Patriots 2025-26 Offseason Discussion

[Phantom255x]

Happy 3-28! 

3/28

Subtract the two numbers, and it's also the year today, 25! 25-point comeback

3/28/25

This Super Bowl and Super Bowl XLIX took years off my life.

Oh for sure. Tbh even the most recent Patriots one, the national media and fans thought it was boring since it was low-scoring but as a NE fan, when it was 3-3 I was just tight and dreading things the whole time because it felt like all it'd take was one big play from the Rams. They almost got it too until McCourty made a play to breakup the pass in the endzone that would put LAR up 10-3.

I probably only felt some calm after that Gilmore INT to essentially seal it, and then the Gostkowski FG which tbh was also barely a make lol to make it 13-3.

[SparzWizard]

Happy 3-28! 

3/28

Subtract the two numbers, and it's also the year today, 25! 25-point comeback

3/28/25

This Super Bowl and Super Bowl XLIX took years off my life.

Oh for sure. Tbh even the most recent Patriots one, the national media and fans thought it was boring since it was low-scoring but as a NE fan, when it was 3-3 I was just tight and dreading things the whole time because it felt like all it'd take was one big play from the Rams. They almost got it too until McCourty made a play to breakup the pass in the endzone that would put LAR up 10-3.

I probably only felt some calm after that Gilmore INT to essentially seal it, and then the Gostkowski FG which tbh was also barely a make lol to make it 13-3.

Superbowl LI will always be the greatest Patriots Superbowl of my life. Followed by the Seahawks one and then the first Rams one. Hightower strip-sack fumble was the momentum shifter. And then that stupid helmet-like esque catch that Edelman made, finally one of those plays that went our way in the big dance.

But if I'm speaking as a Brady fan, then Superbowl LI followed by his one ring in Tampa Bay. That TB run was insane, all road playoff games including sending Drew Brees to retirement at the Superdome, sent Aaron Rodgers packing in the Frozen Tundra, lastly stopping a repeat and dismantling Patrick Mahomes.

[SparzWizard]

Ja'Whaun Bentley released after seven seasons in New England. Shocking release.

Was this more of a scheme-fitting issue or a clearing of the old guard issue?

LS Joe Cardona is the last-man standing from the Brady/Belichick second dynasty. Wondering if he's next on the chopping block if we need a more better long-snapper lol

[Phantom255x]

Why is Tavai still on this team? Remember, this is the same moron who literally trashed Pats fans right before the season ended. He also sucks as a player. Only came to NE because of Patricia in 2022 (who drafted Tavai in 2019). How does he fit this "culture"?? Get him out of here.

[Goldstar88]

He said it was an eye opener last year as well. In the three years that the NFLPA has released the report cards, the Patriots peaked in 2023 as the 24th-ranked franchise. Their overall rating has declined in each subsequent year. Team travel earned a D-plus in 2023 and D in 2024, before an F in 2025. 


The Patriots scored second-to-last among the NFL?s 32 teams in this year?s survey. Two areas that stuck out as major problems were team travel and the weight room. Players gave the Patriots ?F? grades in both. During this week?s NFL Annual meetings, Kraft addressed the poor marks with reporters

It was an eye-opener for me and then I put it in context, Kraft said Going through these last two years and the way things were and the culture was there, it really opened my eyes in a way because we think we?re bonding and we have things, but it just was not a good environment. And we want to do everything we can to make this you?re feeling this is one of the best places you can go.

[Phantom255x]

Yeah I just roll my eyes now at Kraft. Every single year since 2022 he basically just says the exact same stuff. "This is not a rebuild", "I think we can be competitive", "I like our chances at the playoffs", "I never like losing", "our family loves running the Pats organization every year", etc. etc.

Sure, they spent money this offseason. But watch, that just means next offseason they'll spend almost nothing. Same as 2022, they splurged in 2021 then barely spent the next two years in a row. It's a crock.

Thankfully Maye *could* be the real deal and maybe the Pats can be competitive with him, Vrabel and the other talent they added this free agency. Because if they didn't have the QB things would be depressing like it was Mac's 2nd and 3rd years where despite a nice rookie season, things faltered after and it also looked obvious Mac just wasn't the guy.

[SparzWizard]

Mike Vrabel said aloud that their goal is to win the division.

One step at a time I suppose. It's time for the Bills to step down, their days of ruling the AFC East are numbered.

And can we finally stop getting swept by the Dolphins lol

[Vermont Green]

There 14 members of the Giants? organization, including HC Brian Daboll and GM Joe Schoen, in Boulder on Friday to watch QB Shedeur Sanders and WR/CB Travis Hunter at Colorado?s NFL Showcase. There also were at least 11 members of the Browns? organization, including GM Andrew Berry and HC Kevin Stefanski.

Not breaking news or anything but it is interesting how unresolved this all is.  It sounds to me that CLE and NYG, like everyone now, expect TEN to take Ward.  The implication of the discussion around the CLE and NYG interest in Boulder is that both teams want Hunter, which could be true.  But how much of the interest is in Hunter and how much in Sanders?

The reporting is saying the belief is that if CLE takes Sanders, then NYG will take Hunter.  That makes perfect sense.  But what if CLE takes Hunter?  Then what?

At this point, it seems about as likely that Hunter falls to us, as Carter falling, as neither falling.  I still like Hunter on the Pats the best, but if Carter falls, that isn't such a bad outcome.  And if neither fall to us, there does not seem to be a ton of "trade up" interest to get Sanders.  Who knows what they do if this is where things stand.

[Vermont Green]

Sounding more and more like Hunter and Carter are off the board before we pick.  And it doesn't seem to me that there is going to be a ton of trade up interest for the pick.

The more I think about this, assuming we hold and pick at #4, I am starting to think we should try to grab a playmaker.  Two players that are raising up my board (not that I actually have one) are Tyler Warren (TE Penn State) and Ashton Jeanty (RB Boise State).  Our TE and RB position are both set well enough but a really good young TE can be a QB's best friend.  They run enough 2-TE sets and there are other ways to get a rookie TE into the action.  So you keep Hunter as TE-1 for now and ease in Warren.

As to RB, kind of the same idea.  We have the position covered, but with good not great players.  No need to play a rookie every down right away.

Both players seem to be a bit of a reach at #4 but so aren't all the OTs and pretty much anyone else who is likely available.  So why not reach for a potential high end TE.  You can get good solid OTs later in the draft.  Good, solid is fine for the OL.  If you have 5 good solid OL, you are in good shape.  A good solid TE or RB only gets you so far.

[Cman]

Sounding more and more like Hunter and Carter are off the board before we pick.  And it doesn't seem to me that there is going to be a ton of trade up interest for the pick.

The more I think about this, assuming we hold and pick at #4, I am starting to think we should try to grab a playmaker.  Two players that are raising up my board (not that I actually have one) are Tyler Warren (TE Penn State) and Ashton Jeanty (RB Boise State).  Our TE and RB position are both set well enough but a really good young TE can be a QB's best friend.  They run enough 2-TE sets and there are other ways to get a rookie TE into the action.  So you keep Hunter as TE-1 for now and ease in Warren.

As to RB, kind of the same idea.  We have the position covered, but with good not great players.  No need to play a rookie every down right away.

Both players seem to be a bit of a reach at #4 but so aren't all the OTs and pretty much anyone else who is likely available.  So why not reach for a potential high end TE.  You can get good solid OTs later in the draft.  Good, solid is fine for the OL.  If you have 5 good solid OL, you are in good shape.  A good solid TE or RB only gets you so far.

I'd be fine with the Pats taking either of these two, or either of the OTs that they've been linked to. It is sort of a weird draft this year with a talent drop off after the first two (Carter and Hunter) and then about 10 players that could all realistically go next. I can see arguments for and against any of them, and can talk my way into liking any of them. I'm just excited to see some new talent and players on the Pats.

[Phantom255x]

My guess at what happens, and some reporters like Breer have also indicated this

1. If Hunter or Carter are there at #4, no-brainer. Take that player.

2. If not, then they will pick OT Will Campbell

3. If not Campbell, they will trade down and take either DE Jalon Walker or TE Tyler Warren somewhere between Picks 6-10 wherever they trade down to

So if I had to rank their likely board, I'd guess it's:

1. Hunter/Carter
2. Campbell
3. Walker
4. Warren or Jeanty

A lot of mocks and reporting seem to indicate this too. Even with his short arms and questions, I think the Pats love Campbell's attitude and would take a slight gamble on him. He would definitely solve their LT need, and easily give them an actual one for the first time in many years.

I understand the case for Jeanty, but taking him at #4 or even the Top-10 reminds me of Barkley being taken high by the Giants. How'd that go for them? It worked for PHI because that team was absolutely loaded already and Barkley helped put them over the top. The Pats aren't even close to being in that position. Even in 2018, the Pats took Sony Michel at #23 but they were already a contender and could afford to take some "needs". I'd say only the Chiefs, Eagles and a few other teams can do that now, but definitely not the Pats who have gone 4-13 the last two seasons in a row.

[Cman]

My guess at what happens, and some reporters like Breer have also indicated this

1. If Hunter or Carter are there at #4, no-brainer. Take that player.

2. If not, then they will pick OT Will Campbell

3. If not Campbell, they will trade down and take either DE Jalon Walker or TE Tyler Warren somewhere between Picks 6-10 wherever they trade down to

So if I had to rank their likely board, I'd guess it's:

1. Hunter/Carter
2. Campbell
3. Walker
4. Warren or Jeanty

A lot of mocks and reporting seem to indicate this too. Even with his short arms and questions, I think the Pats love Campbell's attitude and would take a slight gamble on him. He would definitely solve their LT need, and easily give them an actual one for the first time in many years.

I understand the case for Jeanty, but taking him at #4 or even the Top-10 reminds me of Barkley being taken high by the Giants. How'd that go for them? It worked for PHI because that team was absolutely loaded already and Barkley helped put them over the top. The Pats aren't even close to being in that position. Even in 2018, the Pats took Sony Michel at #23 but they were already a contender and could afford to take some "needs". I'd say only the Chiefs, Eagles and a few other teams can do that now, but definitely not the Pats who have gone 4-13 the last two seasons in a row.

I agree. I think Hunter and Carter are gone. I think the Pats are fine with Campbell, but will trade down if there is a decent "haul" they can get (if lucky, maybe an extra 2nd round pick). The reality is that is unlikely given how weak this draft is (i.e., people looking at draft trade value charts should imagine a worse trade than would be case in prior drafts -- there's no world in which the Pats get a future first plus this years mid round first or something like that). Given how tough trade downs will be, it is likely that Pats just pick at 4th. And pick Campbell. I'm fine with that. Seems like a good player and fits a position of need.

[johnnygreen]

The Patriots need to take the best player available at 4, or trade down if they can get a top ten pick and a second too. Will Campbell feels like a player you pick if you're a playoff caliber team and are picking for need. The Patriots are simply not close and need to pick blue chip players regardless of position.

[Vermont Green]

The Patriots need to take the best player available at 4, or trade down if they can get a top ten pick and a second too. Will Campbell feels like a player you pick if you're a playoff caliber team and are picking for need. The Patriots are simply not close and need to pick blue chip players regardless of position.

I agree with that but figuring out which player is the best of the ones available at #4 is easier said than done.  Maybe Will Campbell is the best available, I don't know.  Maybe Jeanty is.  Maybe Tyler Warren is.

My thinking on this has changed over time, I have been all over the place, but I am thinking more that if you accept that any pick at #4 in this draft, is going to be a reach to some extent, since there is no clear "best player", it is better to reach to a LT or a RB or a TE?  I agree that it would be wrong to pick a perceived lesser player at a position just because there is more need but if there is no clear best, I say go for the position with the most upside.

If you get lucky and get a top TE,  I see that as the best outcome.  A TE can impact the game way more than a LT and a TE tends to play longer than a RB.  Plus, it seems like all the top teams these days have a top TE.  Some have a top RB also.  Most have a good OL but not necessarily a top LT.

[Phantom255x]

Feels like a lot of mocks and reporting in the last 24 hours are saying it's either Hunter, Carter or Campbell. Unlikely they trade out, so they take Hunter/Carter if they drop, otherwise Campbell.

3 days until the Draft.