Four questions the Patriots face with the offseason program set to kick off
With the next phase of the offseason program set to begin, let’s take a look at four of the pressing questions still facing the Patriots right now:
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1. If the A.J. Brown trade happens, what are the terms of the deal?
All signs are pointing to the Patriots acquiring Brown after June 1, when a deal would become more financially palatable for the Eagles.
(If the Eagles trade Brown before June 1, they would absorb $43.4 million in dead money and lose $20 million in salary cap space. If they wait until after June 1, they would create just $16.3 million in dead money while freeing up $7 million in cap room.)
So, what might the Patriots have to give up in exchange for Brown?
The Eagles will likely want at least a first-round draft pick because of Brown’s recent production, but that price seems rather steep for a player of his age with his injury history. Could the Patriots negotiate to also receive mid-round draft compensation in return? Perhaps they could place conditions (e.g. playing time) on the first-rounder?
The framework of the Jaylen Waddle trade could serve as a reference point. The Dolphins sent Waddle and a fourth-round draft pick (111th overall) to the Broncos, in exchange for a first-rounder (30th), third-rounder (94th), and fourth-rounder (130th). But it’s possible the Eagles will instead point to the Davante Adams trade to the Raiders in 2022, which featured a first- and second-round pick, but Adams was arguably a better player at the time of the deal than Brown is now.
It seems fair to ask whether leverage will affect the package. How much can the Eagles drive up their asking price if the Patriots don’t have any competing suitors?
If the Patriots trade for Brown, their wide receiver room becomes quite crowded with him, Romeo Doubs, Mack Hollins, Kayshon Boutte, Kyle Williams, DeMario Douglas, and Efton Chism III. Not all seven would make the team, so maybe the Patriots include one in the package for Brown in an effort to reduce the draft capital.
2. Will the Patriots and Christian Gonzalez agree to a contract extension?
The Patriots recently picked up the fifth-year option on Gonzalez’s rookie deal, meaning he is now under contract through the 2027 season. He is set to earn $2.3 million in base salary in 2026 and $18.1 million in 2027.
But Gonzalez and his representation are seeking a long-term extension, one that has the potential to reset the cornerback market. Trent McDuffie, currently the NFL’s highest-paid defensive back, signed a four-year, $124 million contract with the Rams, which means Gonzalez’s average annual value projects to be around $30 million.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is extension-eligible this offseason and has the ability to reset the market as well.
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Both executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf and coach Mike Vrabel have reiterated their interest in retaining Gonzalez. Owner Robert Kraft has also noted that reaching an agreement sooner rather than later can be “more economically satisfactory.”
Trading for Brown and extending Gonzalez in the same offseason is doable but will undoubtedly be pricey. The Patriots currently have an estimated $35.5 million in cap space, ranking fifth in the NFL.
3. How will the revamped offensive line fare?
After opening last season with four new starters across the offensive line, the Patriots continued to tweak the unit this offseason. Jared Wilson, who started at left guard as a rookie, will move to center, while newly signed Alijah Vera-Tucker will fill in at left guard.
Even among the three returners, though, the position group still has questions. How will 35-year-old Morgan Moses hold up at right tackle? Can the MCL injury explain Will Campbell’s struggles throughout the postseason? An injury or absence to either could thrust rookie Caleb Lomu into action.
The spring isn’t the best opportunity to evaluate pass protection and run blocking, but the offensive line’s performance will likely be integral to the success of the offense as a whole.
4. Will anything else change for Vrabel?
In the four weeks since Page Six initially published photographs of Vrabel and NFL insider Dianna Russini, there have been multiple additional headlines about the pair. Most recently, TMZ shared a video of the two on a boat dock in Tennessee in June 2021.
If the tabloids continue to publish photographs and videos, could Vrabel briefly step away again like he did for Day 3 of the NFL draft? When Vrabel last spoke to the media, ahead of the first round of the NFL draft, he wouldn’t say if he anticipated missing team activities.
On Saturday, during the portion of rookie minicamp that was open to the media, Vrabel maintained an active presence throughout practice.
Vrabel is scheduled to speak to the media next on May 27.
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