Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - MAILBAG: Patriots Draft Sleeper, George Pickens’ Fit, And Much More!

Starting point is 00:00:00 A sleeper pick at number 31, the thought of George Pickens in a patch uniform, and much more in our weekly mailbag. This is Locked on Patriots. You are Locked on Patriots, your daily New England Patriots podcast, part of the Locked on Podcasts Network, your team every day. What's happening? I am your host, Nick Cattels. On today's episode, the offensive line brings questions, but being worried might be over. overreacting. In our second segment, the negativity that another swing and miss at wide receiver would bring to our world. But first, the Pats have traded a player from the 2025 roster. That's right. The Patriots have traded Marte Mapu in a 2027 seventh round pick to the Houston Texans. Of course, old friend Nick Casario. Marte Mapu goes to the Texans, along with a seventh round pick in next year's draft for a

Starting point is 00:01:04 2027 sixth round pick. Where this leaves the Patriots draft capital-wise in the 2027 draft, Patriots now have a first, a second, a third, and a fourth. All of those picks are their own picks. So a first, second, third, and fourth, they have two fifth round picks,

Starting point is 00:01:24 their own fifth round pick, and the fifth round pick from Chicago in the Garrett-Bradberry trade. And then they have three sixth round picks now. They have their own sixth round pick in next year's draft. They have the Saints sixth round pick in next year's draft from the Jalen Polk trade. And now they have the Texans sixth round pick from this trade.

Starting point is 00:01:46 Marte Mapu and a seventh. He goes to Houston in return a sixth round pick. It's not shocking the Patriots have moved on from Marte Mapu. He was given some opportunities in 2025 a number of times. Too many times. He messed up. He gave up big plays. on the second level.

Starting point is 00:02:05 So there were the moments of him struggling, never really seemed comfortable. Of course, he had all the injuries early on in his career. He had injuries at Sacramento State before he was drafted by the Patriots. That injury history, it's a long list. And of course, again, struggling on the field when given opportunity. So Marte Mapu, now a Houston Texan. And if you look back at the 2022, 2022, 2023, and 2024 NFL drafts, not great in totality for the Patriots, which is why we continue to pound draft in development.

Starting point is 00:02:38 And that's why we continue to discuss this draft coming up in just a couple of weeks. Your linebacker room now. Robert Spillane, Christian Ellis, KJ Britt, Chad Mumma. And then you have two guys on futures deals. Otis Reese and Amari Gaynor. Yes, I expect the Patriots to address linebacker in this draft. We'll get to that and more during our mailbag. Speaking of the mailbag, first question is from Matthew Cabral.

Starting point is 00:03:07 Who is a sleeper player that no one is really talking about that the Patriots can take at 31? I'll give you one, Gabe Accus. Now, Gabe Accus, defensive end. We've talked about him a little bit on this podcast. Many believe he's going to go in the second round. So maybe he goes at the end of the first round. It's really difficult because there are so many people out there that cover the Patriots that talk about all of these possible draft picks.

Starting point is 00:03:33 They talk about all of these prospects, including yours truly, right? So there are so many of us who talk about this team, which is great. But it's difficult to, quote, unquote, surprise somebody. A surprise at number 31, I'll give you this name. And it fits right in what we were talking about to start this podcast with Marte Mapu getting traded in the linebacker room. What if the Patriots decided to draft the linebacker at 31? What if they decided to draft Jacob Rodriguez from Texas Tech?

Starting point is 00:03:59 This is the guy we talked about right after the combine because many people were wondering about his athleticism. He answered those questions, athletically tested very well. Now, if you're going to draft, if you're going to draft a linebacker at number 31, you have to assume the tackles that you like are gone. You have to assume that the wide receivers you might like are gone. You have to assume that an edge run happens from like 15 to 30, which is how the second mock draft for us unfolded earlier this week. Rodriguez, great fit for New England. Again, athletically tested very well. He is an impact player off the ball linebacker, inside linebacker.

Starting point is 00:04:38 We're talking creating interceptions, forced fumbles. He was a tackle machine at Texas Tech. He was up for the Heisman. Think about that. A linebacker who was up for the Heisman trophy. He is a leader of the defense. Somebody you stick there at the second level and you feel like he's going to lead those guys by example. Lance Sirline.

Starting point is 00:04:58 NFL.com. He writes that Rodriguez has the instincts, the eyes and the ball skills of a greedy safety. You draft Rodriguez and he will lead your second level for the next six to eight years. So a little bit of a sleeper at 31. Let's get to the next question. At dirty sweet Clint. Now that Marte Map, who is on his way out, can you please start considering linebackers at the top of our mock drafts? Perfectly time. I just did. I just gave you the Jacob Rodriguez sleeper pick at 31. Off the ball linebacker, inside linebacker, very interesting in this draft. The athletic consensus big board updated just a few days ago.

Starting point is 00:05:40 In that latest update, when you look at the off the ball linebacker, C.J. Allen is really the first guy the Patriots would have a shot at possibly, and he is ranked 35th on the consensus big board. Then you got Jacob Rodriguez, who was ranked 40th. he continues to climb, which is why I don't think it's crazy that he sneaks into the end of the first round. But Jacob Rodriguez behind C.J. Allen on the consensus big board at number 40. Then Anthony Hill Jr. from Texas, somebody who a lot of people, if you go back to the beginning of this mock draft process, you know, Anthony Hill Jr. was getting drafted in the first round. He is now down to 42nd on that consensus big board.

Starting point is 00:06:23 If you don't look at Alan Rodriguez or Hill Jr., the next show. shot at linebacker would be, you know, Josiah Trotter because you're, you're drafting at 63. So the next closest guy is Josiah Trotter at number 70 on the big board. Then you've got Kyle Lewis, who, you know, I was impressed with at the combine, might be more safety than linebacker. And then there's nobody else in the top 100. So if you don't use that 31st pick on a linebacker, you're sitting there at 63 and you want to address that position.

Starting point is 00:06:54 You're looking at Trotter. You're looking at Lewis. and probably that's it for cats who are left in the top 100 when you look at this consensus big board. I still believe they're going to draft a linebacker. I still believe that linebacker will be drafted more likely in the fourth round or later unless somebody falls and the Patriots say to themselves, this guy is a steal, so we've got to draft them.

Starting point is 00:07:17 All right. Let's get to the next question. At underscore Mason Storm underscore. Cassius Howell would look great in a Pat's uniform. However, apart from his physical disadvantages, any concerns that his sack numbers were pumped up in two big games. I'm not concerned in the least, and I'll tell you why. Number one, he's been productive three straight years. This is not a flash in the pan type guy.

Starting point is 00:07:40 He didn't just show up one year, put some sack numbers together a couple of games, and now he's considered, you know, towards the end of the first round pick. You go back a few weeks ago before the combine and the arm measurement, Cassius Howell was going consistently in the top 15 to 20. So he's been very, very productive for three straight years. I think we're too focused on the sack numbers. You know, Cassius Howell had 41 pressures in the SEC last year, which was the second most pressures in one of the best conferences in football.

Starting point is 00:08:13 And I know a lot of people will say the best conference in football. I think the SEC is slightly overrated. Don't throw anything at me. But the SEC, especially this past year, I think, was overrated. The SEC, again, if you get 41 pressures in a single season coming off the edge, you have the second most pressures in that conference going against big offensive linemen and good offenses. That's productivity. So I would not get lost in the sauce with just paying attention to sacks.

Starting point is 00:08:40 I'd be looking at pressures. I'd be looking at pressure rate. And let's not forget that draft. The draft is a projection. It's a projection business. So we're not only focused on sacks and pressures and pressure rate, we're also focused on the traits. It's a mix, right?

Starting point is 00:08:57 It's a mix of the traits. How much time does this guy have to mature? Can he develop get better at certain aspects of the game? And so when you look at Cassius Howell and you look at that productivity with the 41 pressures, you look at the fact that he's been a good college football player three straight years, you look at that electric first step. You look at the bend around the edge that he brings to you. You look at the diverse move set that we've talked about as far as attacking offensive

Starting point is 00:09:26 linemen and how to get to the quarterback. So we have to remember these guys will mature. And so Cassius Howell, I would not be too concerned or worried that he had two big sack games because, again, he was getting after the quarterback. He wasn't always finishing, but he was getting those pressures. which is vital. And that would help the 2026 Patriots. Coming up, we can't quit wide receiver talk, man.

Starting point is 00:09:57 We just can't quit it. This is Lockdown Patriots, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network. Now the number one sports podcast network, your team every day. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Financial stress is something a lot of people are carrying right now, and it's not just about numbers. It can affect your sleep, your relationships, and your overall mental health and ways that build up over time.

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Starting point is 00:11:49 Hopefully we're there by draft weekend. All right. Let's get back to the question. A dank Pop-Tart asks, are you at all nervous of not landing A.J. Brown in the horrendous wave of negativity that will ensue from the fan base? nervous, no. No, I'm not nervous. Let's start here. It depends on, in this hypothetical scenario, it really depends on why the Patriots didn't land A.J. Brown. Is he traded? I mean, if A.J. Brown doesn't get. get traded if he ends up being an eagle in 2026, which I still think is unlikely, if not very unlikely. But if he remains an eagle, you can't really kill the Patriots for not trading for a guy who wasn't traded. It's like I don't kill them for not signing Alec Pierce when he

Starting point is 00:12:41 stayed in Indianapolis. I also want to know what is the deal if the deal is made. If A.J. Brown has traded to some other team, what did that other team give up? Was it too much an estimation because I don't think a lot of people want the Patriots to overpay for Brown. I think they want the Patriots. I think most people want the Patriots to trade for Brown, but not overpay for him. The other question I have is, did the Patriots draft a wide receiver in this hypothetical scenario instead of trading for A.J. Brown? What if somebody fell to them at 31?

Starting point is 00:13:18 So you just don't really know the why. And I would have to know the why to decide whether or not people would be super negative. Now, I do think it's 2026. So there's going to be negative no matter what. It's just how much. I'm sure there will be plenty of people being negative if the Patriots traded for A.J. Brown. They would come out of the woodwork. Why are you trading for a guy with damaged knees?

Starting point is 00:13:43 Why are you trading for a guy in his late 20s? What a disaster. He wasn't the same guy in 2025. Just watch the film. What are you doing? I mean, I can hear it, right? I can hear it and feel it deep in my bones. But the negativity won't last, no matter what, if the Patriots win games.

Starting point is 00:14:02 What spurs negativity, for the most part, is losing. And so if the Patriots end up winning and Romeo Dobbs flourishes in this offense and their young receivers end up developing and improving, what if Kyle Williams proves himself to be a capable number two type guy, or Kashon Booty gives you more consistency. You know, so there's all these different scenarios that could play out. And the negativity would last only as long as the losses continued if they even began. So if you're moving the ball, your scoring points, you know, what's tight end look like?

Starting point is 00:14:40 Is tight end exciting? Does that take away from the wide receiver, the alpha wide receiver that we've been talking about? You know, not a lot of people were complaining when the Patriots had Rob Grunkowski, right? I mean, I'm not saying you're going to find a Rob Gruncowski in this draft or Hunter Henry is going to be that guy. But if you're getting production from tight end and Romeo Dobbs is playing really, really well, and Drake May is playing well and you're moving the ball and you're running the football and the offensive line is better. Then there won't be as many people screaming and hollering about not acquiring A.J. Brown. Let's go to the next question.

Starting point is 00:15:17 At Republican underscore X1. Can we just say 11, I guess? I hear Booty discussed as part of a trade package, but what about Pop Douglas? I don't see him fit this offense. However, his quick and elusive style might fit someone like Philly. Pop is fascinating. Fascinating name now because we have talked about Pop Douglas's lack of fit in this Patriots offense. But then you had Mike Vrable in a wrestling term putting Pop Douglas over last week in Arizona,

Starting point is 00:15:48 which means, you know, complimenting him and talking about him. him being a bigger piece of the puzzle, which begs the questions, you know, can you find more spots to play Pop Douglas in this offense? You know, talking about it and being about it are two separate things. Is Josh McDaniels going to roll with more three to four wide receiver sets? That feels unlikely with the fact that Patriots are focused on running the football, going out and signing Julian Hill, going out and signing Reggie Gilliam, most likely drafting another tight end. So if you're playing these two tight ends, sets, sometimes three tight end sets.

Starting point is 00:16:23 You want to run the football. You want to play the fullback. You're not rolling out three, four wide receiver sets. So how much can you get Pop Douglas on the field? Can you get any more blocking from Pop Douglas? I don't think it's a want to issue. I think it's a size issue. It's a frame issue.

Starting point is 00:16:43 We don't know if the Patriots offensive coaching staff and Vrable saw improvement against zone defenses from pop in practice. We don't know that. Pop has struggled at times, finding the right spots in zone, being on the same page as his quarterback. And that's going across quarterbacks, multiple quarterbacks.

Starting point is 00:17:03 The common denominator has been pop. Some issues with where he's supposed to be and when he's supposed to be there, the type of route he's supposed to run against zone looks at times. Do the Patriots think they can make him more of a gadget player? I have to see it to believe it that Pop is going to be more involved with this offense. I still kind of think Brable was building leverage with other teams like Philadelphia,

Starting point is 00:17:30 and you keep going out there telling people that you're happy and content with the receivers that you have. You might be trying to build some leverage in these trade talks. Right now, Pop Douglas is what, your fourth, fifth receiver. And if you went out and you added an AJ Brown or you drafted somebody, He might slide even further down the depth chart. Now, as far as Philly, could they be interested? I'm not sure. I mean, they added Hollywood Brown.

Starting point is 00:17:55 They added Elijah Moore. Neither of those guys are big receivers. They're both smaller. They're both under six feet. And so they might feel like they already have the Pop Douglas role. The idea of Kashan Booty being part of an A.J. Brown trade is because he fits the A.J. Brown role better than a Pop Douglas would. Could both be gone?

Starting point is 00:18:17 Maybe. I don't write that possibility off. All right. Next question. Brady boy, bunch of numbers. Would you be interested in George Pickens and what would you trade for and give for a contract? If so, George Pickens, let's start here. He fits the prototype of what the Patriots need in a wide receiver.

Starting point is 00:18:35 They want that, you know, tall catch radius type boundary X guy, right? And George Pickens is 6-3. He's a boundary guy. He's got spectacular body control. We've seen him make a number of contested catches, spectacular catches. He's got big playability at any point in a game. He can turn a game around on a dime. That said, I have zero interest in George Pickens.

Starting point is 00:19:01 I just don't think he's a variable guy. For years, his effort has been questioned. He had baggage when he was in college. I believe what was at Georgia. I believe he was at Georgia. He had baggage at Georgia. He had baggage in Pittsburgh. He had some baggage last year in Dallas.

Starting point is 00:19:19 Again, is it situation or is it the player? And the player, no matter where he is, he seems to bring some baggage. He's got on-field baggage. Some of the temper tantrums being somewhat selfish on the field, acting out, getting called for penalties because he can't keep himself under control. And so I just don't think he's the Vrabel-type guy. And if you traded for Pickens, and I would imagine the conversation would have to start at a number two, right?

Starting point is 00:19:47 A second round pick. That might not even be enough for the Cowboys because the Patriots are towards the end of the second round. But you'd also have to guarantee Pickens tens of millions of dollars. And that's a very delicate decision with the culture and what he brings, the aforementioned baggage. Are you comfortable paying this guy tens of millions? I mean, I think there's a legitimate question also. whether or not George Pickens can be dependable and a consistently really good receiver if he doesn't have that other top-notch presence on the field.

Starting point is 00:20:23 I mean, let's not forget he had C.D. Lamb on the field with him. So I think sometimes you have to look past the talent. And for me, with George Pickens, I think it goes beyond the talent. And I just don't think he is the type of player that Mike Vrable would be interested in. and he's not the type of, you know, receiver that I'd be super comfortable with, you know, with Drake May moving forward. So again, talented guy, but to me, too many questions. Am I worried about the offensive line?

Starting point is 00:20:57 My answer and more next. This is Lockdown Patriots, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe if you're watching us on YouTube. All right, let's get back to these questions, weekly mailbag. See your mama. Love that. Are you worried about the offensive line? I am not worried about the offensive line.

Starting point is 00:21:26 We have to first embrace, acknowledge, appreciate the idea that offensive line play and football just isn't good consistently. And this is not to excuse the Patriots and how they've made several mistakes. and what we had to witness in 2023 and 2024, which was abominable. There's no excuse for that level of play on the offensive line. But overall, in the football universe, offensive line continues to get worse as the game evolved. And this is an entirely different topic. And this could be an entire podcast. But how the offensive linemen play especially tackles at the college level.

Starting point is 00:22:11 is impacting tackles when they get drafted. It now takes two or three years for these young tackles to truly find themselves at the next level. You look around, just offensive line plays just not very good. So we have to remember that. We have to also remember where the Patriots were in 2024. I was worried in 2024. I was worried in 2023.

Starting point is 00:22:33 2024 was just inexcusably bad. I mean, we're talking about an offensive line in 2026. 24 that was not competent and certainly not competitive. So I believe we have moved on from those days, thankfully. Will Campbell, let's look at the line. Will Campbell was fine before the injury and I think he's going to get better. You know, Elijah Vera Tucker is an immediate upgrade over Jared Wilson at guard. And I know the injury history, but you've got Ben Brown, who is an adequate backup,

Starting point is 00:23:06 just in case AVT does get hurt. Jared Wilson is a natural center. We talked about it right after the season was over. We wanted the Patriots to move him to center and to find an upgrade at left guard. That's precisely what they did. They drafted a lot. They signed Elijah Veritucker and then they moved Jared Wilson to center. I think he should be as good, if not better at center than he was at left guard in 2025.

Starting point is 00:23:31 I think he'll feel more comfortable. Michael Wenu, look, he received all pro votes last year. and he was outstanding the final two, two and a half months of the season. Morgan Moses is older, but he's not ancient, folks. I mean, we're talking about Morgan Moses like he's 40 years old. He's older. He's 35. But did you know that there were six offensive linemen last year that started for their teams

Starting point is 00:23:58 that were 35 years old or older? So it's not like this is some unicorn. Trent Williams in San Francisco, he started 16 of 17, games last year at left tackle for the 49ers at the age of 37. Now, yeah, he is more of a unicorn, but the fact is every single year you can pluck out an offensive lineman and likely multiple offensive linemen who are in their mid-30s. And I could go to guys who were 34 last year that played. I mean, there's a whole list of them.

Starting point is 00:24:28 There's a whole list of them. Joel Betonio's in his mid-30s. And last year, he played at a pretty good level. So we see that with offensive line because it's not a position that asks a ton of you as far as, you know, running and getting up and down the field and all of that. If you can handle your space and you can stay relatively healthy, you can play on the offensive line for 15 years. So, you know, injuries happen. Injuries happen. And of course, the older you get, the more concern there is.

Starting point is 00:25:01 But the history of Morgan Moses also tells us he's missed six games. over his last 11 seasons. Now, you would love more depth, but lots of teams would love more depth on the offensive line. And by the way, I do think the Patriots will add more depth to the O line via the draft. So I'm not worried. Could the O line be better? Of course.

Starting point is 00:25:27 But there are like 25 to 28 teams that likely feel that way, if not more. It is a difficult world up front offensively. Next question. I don't know how to pronounce this. Cy Pyrami? I'm going to try it. Cypare me is the plan to release Michael Wenu to make financial room for A.J. Brown. This has been brought up a couple times, at least a couple times by my buddy, Greg Bedard.

Starting point is 00:25:55 We've talked about it on the podcast that we do. If you listen to Greg, Greg Bedard's cash numbers, he pays very close attention to this. and he's been pretty accurate. The Patriots are pretty much down to what he would say is, quote, unquote, petty cash. Now, of course, we don't know if Robert Kraft cares. Robert Kraft is in his mid-80s. He might be willing to spend even more money, say I'm not worried about it. So we don't know how Kraft truly feels as far as this specific team,

Starting point is 00:26:27 just getting off a Super Bowl of parents. And again, the fact that he's in his mid-80s and certainly wants to win, a title before he waved goodbye to all of us. So we don't know if that's a different level of urgency from the owner. The second thing, are the Patriots confident in their offensive line once they wrap up the draft? Are they confident enough to say, we're just going to let Michael Wenu walk over some money? I don't know.

Starting point is 00:26:53 I mean, I know that Peter Schrager of ESPN in his mock draft had the Patriots drafting Keelan Rutledge from Georgia Tech, who was a guard at 3rd. 31. I am not a huge fan of that idea. But if they drafted a guard at 31, that might make you believe that a winu is on his way out. So, you know, could the Patriots draft an interior offensive lineman earlier than we think to make that a wino move become a reality? I don't want the Patriots to mess with the offensive line too much. We just went through it last question. and there's nothing more important than pass protection for your young franchise quarterback. So I would rather them go into this draft thinking we are going to add depth. We're looking for a top tackle that can maybe play swing tackle,

Starting point is 00:27:45 but eventually take over for Morgan Moses. And I wouldn't be against them drafting a couple of interior offensive linemen. Let's go to Toby Hawk. What needs to happen for you to call this off season, solid, good, or excellent? I would start free agency, solid. I gave the Patriots a B for their free agency, which is a solid grade. Maybe they deserve better after we look at all the deals that have been signed. But to answer the question, a good to very good offseason.

Starting point is 00:28:16 Here are the things that they would need, right? Because again, the free agency, that haze in the barn. Good to very good off season. A good draft. Extend Christian Gonzalez. And also further development from your young players. an excellent offseason, not just a good draft, nail the draft. Like walk out of the draft and feel like you have multiple guys

Starting point is 00:28:39 who are going to make an impact, if not significant impact, day one for your football team. So an excellent offseason has to be nailing the draft, not just a good draft. Extend Christian Gonzalez is still on that list. Not only would you see further development from your young players, the guys you drafted in 2025 and some of, you know, I was going to say 2024 class, but I guess you'd say, Caden Wallace, Marcellus Dile back from ACL. Drake May continues to get better.

Starting point is 00:29:07 But, you know, year two leaps from your 2025 draft class would also help you have an excellent offseason because an offseason isn't just improving from the outside. It's improving from the inside. Acquiring an AJ Brown type for Drake May. If it's not AJ Brown, somebody like AJ Brown. That would be an excellent offseason. Nailing the draft, extending Gonzo, year two leaps, not just some development,

Starting point is 00:29:36 but leaps from multiple guys from your class last year, and then getting that guy like an AJ Brown for your quarterback. I think that would be an excellent offseason. All right, that wraps up this edition of Lockdown Patriots or Mailbag. Thank you for making us your first listen for being an every day. Reach out to me on Twitter at Nick C. Radio. Don't forget to throw a comment in on the YouTube channel. hit that like button and subscribe.

Starting point is 00:30:00 And if you never miss an episode, the Everydayer Club is built for you. Get Lockdown Patriots, add free, plus members-only Discord access and more. Head to LockdownPatriots.supercast.com or check the link in the show notes to learn even more. Have a great day, and we'll see you next time.

Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - MAILBAG: Patriots Draft Sleeper, George Pickens’ Fit, And Much More!

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