Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - New England Patriots Mailbag: Covington, Caley Coordinators? 2024 NFL Draft or Free Agency Targets?

Starting point is 00:00:00 Demarcus Covington, maybe Nick Cayley? Sounds to us like the New England Patriots are trying to get the best of both worlds. Stick around. You're about to be locked in to the Locked On Patriots podcast. You are Locked On Patriots, your daily New England Patriots podcast. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. Hello to all of you, Foxborough faithful. Thank you once again for kicking off your week in style right here on the Locked On Patriots podcast,

Starting point is 00:00:49 a proud part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. Remember Locked On Patriots folks is free and available on all platforms. So smash that subscribe button on YouTube and don't forget to download and or follow wherever you get your podcasts to ensure that you get the latest episode as soon as it's available. I'm your host, Mike DeBate. I cover your New England Patriots for Patriots Country of Fan Nation.

Starting point is 00:01:10 So reach out to me and let me know what's on your mind on X at M-D-A-B-A-T-E-N-F-L. And while you're out there showing some love to Locked On Patriots social media style, please follow us there as well at L-O underscore Patriots. And of course, folks, today's episode brought to you by PrizePix, the easiest and most exciting way to play daily fantasy sports. Go to prizepix.com slash LockedOnNFL

Starting point is 00:01:34 and use the code all lowercase LockedOnNFL for a first deposit match up to $100. And Pats fans, of course, your New England Patriots continue their search for the coordinators in Foxborough. Word has it the Patriots are close or at least have settled on the idea that DeMarcus Covington will become the new defensive coordinator in New England. And a lot of reports out there indicating that old friend and former tight ends coach Nick Cayley may be quote unquote, well positioned to become the new offensive coordinator. And one of those guys that dropped some of those pearls of wisdom is sitting

Starting point is 00:02:12 right next to me today. As always right here, my good friend, the counter Murphy fist on himself, the legendary Thomas Murphy done Murph. Thank you for coming to me today in friendship. Yeah. Called it.

Starting point is 00:02:27 Told you. Hate to me today in friendship. Yeah, called it. Told you. Hate to say I told you so, but I love it. But we knew this was going to happen. We knew Demarcus Covington was going to end up being the DC here. And it's because, you know, he earned it. Murph, when it comes to choosing a coordinator, the New England Patriots definitely want some new, some fresh ideas,

Starting point is 00:02:47 but keeping some familiarity in that room is very important. And I think it speaks well to the candidates that have supposedly gone to the top of that echelon. Covington looks pretty much like a done deal. And our good friend, Ted from Chickapee Mass, again, folks, one of our longtime everydayers out there, a longtime supporter of Locked On Patriots, had, I think, the question of the week. And that's what we're going to lead off with today here, folks. On Mailbag Monday, Ted wants to know, are the Patriots making the right

Starting point is 00:03:15 moves with Demarcus Covington as defensive coordinator and possibly Nick Cayley as offensive coordinator? Murph, without further ado, what are your reactions to these moves, and are they the right moves for the Patriots? Yeah, I think they are the right moves. You know, as we said, we called it last week that Covington was going to be the D.C., but the Patriots are going through, I don't want to call it the motions, they're taking the right steps in making these decisions. They're actually going out and, um, and interviewing multiple candidates and seeing what they can get out of them and, um, and making this a, a, a true search on, uh, on both sides of the ball for that next guy. They're not just naming somebody. They,

Starting point is 00:04:00 they knew Covington was going to be the, uh,.C. They did. They've known it. Mayo's known it for quite some time. But to go through this process is something that I think is very important, not just for league rules, but to just see who's out there and what they're thinking, what they wanted to do with this defense, with this offense going into, uh, 2024. Um, so no, I think they're going about it the right way, but I think the guys that they're, they're deciding to bring in is, um, is a testament to doing things the right way, the Patriot way. And just the only thing holding them back is money.

Starting point is 00:04:47 Honestly, the only thing holding them back is money. I'm of the thinking that Bob, Robert Kraft is still in that mode where, well, they're getting paid somewhere else to do this. So we're gonna have them do this and they're still gonna be on that contract and'm not going to have to boom up that cash. I mean, like it or not, you know, we've talked about it ad nauseum that the Patriots have been 30th for almost a decade now in cash spending, okay? They don't spend that kind of money. That

Starting point is 00:05:22 translates to the coaching staff as well. This has not been the best paid coaching staff on the planet. They've relied on coaches working off of other contracts at a much higher pay scale than when they bring them back in here. So most of their contracts are still being paid by other teams. Robert Kraft loves that. Do you blame him? They've been some fine coaches brought in, a couple of not so fine coaches brought in and put in a position where they shouldn't be coaching, but he was saving a buck.

Starting point is 00:05:59 All right. Right now, you've got to pay that money to get those guys here for putting in that kind of work. And, you know, we don't know what the pay structure is going to look like for DeMarcus Covington just yet. I will say that if you're looking for a robust resume, folks, you've got it. This is not just an internal hire that was a comfortable fit here. This guy can do it and he can do it at a high level.

Starting point is 00:06:19 Started out as the outside linebackers coach here in 2019, quickly was moved to the defensive line. And look at that d-line look at it oh my god he's taken over especially when there was so much uncertainty and poor play on the offensive side of the ball on special teams defense was going to be required to step it up and to be that alpha in the room and they were number seven overall in defense in the nfl and the stat i love to keep coming back to 3.3 yards per rush the lowest in the NFL this year that is the lowest a Patriots defensive line has allowed since the

Starting point is 00:06:52 1970 merger Murph that's how long it's been and here in New England the Pats have had some pretty formidable defenses right for you to be able to make that claim and folks I understand it's a total team effort the linebackers had a lot to do with that i'm not downplaying it but it starts up front and that d-line was ready and demarcus covington had them ready so great move uh with this i don't think there's any question that the patriots are making the right move here that's it before we take our leave of this subject and before we take our leave of ted's question murph he does mention nick cayley here now you and i mentioned cayley last week and i actually dropped a couple of uh tidbits that i actually ended up writing about over the weekend and how cayley kind of represents what i

Starting point is 00:07:35 like to call the best of both worlds in new england right he is the guy are the patriots making the right call here and bringing him in i do do. I think what's going to happen here is you're going to see a slow progression of a switch in offensive philosophies, an amalgamation of two different styles of offensive football. And Gailey going out there to LA and learning what's happening there. And we're talking about even two different styles of offense out there in LA because McVay has switched from that wide zone more to a gap zone style of football. So he's learned both of those plus coming back here and learning that the Earhart system that plus growing up here and learning that Earhart system is really going to

Starting point is 00:08:32 help if they bring him in here. It's really going to be a factor because whether you like it or not, whether you thought it was as funny as some of the guys out there in L.A. thought it was, the Patriots right now do not have the offensive line to run those different kinds of systems. So show a little patience with it. Don't expect to switch right over to a McVay-style system right away. Because while the Patriots still have Cole strange on the the offensive line it was a good pick um they they they don't necessarily have the other pieces that are going to fit into a different system right now now we've talked before about the need to bring in um new blood on the offensive line alt is the pick pick, and bringing some people back.

Starting point is 00:09:26 Still going to be very important to be patient and just see how much gets thrown at these guys early on. Very good point. Excellent point about the offensive line and the personnel to be able to run what you need because I think in a lot of ways, the battle test now that Nick Cayley has in both systems really makes him an ideal fit I really think this is not only the only move that the

Starting point is 00:09:50 Patriots can make I believe it's the right one even with other alternatives right and other opportunities out there you look at what Nick did when he first came into New England takes over for Brian Dayball yep Brian Dayball is leaving he's's going to Alabama. He's going to take a job at Nick Saban staff. He has to come in. He has to learn that Belichickian stamped Earhart Perkins system. And I think Nick did a masterful job of being able to learn that. And Josh McDaniels gave him a lot of credit for that as well. Dwayne Allen was someone that came in at the same time that Nick Cayley was here. And I remember him speaking very glowingly about Nick and saying that he's a grinder. He's a guy that's going to continue to learn. He doesn't act like he knows more than everyone else in the room, but you respect that he does know more than everyone

Starting point is 00:10:34 else in the room. And that's something that is intrinsic in a coach and someone that you know, players are going to want to follow. Did a great job of running the system here in New England, was able to manage guys like Rob Gronkowskiellus bennett even hunter henry for a brief period of time he goes over to los angeles and everyone's saying okay well here we go this is going to be a complete move in the in the other direction because it's going to be outside zone what does sean mcveigh bring him in for he brings brings him in because he wants to, like you said, Murph, incorporate more of a gap run game. And that was something Nick, and he gives Nick a lot of credit for devising a lot of

Starting point is 00:11:11 those blocking schemes that really helped that system work for Los Angeles this year. Not only that, the incorporation of more diversified motion concepts. You look at what the Rams ran this year, folks. It wasn't simply using motion to create favorable angles in the running game. They used it to create advantages for the passing game as well. And what's one of the tenets of that Earhart-Perkins system that Nick Cayley knows so well, Murph? You throw to score, you run to win. That's exactly what the Patriots did up here for a number of years.

Starting point is 00:11:42 It would not surprise me if Nick Caley takes the reins of this offense, if that's what you see him do. So keep a sharp eye, folks, on the Patriots coordinator hirings and what's going to go on in the comings and goings. And Ted, to put a cap on your great question today, I quote Shakespeare, what is past is prologue. And I think that's what you're seeing in New England. And I think that's what you're going to continue to see in New England as well, folks. And that is not a bad thing, no matter what you may read on social media or no matter the canned responses that you might get elsewhere, using some of that familiarity is definitely going to be a good thing moving forward. And Gerard Mayo

Starting point is 00:12:19 knows it. Right. Ted, excellent question. Tip of the cap. And what a way to kick off Mailbag Monday, Murr. We love getting your questions, especially when they put the finger on the pulse of Pats Nation. And Murph, as we move on, we're going to also get another question from a very valued everydayer out there who wants to know a little bit about a position of concern for the Patriots. Right now, there is only one player under contract for this position heading into 2024.

Starting point is 00:12:45 You know that's going to change either through free agency or through the draft. Who should the Patriots be keeping their sharp eye on? Murph and I are going to tell you in just a moment when this episode of the Locked On Patriots podcast continues, a proud part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team, every day. Locked On listeners, the countdown to the big game has begun, and there is no better time to use PrizePix, the largest independently owned daily fantasy sports platform in North America. In fact, they're the easiest and the most exciting way to play daily fantasy sports.

Starting point is 00:13:22 It's just you against the numbers. Instead of battling all the thousands of other players, including all those pros and sharks out there, you pick more than or less than on a 2-6 player stat projection and watch the winnings roll in. PrizePix is the most fun I've had winning up

Starting point is 00:13:38 to 25 times my money this football season. You just select two or more players, pick more or less on their projected stats, and place your entry. And here's the best part, folks. You just select two or more players, pick more or less on their projected stats, and place your entry. And here's the best part, folks. You're going to love this. With the PrizePix reboot policy,

Starting point is 00:13:52 your entries stay in play even if one of your players gets injured. And that's for football and basketball games. If you have a player who exits the game in the first half and doesn't return in the second, that player is rebooted. And PrizePix is the only daily fantasy sports platform with injury insurance. So don't delay.

Starting point is 00:14:12 Do it today. Go to prizepix.com slash locked on NFL and use the code locked on NFL for a first deposit match up to $100. That's a first deposit match up to $100 by going to prizepix.com slash locked on NFL and use the code locked on NFL. PrizePix daily fantasy sports made

Starting point is 00:14:33 easy. Pats fans, thank you once again for joining us here today on Locked On Patriots. It is Mailbag Monday. It is hashtag Locked On Murph Monday. Folks, we are already having a blast absorbing some of the wisdom and counsel that all of you

Starting point is 00:14:50 everydayers drop here on Locked on Patriots each and every day, but especially on Mailbag Monday. You really get to showcase your knowledge and flex your muscle a little bit, and we love that here. Murph, in the previous segment, we talked about the Patriots' coordinators and how they may shape

Starting point is 00:15:05 the offense and the defense in a new mold but still maintaining a lot of that vintage savvy that has made them successful for the past 24 years that definitely has to translate to personnel because once the coaching staff is set this team is going to quickly pivot to potential free agent targets as well as draft targets and one of the big positions that i know is a concern of a lot of people out there especially our beloved countess so we miss here very much on these airwaves got to get our countess of clads back here in the studio pretty soon claire cooper tight endage folks um to quote you know a term that claire really coined yep right now the patriots only have one tight endage folks um to quote you know a term that claire really coined yep right now the patriots only have one tight end under contract that's la michael petway you know they're not

Starting point is 00:15:52 going to go into 2024 with only one tight end under contract so obviously the patriots are either going to have to pull upon internal free agents external free agents or draft targets murph we've talked several times about how we believe that Hunter Henry should be back here I know you've been very vocal about wanting to see Farrell Brown come back Mike Gusecki I think he gave you everything he had in the system for one year probably you're looking at maybe moving on from Mike but who knows I mean I still think Mike is a solid option compared to what's out there free agent wise. But one of our everydayers wants to know where the Patriots are going to go. So it's time for us to put on our prognostication caps, which we have today, folks.

Starting point is 00:16:32 And we're going to do so. And we do so at the request of one of our very favorites here. Leslie at Cape Cod Girlie would like to know, is there a tight end in free agency or the draft that you feel the patch should go after? Murph, let's start with free agency. Right. Internal, external, which way would you go? Is there someone outside the organization that's catching your eye right now?

Starting point is 00:16:57 Have at it, my friend. What would you do? I would stay internal. If it came down to it, I would definitely use the franchise tag on Hunter Henry. That's only if it came down to it and you didn't want to smartly use it on Mike Onweyu. But I think Henry, even though it hasn't been very successful, likes it here. I'm on record that I want to see the Patriots keep walking like an egyptian and bring back pharaoh brown um but i mean dalton schultz is out there um gerald everett would be would be a

Starting point is 00:17:32 an interesting uh pick up at the age of 29 and a half you know um a nice year this year yeah he did and here here's the name for you that i'm going to throw out there. Irv Smith Jr., son of my good friend Irv Smith Sr., would look really good in a Patriots uniform and in whatever scheme the Patriots might want to bring back or evolve into here. I think Smith is somebody that would definitely fit the bill here and is not a huge name, at least not as big as dad. Irv Smith is someone that we talked about several times here on these airwaves when

Starting point is 00:18:14 he's coming out of the draft. And I think that would be an interesting pickup for the bats as well. You can probably get him on a reduced contract, something that you won't necessarily have to break the bank for. And he, I think, could give you maximum return on investment. That's one to watch, folks, but I agree with you. If I'm the general manager of the New England Patriots, I'm doing what I can do, what's mostly reasonable to do, to bring back Hunter Henry, because of the fact that this guy is well-versed in being able to succeed in any type of offense that you want to run here in New

Starting point is 00:18:46 England. He's not a phenomenal blocker, folks. I'm not going to sit here and pretend that he is, but he is better than some of the pundits will give him credit for. I think he can adapt and his ability to play the wide to me is the best right now that's out there on the open market. So my wishlist is Henry and Farrow and bring those guys back. We switch gears to the draft, Murph, because Leslie did ask about the draft as well. And there are players that will catch your sharp eye. Obviously, Brock Bowers is not happening. The Patriots are not using a first-round pick on a tight end. That's a luxury.

Starting point is 00:19:19 That's an absolute luxury to be able to. This is a top 10 pick. And it's somebody that, that if, if you're Cincinnati, even though Cincinnati has great, you know, that's the pick that they take there. If you're in that mold, if you're, you're somebody who's picking much higher than you probably should have been because of injury or intrigue or or or whatever for whatever reason and he is a um he is a final piece yeah to put you over the top you know it's it's like in the the 70s or 80s

Starting point is 00:19:55 and you you end up having um uh you know the vikings picks and and you're you're Dallas with the Viking yeah let's go ahead we'll take it we'll take another uh running back here or a tight end here but no that's that's not happening this year in in New England I agree with you and look there's a lot of reasons why you want to talk about Bauer's performance and his prowess folks you can talk about it as a pass catcher all day long a very good mismatch receiver I mean this guy can take what an opponent does and he can throw it back in your face and use it to his own advantage that's very rare in a receiver very rare in a tight end yeah excellent route running very good route runner good quickness um he gives you the yak he gives you the run after the catch the yards after the catch that you love one thing that worries me about Bowers in terms of being a franchise tight end, folks,

Starting point is 00:20:48 6'4", a lot of people will say undersized. I don't think undersized, but I do think that may lead to difficulty as an in-line blocker for him. So that's something to watch when it comes to Brock Bowers this season. Keep an eye on him and how he's able to adapt. That's the reason why i don't think it's worth it for the patriots to invest the first or maybe you know from trades or any there are a lot of different ways that you can work getting the player that you want

Starting point is 00:21:14 i don't think the patriots are going to go that route because you already have a player very similar in stature with the type of pro level experience you need in hunter henry so i think that would be a little bit more redundant. Murph, when you look at the top to bottom list on this tight end class, anybody else other than Bowers stand out for you that could be a good fit here in New England? Jatavion Sanders out of Texas. I want him. I do.

Starting point is 00:21:39 I want him in the third round. He's a fantastic talent, though he he, he's not, um, heralded for his blocking. I think he can play in, in line and spread out, uh, you know, and slot it out. Uh, he, he's the man, he, he's the guy that, that, that the Patriots should covet there in the third round, which might be a little early for him, but I don't mind rolling those dice on a talent that could be game-changing. Now, when I say game-changing, I don't mean Russ Francis here, people, okay? I don't mean Rob Gronkowski, but he's a guy that you could depend on here for the next five to seven years and be worthy of a second contract?

Starting point is 00:22:29 One guy that has caught my eye a little, but I think has more potential than he's shown on his college film, someone I'm going to be watching very closely at the Senior Bowl coming up this week, is Jared Wiley, a tight end out of TCU, 6'7", 260, very well-sized, had a pretty good season for the Horned Frogs this year, 47 receptions, 520 yards, eight touchdowns. I think a big player, someone that could be groomed into being that

Starting point is 00:22:57 Y-level tight end heir apparent to a guy like Hunter Henry. I really want to look forward to see what he's going to do at the Senior Bowl this week. Someone who I think can really show and increase his draft capital with a big showing this week. He also could be someone that could be laying in the weeds that the Patriots could take a late-round flyer on. So that's a guy I'm watching.

Starting point is 00:23:18 But bottom line, folks, there may be tight ends that you have your eye on. Drop a comment in the section below. We'd love to hear who you're watching as a Patriots potential pick in this upcoming NFL draft folks there are so many options for the Pats right now and so many positions of need but ultimately Leslie to answer your question I think the Patriots are better off going homegrown when it comes to tight endage talent and maybe seeing if you can pick up a diamond in the rough in the uh in the draft um i don't think it's your priority though in the draft there's a lot more to choose from yeah there is there is the they have to make different moves in the first and second rounds but i think as i said sanders would be great in the third round um kate stover

Starting point is 00:24:00 is somebody else to keep an eye on as the uh the, the, um, senior bowl season hits, uh, Benson, uh, and, uh, and, uh, Oh God, what's what's Dallian Holker. You know, he's, he's, he's another, he's, you know, he's a Colorado state kid. I haven't watched a lot of film on him, but what I've seen so far, I've liked. And of course, Leslie, thank you so much for that great question on tight endage. And you know what, Murph, it actually lends us quite nicely into our next question, because if the Patriots are not going to invest outside the organization to find tight endage, or at least according to our estimation, they won't, will they go outside the organization for a new pass catching back to support Ramond Ray Stevenson?

Starting point is 00:24:47 Ezekiel Elliott did a pretty good job of that this year with 51 catches, but will Zeke see elsewhere in 2024? If that happens, the Patriots do have a void there that they need to fill. How are they going to fill it? Murph and I are going to discuss that and more when this episode of the Locked On Patriots podcast wraps up right here on the Locked On Podcast Network, your team, every day. This next segment of Locked On Patriots is brought to us by our sponsor, BetterHelp.

Starting point is 00:25:16 And Locked On listeners, sometimes we all need the opportunity to get something off our chest. Whether it be big or small, certain things can really start to get to you and it's important to let that out especially to someone who's unbiased on your life today i want to say how i really feel about something and that is the emotional roller coaster of anxiety excitement and bittersweet feelings when it comes to the new england patriots and bill belichick parting ways after 24 amazing years. Gerard Mayo is already bringing a lot of excitement and anticipation to the Patriots.

Starting point is 00:25:50 And I don't want to speak for all of you out there, but for me personally, it is definitely bittersweet. I'm going to miss Bill Belichick, but like all of you out there, I'm anxious and I'm excited to see what Gerard Mayo can bring to the table. And what's important to remember here, folks, is that sometimes life can imitate art, or in this case, sports. Sometimes we have so many feelings on a particular subject that from one moment to the next, we're not quite sure how to act or feel. Therapy can be different for everyone. And let's face it, most of us have bigger problems than our favorite sports team. It's important to get things off your chest every once in a while. If you're thinking of starting therapy, give BetterHelp a try. It's important to get things off your chest every once in a while. If you're thinking of

Starting point is 00:26:25 starting therapy, give BetterHelp a try. It's entirely online, designed to be flexible and suited to your schedule. Visit betterhelp.com slash locked on to get 10% off your first month. That's betterhelp, H-E-L-P dot com slash locked on. Cats fans, thank you so much for joining us here today on Locked On Patriots. Spending time on your Monday and kicking off your week in style with hashtag Locked On Murph Monday. And of course, Mailbag Monday. Joining me as always is the legend himself, Thomas Murphy. And Murph, in the previous segments, we've talked coaching. We've talked tight endage but

Starting point is 00:27:05 I think this question now that comes up from another one of our valued everydayers is a question that not a lot of Patriots fans are asking but I think they should be because it's such an important part of crafting a solid NFL offense whether it's modern whether it's vintage you always need good solid firepower when it comes to your running back core and obviously Patriots still set at the top from Andre Stevenson will be your feature back folks as it should be but the Patriots always like to employ that backfield receiver that can change the complexity of an offense last Last season, Ezekiel Elliott, I think, did a pretty decent job of that. As we said in the previous segment, 51 receptions.

Starting point is 00:27:50 He led the team in receptions in 2023. Now, I understand the Patriots had their issues when it came to getting guys the ball and getting protection. So Pat's offense wasn't exactly a juggernaut, but that does speak very highly of Ezekiel Elliott. If Elliott chooses to return the patriots may already have their guy on staff but if not the patriots are probably going to need to go outside the organization because i think kevin harris still needs a year to still be considered that top third down option and maybe even a little

Starting point is 00:28:21 bit more seasoning as a pass catcher so thatats would be smart to either bring in a veteran or maybe bring in some help via the draft. And that's what our good friend Tucker wants to know. Bradyboy12 at Tucker Ross Con asks, Do you think Bucky Irving would be a good fit on the Pats for a pass catching back? Or what pass catching running back do you like for us in the draft or free agency Murph question is yours my friend yeah um I I love Bucky Irving as as a um as a pass catching back I think he would be a fantastic addition uh here in New England he's he's he he the kid has it all he really does he's he's probably you know in the top five backs in

Starting point is 00:29:08 this in this draft again if uh the Patriots are smart and they end up using a a pick uh in this they end up trading back and getting additional second round picks or third round picks, and they can move back up into the second round. Yeah. I, I, I think he would just be, you know, phenomenal and the people here in new England would really love it. I'm not, I'm not saying that, that he's going to be Mr. White, but you know, he could grow into something. Another guy that, that I have my, my eye on who's a pass catching

Starting point is 00:29:46 back in, in this, um, in this draft is Marshawn Lloyd out of USC. I think Lloyd would be fantastic. You know, you could grab Lloyd in the third round. He's a real sleeper in this year's class. And, um, he's, he has to be hands down the most physical back in this draft class, and he can also catch the ball out of the backfield. Yeah, without any question. Very good pull. Anytime that you can stand out at USC running the football, you know you're doing something special,

Starting point is 00:30:17 and you know that it's a situation where other teams are going to start to take a look at that. I agree with you. Irving is absolutely the gem of the crowd when it comes to pass catching backs. But this kid can run the ball as well. 6.3 yards per carry for 1,180 yards and 11 touchdowns. 56 catches for 413 yards and two touchdowns. This kid is not just an outlet receiver.

Starting point is 00:30:39 That's where he's going to find his niche, I think, in the pro game. But this is a kid that can do it all. And again, the Oregon connection, that's always an opportunity to see what these guys can do in the NFL. So I love Irving. I really think it would be a smart pick for the New England Patriots, but it's going to depend on their needs and it's going to depend on where he goes. I've seen Irving projected as high as an early second rounder. I haven't seen him projected in the first all that much, although I have seen some projections that have him possible late day one. I think that might

Starting point is 00:31:11 be a little bit of a stretch for this kid, but if you look at him and he's someone that goes early day two, yeah, that could be an issue for the Pats because I think other needs are going to be so poignant and so pertinent for the Patriots to address there. I think it's going to be a little bit difficult, but ultimately, Tucker, I don't think Murph and I would have a problem seeing him in a Patriots uniform. Not at all. I'm glad you mentioned diamonds in the rough because I did a little digging on Tucker's question, you know, over the weekend and tried to take a look at some players that may not be getting the press or the um social media attention that they deserve but i'll tell you who jumped out at me as someone that could potentially be a late round steal if

Starting point is 00:31:52 the patriots play their cards correctly yep and that is unh's dylan lauby a name that not a lot of people are talking about right now folks but this kid's got good size he's 6'1 225 good speed in the open field average 4.5 yards per carry on 715 yards on the ground nine touchdowns but here's where this kid jumps off the page to me as a receiver 68 catches 699 yards seven scores that's not even his best season. His best season actually came as a junior. He averaged 4.9 yards per carry, 1,205 yards, 15 touchdowns, and he caught 49 passes for that season for 464 yards and two scores as well. If he plays his cards right and he rises during the pre-draft workouts, during the opportunities that he's going to get to showcase his talent, folks, eye on this kid do not forget that name i would love to see him stay here in new england and remain in new england i know a lot of you are going to groan out there and say yeah he's

Starting point is 00:32:55 doing it at unh let's see him do it against pro level competition that's what pro days are for that's what this pre-draft workout cycle is there for i wasn't even thinking of my great work and i want to see what this kid can do when he's pressed when he's actually given pro level competition can he rise to that level i tell you his tape is electric and i really loved watching this kid um if if he shows if he shows up i'm you, the Patriots need to at least keep this kid on their radar. Exactly. And, you know, I wasn't even thinking him. And that's a fantastic point.

Starting point is 00:33:32 When people start talking about, you know, the level of the competition, they also don't consider the level of teammates that you're playing with. Okay, let's see what this kid can actually do with pro-level teammates, with that offensive line that's going to open up those holes, with that quarterback that's going to be able to hit him out of the backfield in stride and anticipate his next move. He's going to throw him open. That's a great, great great pick michael i wouldn't

Starting point is 00:34:06 mind seeing that at all i mean at all that that has patriot sixth round flyer on it you know all all day long fifth round you know roll of the dice let's see what this kid can do and god knows that the um the uh running back room needs a little bit of filling out. Yeah, absolutely. And you know what? Lowe could possibly do it. You know who else might be able to round that out, Murph? The type of player that I know you've loved to imply. I know you like the big round men up front, but Murph has a real penchant for scrappy running backs, guys that may be a little bit undersized, but have that tenacity, that intestinal fortitude, as the late great Gorilla Monsoon once said, to never give up on a play.

Starting point is 00:34:54 He loved Deuce Vaughn last year. I think that was a big blow by the Patriots. That really should have happened here in New England. You know, guys like J.J. Taylor, these guys that come in and give you everything 110 percent or if we talk some juniors here when it comes to this draft class yep how about frank gore junior southern miss 5 895 this kid is not well sized but boy i'll tell you is he a tough runner excellent instincts if you need help who's a better consigliere than his father, Frank Gore,

Starting point is 00:35:25 one of the best in the business, doing what he did for years. But, folks, he can do it. 4.9 yards per carry last year, 1,131 yards, 10 touchdowns, 27 catches, 221 yards, and three receiving touchdowns. If you want someone that's going to be a player that I think will give you 110%, Frank Gore Jr. might be worth a late-round player. And sign Sr. to a 10-day contract from the first week of the season. Absolutely. I guarantee you Frank can still play.

Starting point is 00:35:54 It would just be brilliant. If you did it, he'd probably take somebody's spot for the rest of the year. You would probably want him just to be in that running back's room for the rest of the year. It's fantastic. And then give him the ball at the goal line absolutely and you know what yeah you want to talk about fountain of youth players folks frank gore definitely epitomizes that tucker i know we've gone on and on about prospects in the nfl draft that we like in terms of guys that are out there on the open market i mean you could you could take flyers on guys like Austin Eckler, Tony Pollard. I mean,

Starting point is 00:36:27 these are great receiving backs. I think both are going to be priced out of your range. The Patriots have to allocate those funds, even though they've got about 69 million in available gap space, you've got to allocate that smartly and the Patriots need to go for positions of need. So as much as I love Eckler. If Eckler wanted to come in here for seven,

Starting point is 00:36:47 $8 million and I'd do it. I have people out here talking about throwing a bag at Saquon Barkley. You can't throw a bag at his position. You really can't. And as much as I would like to see Saquon Barkley, that money could be spent in so many different ways on so many different players to bring in people that you need, people that we talked about earlier in this show. Josh Jacobs is out there. Yeah, try to get that passed him.

Starting point is 00:37:14 Josh, you want to come here to New England? That's not going to happen. But Derek Henry is probably going to end up getting paid somewhere. This is not the place to spend money. It's really not. This is the place to draft people and bring them in and keep doing things the Patriot way, the Belichickian way, for lack of a better word. And that's an interesting point on Eckler as well,

Starting point is 00:37:39 because Eckler is coming in off of a down season. There's no question about it. We know the high ankle sprain in week one definitely hampered his ability to compete for the rest of the year. You look at what he did just one year earlier when fully healthy, set career highs in receptions with 107, 722 yards, five touchdowns, all from the receiving part of that backfield. I'm telling you folks, Austin Eckler can do it. Murph said, if you can get him on a reduced deal, I think you'd be hard pressed to find a better receiving back out there that could get into the Patriots system very well. I covered Austin during his time, the early days

Starting point is 00:38:15 in Los Angeles in 2017, 2018, and the kid works. He absolutely does. If you could bring him in here on a two-year fully guaranteed $16 million contract, I think that would be more than competitive. And I think that might be able to bring him in here, especially seeing the deep need for it. And using him as strictly a third down back with the guys that are already here, then it might be advantageous to him. The only thing is, you know, he's at the point in his career where we've talked about it before. There are two types of free agents on the planet, the ones that are looking to get paid and the ones that are looking for a title,

Starting point is 00:39:02 which is more important to him right now, wearing that ring or being able to buy the wife a ring when you need to. And ultimately, Austin or any free agent out there on the market, folks, is going to have to make that decision for himself heading into the 2024 NFL season. But Murph, once again, you absolutely blew the lid off a tremendous mailbag this week, folks. Major hat tips to Ted, to Leslie, and of course to Tucker for amazing questions this week.

Starting point is 00:39:30 And me, of course, personally, I appreciate this guy over on the other side of the screen because he's always there for the handoff and he always brings spot on information. Before I let you go, please let everyone know where they can reach out to you, interact with you, and watch a gut cooking in Murph's kitchen for the remainder of the week. Yeah, please follow along on X, on Zitter, on the artist formerly known as Twitter, at TeamMurph207. You can read my stuff over there at DieHardBostonSportsFans.com. Thank you so much for joining us today.

Starting point is 00:39:58 And definitely, folks, check him out at TeamMurph207. You'll always be very well informed by what Murph has to say. And who knows, folks, there's a really, really, really good chance you're going to see him again on these airways before the week is through. But in the meantime, I'm Mike DeBate. And on behalf of Thomas Murphy, I remind you to stay safe and to stay well and to be the change you wish to see in the world. Have a great day, everyone. And we'll see you back here again tomorrow on Locked on Patriots.

Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - New England Patriots Mailbag: Covington, Caley Coordinators? 2024 NFL Draft or Free Agency Targets?

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.