Patriots Mailbag: The home stretch of the 2024 season

• Dave on X (formerly Twitter): "What is your take on the rumor that Mayo is coaching for his job in these final weeks? And could you see Dan Lanning as a legit candidate to replace him? / X"

  What is your take on the rumor that Mayo is coaching for his job in these final weeks? And could you see Dan Lanning as a legit candidate to replace him?

  As I’ve said in the past, I’d be surprised if Jerod Mayo was let go after one year, just given how rare it is for NFL teams to ‘one-and-done’ a first-time head coach. However, based on the performance on the field there’s certainly a case to be made for the team to move on. For any team that’s 3-10, it would make sense that all options are being considered.

  On Dan Lanning – I’m a huge fan of his and think he’s the best coach in college football post-Nick Saban. That being said, he has a pretty good setup at Oregon right now. Just last year, Lanning reportedly didn’t even consider leaving to replace Saban at Alabama, for one of the most coveted jobs in the sport. Drawing him away from Oregon seems like it would take a rare sort of situation, one the Patriots don’t seem to present right now. If he’s open to a move to the NFL the Patriots (and any other team that needs a coach, for that matter) should absolutely consider him, but I don’t know how likely that would be.

• ECKO on X (formerly Twitter): "With the Patriots having the #3 pick currently, if it were to stay that way, how would you like a LT free agency signing, Tee Higgins free agency signing, and Travis Hunter with the #3 pick? / X"

  With the Patriots having the #3 pick currently, if it were to stay that way, how would you like a LT free agency signing, Tee Higgins free agency signing, and Travis Hunter with the #3 pick?

  That would be a great foundation to the offseason, Ecko. However, those players have to be available to make that happen. Joe Burrow’s comments on Tee Higgins from Monday night don’t sound like something said likely, so maybe there is a chance he returns to Cincinnati. At left tackle, there aren’t many starting-caliber players on expiring contracts and the ones that are could very well re-sign with their teams.

  It’s a great plan in theory. But there are things outside of the Patriots’ control that need to happen for it to become a reality.

• Jordan Hamilton on X (formerly Twitter): "Would you be in on drafting Omarion Hampton and reuniting him with Drake Maye if Rhamondre can't get more production and then re-sign Gibson / X"

  Would you be in on drafting Omarion Hampton and reuniting him with Drake Maye if Rhamondre can't get more production and then re-sign Gibson

  Omarion Hampton projects to be one of the top running backs in this year’s class. The Patriots need to be using their top picks on premium positions (receiver, tackle, pass rusher, cornerback) so he may be too much of a luxury pick at this point for them.

  Yes, adding a running back does make sense. But that’s a position the Patriots can address later in the draft, especially with such a deep class. Plus it’s not an immediate need with Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson both under contract for next year.

  If the Patriots do want to reunite Drake Maye with one of his UNC teammates, the one that might make more sense is tight end Bryson Nesbit. A projected Day 3 pick, Nesbit is more of a project player but does have a high upside – especially as a pass catcher. Adding him to replace pending free agent Austin Hooper as the second tight end in the short term and then eventually step in for Hunter Henry would be a good plan.

• Will Malone on X (formerly Twitter): "AVP's offense sees heavy TE usage, and obviously Henry and Hooper have thrived in this offense. How has Jaheim Bell looked in his limited snaps? Do you think we will resign Hooper, if not who would be your free agency/draft class picks for TE? / X"

  AVP's offense sees heavy TE usage, and obviously Henry and Hooper have thrived in this offense. How has Jaheim Bell looked in his limited snaps? Do you think we will resign Hooper, if not who would be your free agency/draft class picks for TE?

  We haven’t quite seen enough from Jaheim Bell to give a full evaluation – he’s played just 37 offensive snaps this year with only two targets catching one pass for one yard. He has shown some growth as a run blocker, but the rest of his development is happening behind the scenes.

  As for the second part of the question, I wouldn’t rule out Austin Hooper coming back given his familiarity with Alex Van Pelt and chemistry with Drake Maye, but the Patriots should consider drafting a tight end. It’s a great class for the position, and with both Henry and Hooper over 30 they should be trying to get the next player in the pipeline.

• Glen C on X (formerly Twitter): "Would you advise Drake to slide seeing what happened to Lawrence? Josh Allen seldom slides. / X"

  Would you advise Drake to slide seeing what happened to Lawrence? Josh Allen seldom slides.

  There’s a difference between the quarterback sliding, and protecting himself. As we’ve seen, sliding can leave the quarterback exposed. However there are other ways quarterbacks can protect themselves when running, from giving themselves up earlier and more obviously to using the sidelines.

  If Maye isn’t comfortable sliding that’s understandable, but early on he did need to do a better job of protecting himself as a runner. He’s made that adjustment over the last few games, so I’d say things are trending in the right direction there.

• Are we tanking now?

  — (@chanflescabron.bsky.social) 2024-12-10T17:46:26.070Z

  No. ‘Tanking’ is something done from the general manager on up in an organization, usually done for the purpose of starting a rebuild. The Patriots are already in their rebuild, and establishing a culture is worth more than an extra draft spot or two. Losing can become habitual, and it’s not something the team should be embracing right now.

  For those on the field – players and coaches – there’s no incentive to ‘tank.’ Jobs are on the line, whether they be maintaining the standing here or auditioning for new roles elsewhere next year. The Patriots could very well lose all four of their final games, but it won’t be ‘tanking’ that does it.