The Patriots are descending on Indianapolis for the NFL Scouting Combine this week.
With free agency and the NFL Draft on the horizon, let’s answer your questions in our weekly mailbag.
@JuicePickm: Thoughts on Will Campbell moving to RT?
Head coach Mike Vrabel already said the Patriots aren’t moving Campbell from left tackle. And I agree that it’s best to give him another year at the position. Rookie tackles are never a finished product. Campbell looked pretty good until his knee injury. I think his struggles were a combination of a return from injury, plus an increase in level of competition.
And I don’t really like the idea of moving him to right tackle. If you feel like Campbell can’t play left tackle, then you won’t feel comfortable with him at right tackle, either.
I think the Patriots should still prioritize adding depth at tackle through the draft for two reasons, however.
One, starting right tackle Morgan Moses will be 35 next season, and the team needs to find his successor. Two, if Campbell does eventually need to move to guard, then it would be nice to have another young option to plug in at one of the tackle positions next season.
@patri0ts3: What do you think of drafting Blake Miller at 31 and potentially having your top pick sit the entire season?
Obviously, it’s not ideal to have your top pick, in this scenario, Miller, an offensive tackle, sitting for an entire season. That being said, the Patriots were extremely fortunate that Moses stayed healthy enough to start 21 games last season. He started just 14 games in both 2023 and 2024. Obviously, the hope is that he stays healthy for another full season next year, but that’s no guarantee.
So, even if the Patriots do draft a player, like Miller, without an obvious starting spot, he could still wind up playing due to injuries. Or the Patriots could choose to slide him inside at guard for a year, as they did by moving Jared Wilson from center to guard for the 2025 season.
@robby_dudley: Doug, I’ve always enjoyed your draft coverage. At 31 are you targeting O-line, an offensive weapon, or Edge?
In an ideal world, the Patriots would take an edge defender at No. 31 overall (or trade for Maxx Crosby) and then still land a developmental offensive tackle in the second round. But when you’re picking as late as the Patriots are this offseason, then you have to be lenient, and you have to be prepared to take the best player available.
You could make a case for the Patriots taking a player at really any position outside of quarterback, running back, kicker, punter or long snapper at No. 31 overall. They just need more high-end talent on the roster.
@ted_mcgregor: Would you use some of the additional draft pick capital to try and move off Landry’s guaranteed contract? There’s some talk about him getting let go, but the contract guarantee feels like a he’s back no matter what.
I don’t think that’s a realistic idea.
If the Patriots were to cut Harold Landry this offseason, they would incur a negative cap hit of $2.65 million. If they were to designate it a post-June 1 release, then they would save $1.35 million against the cap.
It’s all about whether or not the Patriots believe a full offseason will get Landry’s knee into better shape. He played well until he got injured in Week 6. Then he was never the same.
Obviously, even if he gets back to full health this offseason, then he could still reaggravate it during the season, but the cap savings on a post-June 1 cut is so minimal, you might as well keep him on the team and see how he can contribute.
@gonz_0_: If you had to choose between Fields and Brazzell who do you lean towards?
When it comes to wide receiver prospects, I probably prefer Tennessee’s Chris Brazzell II over Notre Dame’s Malachi Fields, just because he seems to be the better athlete. But it’s close. Either player would give Drake Maye a big-bodied X-receiver.
@WilforkFanClub: Do you see potential extensions for either Boutte or Douglas? I believe both are entering the final year of their deal. #maildoug
I feel like an extension for Kayshon Boutte is more likely than DeMario Douglas, just because he’s a starter and plays a much more valuable role. The Patriots would need to get a really solid deal to extend Douglas at this point.
Douglas is a good player, but he has a limited role in the Patriots’ offense. Vrabel and Josh McDaniels weren’t in a hurry to give him a starting spot as a slot receiver.
Boutte has the ability to play X, Z or in the slot. And he showed an impressive rapport on deep passes with Maye.
@thepatsguy074: Is this off-season more free agent focused or resign your own/explore trades? Gotta think the draft capital makes it easier to move around the board
I definitely don’t think the Patriots will have a free agency spending spree like they did last year. They had much more cap space and spent freely.
The Patriots need to work out an extension for cornerback Christian Gonzalez and save for Maye’s eventual contract.
But I still think they have the ability to make a key trade or sign a big free agent or two.