I was just curious about your thoughts since there's lots of speculation about Van Pelt and other offensive staff members... I was curious at how Drake Maye's development could be impacted with such a change and how big of a factor that consideration would be? How much would changing offensive coaching such as coordinator and quarterback coach impact Maye's development? In the past, there's been discussions about how changing coordinators and schemes can negatively impact young quarterbacks. How does the current scheme match or not match Maye's strengths and do you see any potential changes helping or hurting his development? -D-Fav

This would certainly have to be one of the biggest considerations, cycling through coordinators is never great for the development of a young quarterback, especially when you consider Maye's shown pretty good progress this season while working with Alex Van Pelt. Ultimately there are two big pieces to consider in my view. The first is that Van Pelt's scheme has roots that are pretty common throughout the league so it would be possible that a potential new coordinator would have enough connection to what Maye's already been taught that it wouldn't be like going back to square one. However, if the team went back to say, Josh McDaniels, it would mean major changes for Maye. McDaniels prefers to put it all on the quarterback as far as line and protection calls while right now those calls are being made by the center. So on one hand you could see a change that makes minimal impact on Maye, or you could see one that completely changes how he approaches each snap. For me, the job Van Pelt has done with Maye is one of the season's few bright spots so I think there's an argument to be made for keeping them together for 2025. More consistent line play and a couple receiver upgrades might spark the only changes they need. -Mike Dussault

With a top pick, money and a promising QB, the head coach and GM jobs would be THE top jobs available. So the comparison should be Mayo/Wolf vs. the best of the field available, Vrabel, Johnson, etc. It should be considered like upgrading any position. Worst case: Pats return this staff and they fail again. Another year of Drake wasted. That should be weighed against worry that this mature, smart QB would be set back with a new coordinator: he wasn't mentally set back when it happened in college. Thoughts? -John K.

Building off of the previous answer, and I'm with you in that I'm not all that worried about "breaking" Drake. That was the narrative around Mac Jones as the coaching changes in 2022 and 2023 didn't seem to get him back on track, and I think as we've seen with the Jags this year is that Mac is Mac and it's unlikely that even the best OC could've eliminated the bad football that has plagued him. Along those same lines, do we look at those offenses any differently now? We assumed an established coordinator like Bill O'Brien would have to be an upgrade over what happened in 2022, but alas, it was just as bad if not worse. So let's just be sure you're moving on for a purpose not just to shuffle things around to make everyone feel better. -Mike Dussault

This year's draft seems to be top-heavy and depth-heavy on the defensive side of the ball. Maybe it's the coaching but the Pats have been abysmal on defense (and perhaps losing Barmore). Do you think they will spend the larger portion of their fantastic cap space on getting young veterans on offense and rely on the draft more for defense? If that is the case, how imperative is it to make a blockbuster trade for more early picks. Another question would be, "How comfortable are you with Wolf running the draft considering his multiple failures in last year's draft"? Oh, remember to root against Atlanta and for Tampa Bay. -David Brown

I think you're limited to what's available in free agency and the draft and the Pats need to maximize talent in the most efficient way possible. On offense, it's tackles and wide receivers, on defense it's something on each level – a reliable defensive tackle, a three-down edge, better off-the-ball linebacker depth and a potential cornerback #2. Given my early research, the best free agency depth for those positions are at CB, DT and LB. For example, Dre Greenlaw, Milton Williams and Charvarius Ward would all be home runs for the Pats as defensive free agents. That trio isn't alone at their positions, there are a handful of good, impact players looking for their second contracts at those spots who would be worthy of a big, long-term investment.

There are only a couple WRs and OTs that move the needle in free agency, and there will be a lot of competition for established stars like Tee Higgins, Ronnie Stanley, Cam Robinson and Alaric Jackson. I'd take big swings at all five of those positions and then look to the draft for the others. The one position I don't think there are many great options in free agency is at edge rusher, with players like Josh Sweat, Azeez Ojulari and Baron Browning being a few to consider. However, edge is stacked in the draft, especially early. That's a spot that could be intriguing as a non-Travis-Hunter pick.

Lastly, no question the team didn't get much other than Maye out of 2024 but I'm trying not to get too carried away. I think Wolf has for the most part addressed what's needed to be addressed, including taking shots on Calvin Ridley and Brandon Aiyuk. The tackle mess is certainly not one of those positions. He and his personnel group will need better hits this year and they'll need guys like Polk, Robinson and Wallace come back ready to make some noise next summer. -Mike Dussault

Hello, thanks for all you do for Patriot's Nation. My question is simple, now that the Giants have gifted the #1 pick to the Patriots, should the team sit their starters for the final week and sit back and wait for offers for the #1 pick?? -David Phillips

I think this is really more of just a question of Drake Maye and whether he's fully healthy for this one. If he's not I think you definitely sit him down and ensure he doesn't get more beaten up in a meaningless game. But if he's healthy I think Maye needs every rep he can get, as do most of the young starters around him. I just don't see who can be sat. They're already scraping the bottom of their depth across the roster. I also don't know who has earned the right to sit and doesn't need the reps. So I'll just say this, I'd like to see Milton get in in the second half. I'd like to see Caedan Wallace get a full game at right tackle. I'd like to see the two rookie wide receivers play a bunch and, most importantly, see some targets. Otherwise, I think they have to roll with what they've got. -Mike Dussault

So one week left and the Patriots hold pick number one pick. We didn't want a tank but surely now a one-week tank has to be embraced even if the Bills rest starters. As the order stands, the teams in 2-4 are all QB needy teams and with 2 QBs predicted as top 5 picks, the Patriots are in a position to take advantage. The strategy I would use is make it known you are willing to trade out. The team in the third slot needs to protect against the 4th team jumping them so the Patriots can get a 1 and 2 or 1 and 1 next year to move down to 3 and still be in a position to either take the best non-QB or trade back again. There will be some team totally in love with Hunter willing to throw a bag for him. Patriots could easily have a top 10 pick and three firsts next year and maybe an extra three this year if this strategy worked. My question is this, if the Patriots did trade back to 3 and only QBs went above them would you go for the trade again or is a talent like Hunter irresistible? -Len Carmody

That's the thing with the first overall pick, I think we'd all be hoping they could trade down, praying that someone like the Giants or Raiders just has to have Shedeur Sanders and are willing to give up multiple top-100 picks this year and next year to make it happen. I do think Hunter is probably the choice if you get stuck in the top four picks. He's just too special even if he just starts out being a highly athletic counterpart across from Christian Gonzalez and works his way into being a threat on offense. But if I had my way it would be about getting those multiple picks this year and nailing a tackle and an edge early in this draft while also knowing you've got a haul coming next year in 2026's draft as well. And as much as it's about trading down and getting more picks to fill more holes it's about finding talent not competitive depth from which you're hoping a star emerges. -Mike Dussault

So 2024 mercifully comes to an end. It makes sense to sit Maye and start Milton and some other subs to help ensure the number 1 pick as the Bills will likely rest many of their starters.
Looking back at the year, while no one is to blame for Strange and the two Andrews getting hurt, nor is anyone to blame for Chuks Okorafor retiring. But I do have to wonder what the decision process was for drafting two guards, and signing another in Okorafor, and just assuming that they could all easily convert to a tackle position. Maybe Robinson and Wallace can pull it off next year, but this "policy' decision needs to be addressed and hopefully we build the OL through the draft and free agency this off-season. -John Adams

Of all the personnel criticisms this one is fair in my view, they didn't do enough at the tackle position and it's been an uphill battle at the spot pretty much from the start of training camp. And really, if Caedan Wallace had emerged at right tackle we might look at it a bit differently, instead focusing just on how the left tackle spot was the problem. Going into last year's draft we all thought the needed QB, WR, OT in some order. That's what they did. The players beyond Maye didn't have good rookie seasons, but the intentions were mostly correct, as they were when they pursued the big-name receivers that became available. We had to know there might be some holes this year and there were. Injuries made things even tougher considering two of their top four tackles from the summer, Calvin Anderson and Okorafor, are not even with the team any longer. I think we can all agree that adding two tackles this offseason that we know can start would be a huge step forward to getting the offense right. And if Robinson-Strange/Andrews-Onewnu hold down the middle there might be less work to do on the OL than it seems. -Mike Dussault

As a paid employee how can I possibly get an honest answer to a question about this unwatchable product that has failed at every level, if the person answering the question is a paid employee of Kraft who gives fluff, and disingenuous answers?? Would you risk your job to be honest, do you think fans believe you? Where are the Krafts??? I will boycott Patriots and their games, tickets and merch until a massive overhaul happens… you soft sell, as an employee. I don't buy it. -Fred Ranahan

Thanks for the question, Fred. We're trying our best here to answer fan's questions and give our honest takes. We see the same results that you see and the organization gives us the opportunity to answer your questions as we see fit. It's a three-win team, no one is making us tell you how great things are, that mistakes haven't been made, that some decisions have been wrong and that the product on the field was unacceptable. Hopefully, you write in for good football discussion and analysis from a collection of writers who have multiple decades of combined experience covering the team and the game, not just with the hope of us pointlessly railing against ownership. I'm sure there are plenty of other places to look if that kind of thing tickles your fancy. It's just football, we're all trying to figure out the best path forward for the Patriots. I hope you'll keep writing in through these tough times, it should be quite an interesting offseason and maybe we can help provide some intelligent insight! -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