Patriots Mailbag: One week until the trade deadline

• New England Sports Fellow on X (formerly Twitter): "Does a win, especially one with Jacoby Brissett, solidify Jerod Mayo's job security for next year? / X"

  Does a win, especially one with Jacoby Brissett, solidify Jerod Mayo's job security for next year?

  As weird as this may sound, I don’t think a Week 9 game against a 1-6 team will have much of an impact on Jerod Mayo’s standing one way or the other. It’s possible that ownership is set on letting him see this rebuild through into a second year, meaning individual game results aren’t part of the evaluation. If there is a chance he’ll get one-and-done’d, every win helps but beating a bad team mid-season won’t do much to help his case if the Patriots only end up with three or four wins total.

• David Jacobs on X (formerly Twitter): "With how many dropped passes the patriots had this week, is there a chance we see Javon Baker on offense? / X"

  With how many dropped passes the patriots had this week, is there a chance we see Javon Baker on offense?

  Dropped passes or no, the Patriots are going to need to give Javon Baker another chance at some point. Sitting him to start the season made sense after a rough training camp and preseason, but it’s too early to give up on him entirely after using a fourth-round pick on him. Granted he didn’t help his own case after his “hiccup” in London two weeks ago, but with other receivers struggling now still seems like the time to get him back on the field.

  Baker should be helped if the Patriots end up selling at the trade deadline. Tyquan Thornton and K.J. Osborn are both logical trade candidates, and one or both of them leaving should open up snaps at the wide receiver position.

• x.com

  No Description

  Nice thought Ray (or Dylan?). Look, if the Patriots rip off a 5-1 stretch they may not need that top three pick as much as it looks like they do right now. Winning games should always be the goal and I’d take a team battling for a playoff spot over a team battling for draft position any day.

• BubbaB on X (formerly Twitter): "A 6th rounder for Uche? Don't you think we could have gotten more? / X"

  A 6th rounder for Uche? Don't you think we could have gotten more?

  At this time last year, The Boston Herald reported the league belief was the Patriots could have gotten an early Day 3 pick for Uche at that time, or potentially a fringe top-100 pick in a pick swap. Granted, that was a year ago. Uche was coming off having 11.5 sacks in eight games to end the 2022 season, Since that Herald report Uche has just three sacks in 16 games, including two in seven games this year.

  The return of a future sixth-round pick, to me, is reflective of his lack of production over the last year and a half. Even with that though, the return still feels low. If the Patriots had waited a week to make the move they could have potentially benefited from the edge market thinning out – but also would have risked teams looking for an edge defender moving on.

• Ed Helinski 🇺🇸🇵🇱 on X (formerly Twitter): "In your opinion, who else might be traded out of New England for draft capital? / X"

  In your opinion, who else might be traded out of New England for draft capital?

  Good news Ed, I covered this on Monday! You can find my list of five potential Patriots trade options here.

• Brizzy on X (formerly Twitter): "Any interest in Jaycee Horn if he's available for a reasonable price? Could be a nice grab to bolster the DB room with more size / X"

  Any interest in Jaycee Horn if he's available for a reasonable price? Could be a nice grab to bolster the DB room with more size

  Overall, I think the Patriots’ should be sellers. At the same time though, there could be value in the Patriots making a trade similar to the one the Chicago Bears made at least year’s trade deadline. The 2-6 Bears gave up a second-round pick for Montez Sweat, who was a pending free agent. That deal came with a long-term contract for Sweat, basically avoiding having to bid for him in free agency.

  If the price is right (a second-rounder would be too high), Jaycee Horn could definitely be that kind of player for the Patriots. Cornerback will be on their list of needs this offseason, especially a boundary cornerback with size. Crossing that need off for a high Day 3 pick or even a third-round pick with a pick swap may be worth it assuming that move comes with a contract extension.

  That all being said, Horn should go for a premium if he gets traded at all. If he’s traded, it’s likely to a contender that really makes it worth Carolina’s while.

• x.com

  No Description

  I’m not as into the idea of the Patriots trading for Dionte Johnson. He’s older (28), and there should be chances for the Patriots to add higher-caliber receivers this offseason. Overpaying for a receiver at the deadline wouldn’t be worth limiting assets for a potential blockbuster this spring.

  If there’s one receiver worth adding at the deadline specifically, it’d be Tee Higgins if the Bengals – now at 3-5 – decide to move on before potentially losing him for nothing this offseason. That would be the Montez Sweat-like trade, and would be worth a premium asset to avoid having to bid for Higgins in free agency.

• Will Malone on X (formerly Twitter): "What does the QB room look like next year? I assume Maye and Milton are locks, but they need at least 1 more. Do you think they are more likely to draft another young guy in a late round or bring in another vet? (I doubt Brissett is back, so Maye can take more of a leader role) / X"

  What does the QB room look like next year? I assume Maye and Milton are locks, but they need at least 1 more. Do you think they are more likely to draft another young guy in a late round or bring in another vet?

  Both could be on the table. Drake Maye should take on more of a leadership role next year, but veteran experience can also be helpful. At the same time, if Eliot Wolf is going to follow the Packer Way philosophy, it means drafting a quarterback more often than not. It wouldn’t be surprising to see them draft a project QB in the later rounds, who could end up on the roster or stashed on the practice squad.