Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - New England Patriots: Mike Gesicki, Great Value? Jalen Mills, Cap Cut?

Episode Date: March 18, 2023

The New England Patriots continue to make moves to improve their roster for 2023. The Pats have upgraded their corps of pass-catchers by signing former Miami Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki to a team-friendly contract. However, they have increased their need at outside cornerback by releasing versatile defense back Jalen Mills. Joining host Mike D’Abate is Thomas ‘Murph’ Murphy to discuss the Patriots moves from Friday and what they mean for the future of the team.Find and follow Locked On Patriots on your favorite podcast platforms:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/locked-on-patriots-daily-podcast-on-the-new-england/id1140512627Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1c5ZxFmwg3WbfxAU3tR5Ve?si=k196wH-yRqifUcQQz8SjIQStitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/locked-on-patriotsAnd follow host Mike D’Abate on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the New England Patriots and talking with fans.On Twitter: @mdabateNFLSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.Ultimate Football GMTo download the game just visit Ultimate-GM.com or look it up on the app stores. Our listeners get a 100% free boost to their franchise when using the promo LOCKEDON (ALL CAPS) in the game store.FanDuelMake Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG(CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat(CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mike Kosicki is going to help the New England Patriots get back to the red zone, and he's going to do so at a pretty reasonable price. 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. Welcome back to another episode of the Locked On Patriots podcast.

Subscribe for free or follow on YouTube wherever you listen to podcasts to 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 Sports Illustrated. So reach out to me and let me know what's on your mind on Twitter at MDABATENFL. And while you're out there showing some love to the Twitterverse, please be sure to follow the Locked On Patriots account as well at LO underscore Patriots.

Today's episode of Locked On is brought to you by the all-new, all-electric 2023 Nissan Aria. The Nissan Aria, the EV for people who love to drive. Learn more at NissanUSA.com. Pats fans, your New England Patriots continue a remodeling of an offense

which struggled mightily in 2022. They signed free agent tight end Mike Gusecki one day after signing wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster. And, folks, it is definitely a good move for the New England Patriots. Gusecki is a pass catcher extraordinaire. I know I use that word a lot here on Locked On Patriots, mostly because I like the sound of the word, but he truly is someone that is going to be able to get you yardage

and definitely the size to get balls in the red zone. There's no question about it patriots are targeting a certain type of player they're definitely looking to increase their scoring and guys like juju and guys like mike kisecki will help them do that and he's coming to new england at a pretty good value one year contract worth up to nine million dollars and i know a lot of people went crazy when they heard the words up to nine million dollars and I know a lot of people went crazy when they heard the words up to nine million dollars immediately the naysayers swarm hit a fever pitch nine million for a backup tight end you know what you heard we don't have to get into all that right now but not

exactly as with most things if you just take the time get rid of the bile and look at the facts you'll discover that this move makes a ton of it's actually really a bargain for new england one year deal base value of 4.5 million dollars 3.55 of that million garrett's guaranteed 4.5 million in performance incentives that can push it to a maximum of nine million dollars little risk with with the New England Patriots here and the potential for high reward. So the Patriots upgrade their tight endage chart for a fraction of the price. Maybe Bill isn't asleep at the wheel after all. Interesting.

Not saying you have to agree one way or another. Just think about it. Some of the moves that the Patriots have made have made this team markedly better for 2023. I'm not saying they're done, but hopefully they're moving in the right direction. And there's a lot to like with Kosicki. If you start to really dissect this move, you'll see that it makes sense for New England in so many angles. Only 27 years old, still a young kid, still the ability to move throughout the field.

Originally came into the NFL as a a second round draft pick by the dolphins in 2018 five years with the organization proved himself to be a reliable starter for most of that great size on this kid 6'6 247 he appeared in 82 regular season and playoff games caught 233 passes 2632 yards receiving 19 touchdowns for the ex-Dolphin. And originally, or ironically enough, he was supposed to enter pre-agency last season. Dolphins chose to keep him in the fold using the franchise tag. He stayed put for 2022, but didn't really fit all that well into Mike McDaniel's scheme. And he was eventually replaced in the lineup.

And Durham Smythe came in. He ended up taking the starting role. And Kosicki kind of found himself fledgling a little bit. But he's going to the right area, the right place in New England to be able to resurrect his career. He's joining a group that already features Hunter Henry, and that's going to be the prolific pairing between these two. He's also got Matt Sokol and Scotty Washington on the practice squad.

Jonu Smith traded to the Atlanta Falcons a couple of days ago. We know that one is not going to get the return on investment. And Jonu is not being replaced by Gusecki. That's really, I think, an important thing to remember here. These two players are much different. Jonu was a much better blocker, but Mike Isiki does provide the versatility on offense to be able to make plays and fit in with a Bill O'Brien system. And to me, that's the other thing to remember here. Mike is coming into a system

where he is very well adept at being able to play under the type of offensive scheme that Bill O'Brien loves to employ. Ball protection, efficient running, spreading the ball to multiple sizable pass catchers, three skills that the Patriots didn't have last year, for lack of a better term. I fumbled to say that, trying to keep this a family show, but all kidding aside, they just weren't that good in that area last year. And we know that the Patriots have a lot of work to do to repair some of that offensive damage. Now, O'Brien and Gasicki have a past. They do have a connection there and it's a good one. It's not what was originally thought when a lot of people first heard this, they went up Penn State guy. He's got a connection of O'Brien. O'Brien, you know,

coached him. He's ready to go. They actually didn't play with one another, or I shouldn't say O'Brien didn't actually get the chance to coach Kisecki on field at Penn State. He recruited him into the university and really admired his skill set. And even after Bill O'Brien left in 2014 to take the Houston Texans job, he still continued to praise, really heavily praise Mike Kosicki as someone that not only came into Penn State and really had a great collegiate career there, but also someone that could come into the NFL and translate his skill at the next level. Now these two are going to get the chance to play alongside one another. Gusecki finally gets to get coached by O'Brien, and I think you're going to see the Patriots' offense really, really open up, especially with Hunter Henry and his route-running ability. Mike Gusecki finally gives you that threat in the red zone, and this is going to make those two tight ends a big part

of what the Pats want to do on offense this year. Folks, there's more to the Gusecki signing without any question. And to help break down the big news from Friday is the Don of Locked On Patriots. And he's going to pop in here in just a moment. The Count of Murphy, Fisto himself, E2G Sports own Thomas Murphy will help me break down Mike's on-field fit in New England. And we're also going to talk about the other big news from Friday to end the work week, the release of Jalen Mills.

Much more to come here on the pod, so please be sure to stay locked in to Locked On Patriots. But first, folks, today's episode is brought to you by Built. The Built March Madness bracket is here, and we know you have a favorite bar or a favorite Built Puff, and now's your time to make it count. So go to BuiltMarchMadness.com to vote for your favorites. You know my favorite's peanut butter brownie. I'm going to vote that in, but you have the chance to vote in your

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pick up a box while you're there you can vote every day in march so hop in and support your pick dot com built march madness dot com today patriots fans thank you once again for joining us here on locked on patriots don't forget locked on patriots is a proud part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day, and your New England Patriots continue to make moves here in free agency. The waning days of the initial wave of free agency, but the Pats are just getting warmed up, and we are just getting warmed up here on Locked On Patriots. As you can see, our good friend, Connor Murphy, Fisto himself,

the legendary Thomas Murphy of E2GSports.com, joining us here today. Murph, we're going to start by talking about additions and the addition that the Patriots made on Friday, clearly in the direction of improving the offense. Mike Gusecki coming in, very team-friendly deal when you actually look at the way this was broken down. Comes in for one year. This screams reclamation project maybe for mike a little bit and i think productivity and value for the patriots in year one he's not a replacement of johnny smith because obviously the patriots had a need there with johnny being traded but i think it's a different direction for the position

what do you think of this move did the patriots get the right guy for this tight end room? Yeah, I think they did. You know, Gusecki brings an aspect to the game that the Patriots have been missing for a few years. a a tight end in name that can play you know uh off ball outside just about anywhere you want to line them up just don't ask the man to block yeah i was very cautious in the analysis piece that i wrote for sports illustrated yesterday on mike and i said you know anyone expecting this to come in and be the second coming of gronk and her and Hernandez is probably going to be disappointed for the second time. A lot of people thought that when John came in and it was Hunter Henry and John Smith and they were going to be the next big tight end of tandem for the New England Patriots. It never quite worked out that way.

How much 22 did they run? Yeah, exactly. 18.6% in the first season. Only 18% in the second season. Yeah, it's not going to get it done. It's just not going to get it done. They were running 21, as you said, over 80% of the time, and it just did not work out.

Gronk and He Who Shall Not Be Named were a once-in-a-lifetime little situation there of fantastic drafting and for whatever reason, and I'm not going to get into anything else there, but that's when this offense was at its 22 height in 22 personnel, and it really has not come to fruition. People have been waiting for it and hoping for it ever since then. But it's not really something that the Patriots enjoyed running, no matter who they had on

the roster. And I still don't think that this move puts them back in 22 more than, say, 25% of the time, but that's still an upbeat over what was going on. Yeah, definitely an upbeat from what was going on. There's no question about that there. And you look at what he brings to the table in terms of Gusecki, and this one to me, like you said, Murph, doesn't necessarily mean a lot more of the 12 or the 22 personnel that you're going to see on the field.

But what it does mean is I think they're going to try to utilize the red zone again. You're seeing it in guys coming in, in Jujus McSchuster, obviously. These are the types of moves that players usually, or teams usually make when they want to get players that can make things happen inside the 20. the Patriots have been anemic in that regard for the past couple of seasons Gusecki's ability to power his way into contested catch situations his size his target ability as

athleticism is something that I think Mac Jones can really utilize to his advantage he'll get his touches in the red zone and I think that's where you're really going to see this kind of blossom into what we really have hoped for with the New England Patriots tight end situation is giving the opportunity for a runner like Hunter Henry to open up the field. And then you start going to Gusecki in the latter part, close it out. Both of these guys can make catches in the red zone, but gasecki gives them that target to do so that's it it's another option it's it's another uh um quandary for the uh for the opposition we all know the struggles that the patriots had inside the red zone to the point where i was cutting keys to take shots from outside the 20 into the end zone.

And the Patriots had a very difficult time throwing into the end zone last year, simply because, well, yeah, let's just put it frankly because of Matty P's, how should we say this politely, apprehension or his safe play once you got down into the red zone. There really weren't a lot of balls thrown. It was really four yards in a cloud of dust when you got down inside the 20 and inside the 10. I'm not sure how many dropbacks Mack had during last season, say, inside the red zone.

But they weren't enough. And this makes the Patriots much less predictable going into the season. Yeah, it really and truly does. And you talk about those contested catches opportunities, those red zone opportunities. Mike Gusecki has finished second among all tight ends in contested catches in both 2020 and 2021, his two most productive years as a Miami Dolphin. 61 catches.

Excuse me, 61 touchdowns would be incredible, folks. That'd be great. But we'll take the 61 catches. It's a lot better than what we've had here in New England. In contested catches in that situation New England ranking last in the NFL and red zone productivity in 2022 so you can definitely see how these two sides come together Murph I don't think we'd be doing our job here if we didn't mention the blocking situation you mentioned it a little bit earlier I think in some ways it gets a little overblown, but in some ways I also think it's underrated in terms of what it brings to the table. I always say virtue lies in the middle.

It's an important component of being a New England tight end. This is not other areas, folks. We don't glorify tight ends as being just glorified receivers. We actually need them to be able to do jobs. Now, Mike Kosicki is being brought in not to be a blocker and the evidence really I think just bears that out he does fall outside that Patriots prototype serve as either a run blocker or a pass protector just 20.6 percent of his offensive snaps for the New England Patriots in contrast John O'Smith recently In contrast, Jonu Smith, recently traded by the Pats, deployed as a run blocker on 56.9% of the snaps in 2022. So, you know, there's not going to be that blocking process. Of course, it is fair to say the other side.

Jonu Smith finished the season only with 27 catches, 245 yards. He is not someone that was tasked as a receiver. That was zero touchdowns and that that's you know that's really where you know you're you're going from there but how important is it for the new england patriots now to look at the position that they have and say we're going to go in a different direction here and try to bring in someone who's exclusively known as a blocker uh do you see them doing that by free agency, by the draft, or do you think they roll the dice and take their chances,

maybe going with a jumbo type tight end and beefing up more on the line? Yeah, I, I, it is the latter. I can see the Patriots possibly that the blocking tight end on a free agent market is, is not there right now. It's, it's truly not there. And people, please stop getting on the, on the Patriots this year for their, their lack of spending or the, the, the value of, of people that they're bringing in that, you know, the game breakers just aren't there. And it's not there as a blocking tight end either. From what i see left on on the market they could go after in the

draft i would love to see washington uh washington's name uh picked in at this year's day if we can you know get him in the second round kind of a a a trade up maybe um he's probably the best blocking tight end in in this in this class he's one of these he's my favorite tight end in, in this, in this class. He's one of these, he's my favorite tight end in the class, uh, the Georgia kid, but, um, no, I don't see another move at tight end being made right here. Um, it is important here. It's so important that, um, that, you know, we, we kind of beat our fists against our, uh, our chest trying to make Nikhil Harry a tight end from the moment that he was drafted. We all know how well he blocked. Nobody stuck it into an ear hole like Nikhil

Harry. You can't say too many nice things about him, but you could say that one about him. Yeah, you got to give him that. You got to give him that one. He's still a free agent, by the way. But with some of the moves that the Patriots have already made on the offensive line, I'm seeing a lot of jumbo. I really am in this coming season. Unless they make that move and draft Washington, draft him, do it. Yeah. You know, I mean, the merit is definitely there. Claire would absolutely love it.

You know that. There's no question whatsoever. You know, I mean, the merit is definitely there. Claire would absolutely love it. You know that. There's no question whatsoever. But with the number of needs that the New England Patriots have, I can probably see them going in a different direction in terms of that. And Washington is probably going to be off the board by the time they would fill those needs. You still think that offensive tackle is going to be a big position of need. Safety, I think they're going to try to run it back with what they've got at the starters, but I do see them bringing in a rookie

to kind of groom into that position. We're making Andrew Carraway's morning today because we're talking about a lot of Georgia Bulldogs. I've been on the Christopher Smith train for a long time. Folks, let me tell you, there is a lot of similarities between he and Devin McCourty. Not the guy that you need to spend first-round capital on. I think you could get him in the second or maybe even the third if you're very, very strategic.

Yeah, folks, keep an eye on that one. But in any case, I do believe that they have other positions of need. And one of those other positions of need, folks, might be the cornerback position. Murph, you saw yesterday that the Patriots are down one member of their defensive backfield, a solid player, a guy that I really hate to see go, but when you look at the productivity and the cap savings, this one might make a whole lot of sense. Murph and I are going to talk about the release of quarterback Jalen Mills in just a moment when this episode of the Locked On Patriots podcast continues. But first, folks, today's episode brought to you by our good friends over at

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of E2GSports.com. Once again, Murph, the late great Bobby Darin once said, multiplication, it's the name of the game. And the Pats are multiplying pass catchers, offensive weapons potentially, with James Robinson in the game. And the Pats are multiplying pass catchers. Offensive weapons potentially. They have James Robinson in the mix.

Patriots are making moves to upgrade their offense. But they're also making subtractions. And yesterday's subtraction surprised some people. But I have to be honest, Murph, and I think we're like-minded in this. I'm not going to try to tip your hand here. This didn't shock me as much as it shocked or seemed to shock others on social media with the release of Jalen Mills. My takeaway on Jalen here, this is a solid player.

I think he gave 110% every time he stepped on the field. But again, the one ability he just couldn't seem to embody was that old ability that Bill Parcells used to squawk about every single day, availability. And the Patriots opted for cap savings here and maybe for greener pastures and other routes. What was your takeaway on Jalen Mills being released by the team? Right move, wrong move for New England. Nine missed games in two seasons.

Nine. That's it. Okay. You you know it just goes back to your original point uh the best ability is availability and he just wasn't available uh enough and it was kind of poetic you know that the green goblin was let go on saint patrick's day uh yeah but that is that's irony that really it's irony right right there. I fail to look at it from that perspective. Can't help it. Murphy can't help it. That's it.

Gotta love it. But yeah, Mills was solid when he was on the field. He was productive when he was on the field. He's not somebody that you could depend on to shut down the better wide receivers in the league, but he was fine with help over the top. The only problem is that the Patriots haven't had a true number one DB. I'm just going to put DB now whenever I'm talking about anybody covering anybody with any kind of speed in New England because it's just so mix and match.

And they need that guy. It's not Jalen Mills. And they took the cap savings over the man. You know, tip of the hat to you. He went out there and, like you said, gave it his all on every single snap. It just was not enough compared to uh the the price tag that that he carried yeah without any question and that price tag is pretty hefty folks when you take a look at it um and you look at the value that the patriots were getting back we talk a lot about roi roy

return on investment however you want to put it. The Patriots were not getting that. And Jalen Mills, he carried a $6.21 million cap heading into the 2023 season. Most of that comes off the books with the release. Creates a net cap savings of $4.09 million. Tip of the cap, nod to the gods to Pat's cap. I don't know how he does it. That guy is absolutely a machine when it comes to this.

Really, really impressive, the work that he does each and every week, really, with the Patriots salary cap. But especially this week, this is his time to shine. And if you're not following, definitely do so at Pat's Cap. He gets the endorsement of everybody. The guy is just tremendous. But he had a dead money charge of $1.25 million. So, Patriots now are looking at Jalen and saying, okay, well, we've got the opportunity to clear some cap space.

We've learned that we can exist on the field without his services, and I think that's kind of what led to his exodus here from New England. Now, the Patriots look at their cornerback situation now. You've got guys that can play on the outside. You've got guys that can play on the outside. You've got guys that can play in the slot. What you don't have a whole lot of is size on this cornerback depth chart. I guess that's the best way to put it. You have to think that the Patriots are looking out there for guys that can come in,

maybe be a true physical imposing presence on the perimeter. I think that's where they're going. Do you think that's where they're focusing their attention right now in trying to replace Jalen Mills? Yeah, it really is. They're going to look for that prototypical six foot one, six foot two type of guy, probably coming up in this draft, somebody that they can grab in the second round. And the shutdown, it's a lot to ask of a rookie to come in and be that guy, but they've got to get him on the roster somehow.

And again, the pickings are getting kind of slim out there on the outside. It really is. And there just is not a... There isn't that shut down kind of guy, unless it's via trade, that the Patriots are going to be able to bring in. It's just not left out there. It's true. It really isn't. And I think for so long,

we were so spoiled by what Stephon Gilmore gave you at that position. A true lockdown corner. Now, there's a difference between a lockdown and a ball hawk, folks. You know, you see the difference, the dichotomy. J.C. Jackson is a ball hawk. He's got a nose for the football. He can go after it. But in terms of being able to beat him in coverage or find ways to be able to poke holes in his game, a quarterback that's savvy enough is going to be able to do that. With a guy like Gilmore who just locks down his opponent, always in lockstep, that's really where the term comes from, and being able to stay with his target is truly a gift that you don't see all the time. And it's something that really makes him and guys like him stand out above the rest.

I don't see a guy like that on the Patriots roster right now. Jack Jones is definitely more of a ball-out type corner. I love the energy he brings. I hope they iron out all their stuff with the team this year in the offseason because I'd love to see what he can bring you in year two. Jonathan Jones, one of my favorite guys on the team, so glad to see him back. But at the same time, you're right. they do need a little bit of an infusion and maybe some size on the perimeter if they're looking for that.

And this draft class does have depth to it when it comes to the cornerback position, so maybe they can get a guy in here that they can really utilize in year one. But that's a big ask. That's a very, very big ask for a uh to come in and be able to live up to expectations especially expectations i really think that we're set for gilmore i think still people are still chasing that ghost right now we talk about the ghost of tom brady and the specter of that hanging over the quarterback position um i don't think gilmore's impact on the cornerback position was as indelible as what Brady left here, obviously.

But it does leave some big shoes to fill. So hopefully the Pats will be able to go back in. Murph, obviously, we love to look ahead. We're doing so. We've done so pretty much all day today, talking about Mike Gusecki, talking about Jalen Mills. But before I let you go, my friend, you put on your general manager hat for the New England Patriots. You're sitting in the front offices of one Patriots place. You're looking at the vast world still out there, free agency draft, things of that nature.

But we'll localize this to free agency just to be on the safe side. Which position, which area of the team are you looking to go to next to infuse some veteran savvy into this group for 2023? You know, honestly, I'm still looking around the free agent market for a cornerback. You know, Byron Jones is still out there, Marcus Peters, they're getting a little longer in the tooth, but that seems to be the way the Patriots are going right now. And we're talking about a veteran here. These guys are only 30 years old. Shaquille Griffin is still out there. We could talk about him for a little bit. But, you know, this move really puts to the forefront what the Patriots did in last year's draft with the Joneses. And I think this is a good sign for Jack Jones.

All right. My man, Jack Jones, he's got, he's, he had a little bit of a hiccup there at the end of last year with Bill, but he's still a young guy, still under contract. And I think that he could do a good job. And of course the Patriots could also go after that tall, shut down press man guy in the draft. You could find him in the second or even the third round. Yeah, I think you're right on the money there in terms of them looking in the secondary for veteran help. It may be in the cornerback position. It may be in the safety position. We're hearing an awful lot out of L.A. Rams safety Taylor Rapp coming in in here having a pretty good visit with the patriots um these things kind of look like uh they're moving in that direction nick scott was

someone who apparently the patriots had their eye on he visited the cincinnati bengals on friday he signs with them so now all of a sudden rap i would much rather have rap i would absolutely as well there's a hard-hitting kid that comes in, a little bit of an attitude. I think the Patriots would definitely benefit from his presence in that secondary. But ultimately, folks, it's going to be up to the New England Patriots. It's going to be up to them exactly what they want to do to bring in new talent here in New England. And we're going to continue to do our due diligence to bring you the very latest as quickly as we can here on Locked On Patriots to

let you know the very latest comings and goings from Foxborough. And I thank you, my good friend, for joining me every week here. Book ending the week, he always opens the week in style, helps us close the week in style, but folks we're not done yet. A special edition of Locked On Patriots coming your way

late Saturday evening, early Sunday morning. Taylor Kyles of CLNS Media breaks down the week that was here in New England. And we know Taylor is as great as anyone at X's and O's. Going to have some big-time questions for him. So make sure to bookmark Locked On Patriots. Download, subscribe to, follow wherever you get your podcasts. My man, what can I say say i thank you so much for joining me today murph before i let you go please let everyone know where they can absorb your

wisdom and counsel all weekend long whether it's pats related socks related anything at all uh the floor is yours my friend please let us know uh what to expect you my great and the great voice of thomas murphy i've got a nice little puff piece up there today about the Red Sox shunning the Kelly Greens yesterday on St. Patrick's Day. The first time in almost 20 years that the Patriots did not wear green. You can catch that over at E2GSports.com. Of course, I'm going to have some roster breakdown stuff coming this week. And of course I might dip my toe back into, into Patriots land. Now that,

that we're, we're in full draft mode here and cut some monster keys to the Patriots draft. Absolutely folks. And in that vein in draft related information, please don't forget to send in your mock draft. Send them into myself at MDA, DAT, E NFL. You can send them into Murph as well at teamwork, two Oh seven, Please don't forget to send in your mock drafts. Send them in to myself at MDABATENFL.

You can send them in to Murph as well at TeamMurph207. Or our preferred method of communication, send it in to the Locked On Patriots account at LO underscore Patriots. Pats fans, thank you for each and every day making Locked On Patriots your first listen every day. Now make your second listen, the brand new Locked On NFL Scouting Podcast with the Draft Dudes. From free agency to the draft, salary cap management and more, join NFL experts and my good

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Network, your team every day. And folks, once again, thank you for making Locked On Patriots a daily part of your New England Patriots coverage. On behalf of the Count of Murphy Fisto himself, I'm Mike DeBate. Continue to stay safe, stay well, be the change you wish

to see in the world. Have a great day, everyone, and we'll see you next week, right here on Lockdown Patriots. Don't trade for old men.