they're also doing it that way… drafting well but sprinkling in good FAs like Joe Thuney. For me, the draft picks have to form the core of your team and the free agents will be the ones to put you over the top. As always there are variations from year to year but from my experience, it seems the most reliable way to approach it. -Mike Dussault

Online it seems that Eliot Wolf has lost quite a lot of support from Patriots backers in contrast to the Krafts and Vrabel. What are 2-3 of his best transactions that fans have forgotten about? -@BacksideOfOps

Signing Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper, as well as Antonio Gibson were a few good moves that paid off this year. And I'd also add that of all the contracts given out last year none are all that prohibitive, especially after the 2025 season. Let's see how the team looks this year before we throw Wolf out before he really can implement his plan. I know the 2024 offseason, especially the draft after Maye, look pretty bleak at the moment, but don't give up on everyone until we get a look at what Vrabel and his staff can get out of these players. We know some of them are better than they played in 2024. Hopefully, at a minimum, Vrabel et al can get guys like Dugger, Onwenu and Stevenson back to their usual levels of play. – Mike Dussault

Hey Deuce, Vrabel seems like the right guy to right the ship. Do you have any reservations about his coaching style based on his Titans performance? -@JAduna86171

Nope, if anything all the chatter from his former players like Taylor Lewan has me more excited to see how he transforms this football team. But in fairness I wanted Vrabel to replace Belichick all the way back to 2015 so I'm already invested in him. Things can flame out on a first-time coach for a number of reasons but I loved how his Titans teams played and I love his style. I honestly wish the season started tomorrow, I can't wait to see the Vrabel Pats. -Mike Dussault

DISCLAIMER: The views and thoughts expressed in this article are those of the writer and don't necessarily reflect those of the organization. Read Full Disclaimer