Mailbag: Is DK Metcalf a realistic trade target for the Patriots?

It is April. It is NFL Draft month.

Let us squander no time and just get appropriate into this week’s #PostPulpit mailbag to rejoice.

@joelshapiro20 Do you foresee the Pats will restructure extra present-day discounts to get on their own in greater latest cap room or do you see them reducing gamers?

The New England Patriots offseason so significantly has been fairly disappointing for most, but it is one we it’s possible need to have noticed coming. Right after dishing out a record volume of certain income last year, New England unquestionably failed to have the exact resources to toss around this offseason. So, even though it appeared the crew could have acquired resourceful to create off their profitable season with rookie quarterback Mac Jones, probably the authentic course of action was to have confidence in the expertise they paid out — and drafted — final offseason to strengthen in 12 months two.

Speaking before this 7 days for the very first time given that free of charge agency began, Bill Belichick’s opinions seemed to trace at a equivalent imagined.

“Spent a great deal of income previous yr. Those men are all younger, they are under agreement,” Belichick stated. He went on to incorporate: “I assume some of the players that we have on the roster, hopefully, will take a phase up. But we’ll see. We’ll have other gamers, there will be new players listed here. See what happens with them.”

And it wasn’t just Belichick sharing that philosophy, as owner Robert Kraft echoed his head coaches’ considered process when speaking to The Athletic before this 7 days.

“I hope that some of the no cost agents who we introduced in who didn’t accomplish as large as we would have appreciated very last year will (create) this 12 months because they’ve altered to the program,” Kraft advised Jeff Howe of The Athletic. “And we’re earning improvements to take edge of what they do finest. We have a lot of talent that has not been tapped into nonetheless in my view.”

With just approximately $5 million in present cap house, according to cap expert Miguel Benzan, the crew will need to produce dollars someway. Restructuring direct recruiter Matt Judon’s agreement would likely be at the leading of the list in get to do so. Changing his income into a signing reward would equivalent $6.64 million in cap place. Jake Bailey would also be yet another name to look at, as he now is on the books for over $4 million this calendar year. An extension could make $2.4 million.

Irrespective of whether you concur with their present-day tactic or not, the Patriots have stored their long term versatility open by getting reluctant to restructure latest contracts to create cap space. If the workforce does not see a large improvement next year from last year’s additions, OverTheCap jobs the staff to have roughly $100 million in cap house in 2023 available to them also once again reshape their roster. Furthermore, as Robert Kraft also talked about before this week, setting up prolonged-term good results will come through the draft. An additional robust draft arrive April will go a prolonged way to pinpointing the Patriots results subsequent period and further than.

@ReadNFLtweets Which previous patriot has the ideal and minimum chance of returning

A reunion with Trey Bouquets nonetheless just can make also substantially feeling in my view. Introducing a veteran with Flowers’ skillset to the Patriots’ present EDGE group would be an perfect addition. Immediately after getting launched from the Lions with a unsuccessful bodily designation, there has not been a lot information on the 28-yr-outdated. Veterans with injuries as these types of frequently have a slower-going totally free agent sector, but I would count on the Patriots to have interest when the time will come.

As for minimum chance, which is simple. Rob Gronkowski. I’ll toss Stephon Gilmore in the list as perfectly despite the in good shape continue to remaining there. I imagine both sides would keep the thought of a reunion, but the Patriots just really don’t seem to have the cash for the cornerback even though his current market is going slower than envisioned.

@Ben9684 Why just can’t we trade for Brandin cooks

Speaking of former Patriots, the Patriots could trade for Brandin Cooks. Cooks would seem like the specific sort of receiver the New England offense is on the lookout for with his elite speed and quickness lining up outdoors.

Cooks has been a stylish trade applicant more than the past handful of seasons on a weak Texans team, but they have not moved the 28-year-old receiver. Nevertheless, just after investing Deshaun Watson and with just one-year remaining on Cooks’ existing agreement, the time screams now for a opportunity deal. He possible would have quite a few suitors, however.

@rmassey34 What less than the radar WR is out there that the Pats might give a search-see?

@mattfiniz If we trade for a broad receiver who is it most possible to be

Hunting at some other probable receivers that might catch the Patriots’ eye on the trade current market, there are various to potentially get energized about (Cooks, DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, A.J. Brown?). But, it just won’t feel like the time is now for the Patriots to pony up draft capital and outbid other huge receiver-needy teams for top rated end receiver expertise.

So, as we explored in very last week’s mailbag at cornerback, a trade for a very low-price tag rental in the final 12 months of his rookie offer at the receiver place could be the way to go. A title that jumps out is Giants receiver Darius Slayton, who seems to be on his way out in an really crowded Giants’ vast receiver place. Slayton (6-foot-1, 190 lbs) would give the Patriots some measurement and velocity (4.39-2nd 40-yard dash in 2019) at the posture – a thing they’ve been searching for at that spot.

Slayton would be a lower-charge shift and most likely could be experienced for a negligible choose swap, as his existing roster location in New York is now in jeopardy.

@Pats_convey Is DK a practical trade goal?

@ChrisFi07399361 Dk Metcalf

Talking of DK Metcalf, he is particularly what the Patriots desired in N’Keal Harry and what they continue on to search for (dimension and speed). He also is specifically what they usually seem for in trades, as he is even now just 24 yrs old and in the previous year of his rookie offer. Having said that, with the worth of the forthcoming draft — as Robert Kraft hounded on this 7 days — it appears to be not likely the Patriots would surrender significant quality draft funds for a year of Metcalf.

@Bdollaz7 If pats choose a receiver in 1st round, who are the greatest fits for the staff?

Chris Olave and Jameson Williams are the two receivers truly worth having at No. 21, in my belief.

@Royalist_Cr With Monthly bill signing a lot more and extra items to the secondary, does it glance like there is a higher likelihood of drafting a wr in the 1st if they never trade back again?

@Brandon47384968 What yall believe the #Patriots will do in RD1 of the Draft? WR, S, or OL

Irrespective of the additions in the secondary, I nonetheless see the Patriots adding a defender with their first pick of the future draft — assuming no surprise offensive players see a very last next fall. New England nevertheless has a J.C. Jackson sized hole in their secondary and it would not be a surprise to see them attempt to fill that with their first variety, no matter whether it be a cornerback like Kaiir Elam or do-it-all basic safety in Dax Hill or Jalen Pitre.

As for receivers, there is a plethora of talent on working day two, perhaps impacting their final decision to go defense early. Players like Skyy Moore, John Metchie, Christian Watson, and George Pickens are all intriguing suits at receiver that will probably go in round two.

@Moxieinme In the draft who is the excellent suit? Also do you assume they trade out of the amount 21 decide on? And do you feel they will have aton of undrafted players?

As for excellent match, Jordan Davis is nevertheless a aspiration at No. 21 general. Davis at nose deal with would make everyone’s everyday living on defense much easier, while generating a ferocious duo with Christian Barmore.

Pertaining to a trade back, the Patriots are in a tricky location with the 21st general select. There is undoubtedly a drop-off of expertise all over the 17 pick mark, this means the New England board could be shaken up appear their initially selection. With that, I’ll predict they transfer again to pair with my suspicion they go protection to start with. Fellas like Elam or Hill are now projected to go early in the next-spherical or in the final couple of picks of the very first, opening the doorway to purchase an excess draft collection or two and the player. If the Patriots feel particularly strongly about one particular specific player nonetheless, they may perhaps just sense it is greatest to not possibility it and choose him at No. 21.

We’ll see how the Patriots roster rely appears to be like right after the draft (they experienced just six open up places moving into undrafted absolutely free company previous 12 months), but they surely will unquestionably add UDFA’s. 1 situation to view is working back again, wherever it may possibly be ultimately time to begin searching for James White’s likely substitute. Notre Dame’s Kryen Williams could be a Day 3/UDFA name to watch at the situation.

@TeamCrazyMatt Immediately after Zion Johnson and now Daxton Hill, who will be the up coming “flavor of the week” for the Pats in the first round?

Boye Mafe. It may perhaps not be the “sexy” select some are hoping for, but the Patriots have yet to convey in somebody to exchange Kyle Van Noy on the EDGE. Mafe matches the mold of a Patriots’ hybrid EDGE defender who can hurry the passer, fall into protection, and established the edge. Unless the Patriots genuinely assume Ronnie Perkins is the solution at that spot just after a redshirt time, Mafe would be a day one particular contributor.

@Scottish__Rain On scale of 1-10, how big of meltdown will the lover base have when they really do not draft a WR in the very first 4 rounds?

@Tallguyme Staff Smith or Crew Rock?

Staff Rock, obviously. Are there actually folks that are Staff Smith? The only factor I will give Will Smith credit for is his variety on that slap. Unbelievable open up-hand system.

That’s all for this week’s #PostPulpit mailbag. If you have questions you’d favored to be answered up coming 7 days, post them on Twitter utilizing #PostPulpit! Make certain to be subsequent @iambrianhines and @PatsPulpit as well!