Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - Stronger: Patriots Skill Players’ Ranking Revealed | Are They Top-10?!

Starting point is 00:00:00 The Pats off season makes this offense a top 10 units. So let's rank them against the rest of the league. This is Locked-on Patriots. You are Locked-on Patriots, your daily New England Patriots podcast. Part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day. What's happening? I am your host, Nick Cattels. On today's episode, trying to find a reasonable solution for Christian Gonzalez's situation.

Starting point is 00:00:33 In the second segment, lots of eyes. and should be on Corey Durdin this summer. But first, comparing the Pat's offensive skill positions to everyone across the NFL. Patriots offense is as good as it's been on paper since 2018. The combination of talent in coaching staff tells us that. But Bill Barnwell of ESPN recently wrote about his top skill position offenses across the league. Now, he actually went from 32 to number one. We don't have the time to do that.

Starting point is 00:01:06 But I will tell you that Bill Barnwell had the Patriots ranked 10th overall in the NFL at the skill position. So the first thing before we get into this exercise that we have to recognize is the fact that Drake May is not a part of this conversation. We are taking the quarterback out. This discussion is about running back, wide receiver, and tight end. Where would you have the Patriots rank? Again, Bill Barnwell has them 10th overall in the league. And I actually think that it's a fair ranking. Now, let's think about the teams.

Starting point is 00:01:42 The teams that are in my estimation, no doubt better than the Patriots at running back, tight end, and wide receiver. When you combine those three positions, I would say that there's not much doubt the Los Angeles Rams are better than the Patriots. Pukina Koua, Devante Adams, one-two combination, Kairn Williams. Kieran Williams in the backfield. I would lean towards the Rams. I would also say the Detroit Lions,

Starting point is 00:02:09 no doubt better than the Patriots on paper when you look at running back, tight end and wide receiver. Bill Barnwell, I believe, has Detroit number one overall and the Rams number two, by the way. But with the Lions, you've got Jamar Gibbs, you've got Amman Ross St. Brown. You have James and William, Sam Laporta. I mean, that team has absolutely loaded

Starting point is 00:02:30 at those positions. Cincinnati. Yes, I would put Cincinnati ahead of the Patriots. Jamar Chase, T. Higgins, Chase Brown as running back. I'm not going to sit there and wax poetic about Mike Gassicki after what we saw him doing New England, but I do think Cincinnati gets the nod over the Patriots, Atlanta. Now, I don't believe in the quarterback position with the Falcons. Who would believe in Michael Penix? Who would believe in Tua, Tua, but I do believe in their running back, Bejan Robinson,

Starting point is 00:03:00 one of the best in football. I do believe in their tight end, Kyle Pitts, one of the best in football. I do believe in Drake London, who was a really good number one receiver. So I would put the Atlanta Falcons ahead of the Patriots. I would also put Dallas. And look, I know Dallas is polarizing. I don't want to talk about Dallas. You don't want to talk about Dallas.

Starting point is 00:03:18 But for this conversation, we have to, you guessed it, talk about Dallas. C.D. Lamb, George Pickens, Javante Williams, people sleeping on Javante Williams. Go check out his numbers from the number. this past season. Even Jake Ferguson at tight end. The Cowboys loaded at the skill positions, the Philadelphia Eagles. Even trading A.J. Brown to the Patriots, the Philadelphia Eagles, I would say, are better than the Patriots at the skill position. Sequan Barclay, I mean, Ramon Andre Stevenson, I like him a lot, not even close to Seqquan Barkley. Devante Smith, newly drafted Mackay Lemon. I think that is a dangerous one and two. Dallas,

Starting point is 00:04:00 Otter versus Hunter Henry. You're getting closer, but I would give Philadelphia the edge. Here's a team that would surprise you. Because frankly, when I looked at Bill Barnwell's list and I saw this team in the top 10, I at first shook my head like, wait, what? Huh? Really? And then I thought about it for a second and said, you know what?

Starting point is 00:04:22 Bill Barnwell's right. The Arizona Cardinals. Again, this is a conversation that we are subtracting the quarterback from. The Cardinals, unless you played fantasy football last year, I don't know if you know about Michael Wilson, but he was actually better than Marvin Harrison Jr. last year. Michael Wilson, Marvin Harrison, Jr. Then the Cardinals, of course, drafted Jeremiah Love from Notre Dame in this year's draft. He is the best running back in the draft. I think if he stays healthy, this guy legit has Hall of Fame talent. Jeremiah Love is a tremendous running back. And then you've got one of the best tight ends in football, Trey McBride.

Starting point is 00:05:01 So even though at first glance, you might kind of shake your head, scratch your head about the Arizona Cardinals being in this discussion, but they're absolutely not only in this discussion. They are above the Patriots at the skilled positions. So you've got the Rams, you've got the Lions, you've got the Bengals, you've got the Falcons, you've got the Cowboys, you've got the Philadelphia Eagles, you've got the Arizona Cardinals. Those are 17. teams. And so when you put the Patriots like Bill Barnwell did at 10, I think it's fair. I think that is fair. Now, let's look at some of the teams that are close calls. The Minnesota Vikings. Of course, you go to wide receiver first and Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison and Joanne Jennings, clearly better than the Patriots. But what about tight end? T.J. Hawkinson versus Hunter Henry.

Starting point is 00:05:54 How about running back? You've got Jordan Mason and Aaron Jones. Now, I would say, personally, I would say that Minnesota edges the Patriots out because they're so good at wide receiver. Seattle, Jackson Smith and Jigba, Rashid Shahid, A.J. Barner, and rookie Judarian Price from Jeremiah Love's Notre Dame,

Starting point is 00:06:21 I would have Seattle behind the Patriots. JSN is fantastic. But Rashid Shaheed, he's a nice toy, and you can kind of look at him and envision him doing some damage within this offense, but I'm not really buying it. Not yet anyway. And I know some people will say,

Starting point is 00:06:43 well, you know, Romeo Dobbs, Nick, he hasn't played for the Patriots. I get it. But I would bank on Romeo Dobbs, being more consistently part of the game plan in New England than I would with Rashid Shaheed in Seattle, especially with the change at offensive coordinator in Seattle. So I'd put the Patriots slightly ahead of the Seahawks. And here's another team that might surprise you being a part of this conversation,

Starting point is 00:07:08 but the New York Jets. I mean, Brees Hall is a very good running back. Garrett Wilson is a legitimate number one receiver. They drafted Omar Cooper Jr. They drafted Kenyon Sadiq. Now, I would also put the Patriots. it's ahead of the Jets because the Jets, we haven't seen Omar Cooper Jr. play a single down in the NFL. Same can be said for Kenyant Sadiq. So even though we think those guys are going to be good,

Starting point is 00:07:33 we haven't seen either of them play at the NFL level just yet. So where would I put the Patriots as far as skill position in the NFL? I would put them ninth on this list. I think Arizona and Minnesota edge them out. And I think the Patriots edge out Seattle and the Jets. And then you have the clear, you know, six teams or so in front of Arizona and Minnesota. So I'd put Arizona seven. I'd put Minnesota eight. And then the first six teams we discussed, the Rams, the Lions, the Bengals, the Falcons, the Cowboys, the Eagles, Cardinals, those teams would be in my top six. And the thing I, I, I, kind of ran into when I was looking at all of these teams and trying to break down the

Starting point is 00:08:25 skill positions, we have to acknowledge that the Patriots, they still need to build out the long term of this offense. Ramon J. Stevenson is 28 years old. Hunter Henry is 31 years old. A.J. Brown is 29. And that's why the 25 draft, this year's draft, the next couple of drafts, are critical to the operation. Because even though to me, the Patriots have a top 10 offense at the skill positions, and obviously when you include Drake May, their offense is even better, you look at the specifics, you look at the ages, and you realize that offensively with Ramandre, Stevenson, Hunter, Henry, and A.J. Brown,

Starting point is 00:09:09 this is really a two-year window. You've got to build behind those guys. And obviously you would hope that Trayvion Henderson is the answer behind Remandre, Stevenson. You would hope, of course, that Eli Rairding gets it going by 2027 and is the answer to replace Hunter Henry. And I guess we can all cross our fingers and hope that Kyle Williams hits another gear and eventually is that replacement for AJ Brown. Coming up, Corey Durdin is one of the most important paths in this year's camp. This is Lockdown Patriots, part of the Lockdown podcast network. Now the number one sports podcast network, your team.

Starting point is 00:09:48 every day. Workplace chaos can show up fast. The problem is that finding the right candidate can take a lot more time than most businesses can afford. That's where indeed sponsored jobs comes in. Indeed, sponsored jobs helps you reach candidates who actually fit what you're looking for based on skills, experience, and location. Finding the right person can make all the difference, whether it's building a business or building a winning team. Spend less time searching and more time actually interviewing candidates who check all your boxes. Less stress, less time, more results. When you need the right person to cut through the chaos,

Starting point is 00:10:25 this is a job for Indeed sponsored jobs. And listeners of this show will get a $75 sponsored job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at Indeed.com slash podcast. Just go to Indeed.com slash podcast right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Indeed.com slash podcast. Terms and conditions apply. need to hire. This is a job for indeed sponsored jobs.

Starting point is 00:10:57 The Patriots have one of the best interior defensive line combinations and all of football with Milton Williams and Christian Barmore. But Corey Durdin is the guy that we will be watching this July and August. Thank you for making us your first listen and for being an everydayer. Get your daily Patriots fix completely ad free by joining the Everydayer Club today. Start your seven day free trial right now and get closer to your team without the interruptions. Click the link in the show notes or go to lockdown patriots. com to claim your free trial.

Starting point is 00:11:28 Also don't forget as you watch us on YouTube to like, comment, and subscribe. All of those things will help us build this community and attack that YouTube algorithm. All right, nose tackle number one is a critical spot over the next couple of months to figure out. Kyrie's Tonga was the guy last year. Caii's Tonga, of course, as we know, he gone. Milton Williams, Christian Barmore, again, they are as talented as pretty much 98% of the duos in the NFL. You can look down in Dallas, you can look in Philadelphia, maybe a couple of other teams, but that combination on the interior is right up there near the top of the league.

Starting point is 00:12:12 But the other part of Milton Williams and Christian Barmore is both guys have injury questions. Milton Williams missed five games last year due to injury. He was playing more than he had ever played at the NFL level and missed five games. Christian Barmore, we know he has to be managed. Post issue that he had with the blood clots in 2024, I don't know if Christian Barmore is ever going to be a guy that's playing a ton of snaps for you. You've got to manage him. And if you don't manage him, he's going to be incredibly inconsistent.

Starting point is 00:12:44 I mean, he was inconsistent last year. And he was managed. Now, weeks ago, I talked about Joshua Farmer possibly stepping up and being that third guy in the rotation, being that top nose tackle. But the guy who is number one right now is Corey Durden. Corey Durdon right now is your top nose tackle in camp. And as a matter of fact, Mike Vrable during mandatory mini camp, he said that. quote, Lenny T. Leonard Taylor worked with us. Eric Gregory worked with us. These guys are proving that they want to be there. Josh Farmer is back healthy. But Corey, I think probably came out of last

Starting point is 00:13:27 year, would be Kyrie's Tonga's replacement on paper. Again, there will be a competition in training camp, but I think that's a good group. The lines of scrimmage are critical, unquote. So Mike Vrable telling us that on paper, coming out of last. year, Corey Durdon is your nose tackle number one. He's the guy that right now is being asked and tasked to replace Kairi's Tonga. And Corey Durdin could absolutely take a big step in 2026. When you look back at the numbers from Durdon, his play surged at the end of the year. Pete Collins from Foxfellas podcast.

Starting point is 00:14:12 He actually posted Dirden played 383 defensive snaps last season, and he played 30 plus snaps in seven of the final eight games. So what you saw from Durdon as the year went on is a guy who kept getting more and more and more and more opportunity. And again, a shout out to Pete Collins from the Foxborough Fellows podcast who had that note. But you look at Cory Durdon's snap rate. You look at what he was doing in 30 plus snaps in seven of the final eight games. That's a guy who the coaching staff was saying, we've got to play him more. Mike Rable talking about Cory Durdon.

Starting point is 00:15:04 This is from Alex Barth, asked if he wants to see Cory Durdon step up this year, after losing Kyrie's Tongan Free Agency, Mike Vrable replies, quote, I think Corey already did, unquote, which again goes in line with his playing time. Mike Vrable is not trying to pump the tires of Corey Durdon. He's not trying to sell us on Corey Durdon, because the fact is,

Starting point is 00:15:27 Cory Durdin, who joined this team out of nowhere, ended up playing 30 plus snaps in seven of the final eight games. So that's not just talking about it, that's being about it. Mike Vrable and the staff said, nope, we're going to keep playing this dude. The staff trusted him. And when you have this coaching staff with Mike Vrable and Zach Corr and Terrell Williams and Clint McMillan, the defensive line coach, when you have that coaching staff, that particular coaching staff,

Starting point is 00:15:58 who I think is very, very good and very good at evaluating talent with tons of experience, When you have that coaching staff standing by someone like Corey Durdon and playing him more and more and more as the year goes on, as he's learning your system, he's getting his feet wet with everything. I mean, that speaks volumes. And not only was Corey Durdon's snap rate going up and up throughout the season leading to the 30 plus snaps in seven of the final eight games. Obviously, with the Patriots making a run to the Super Bowl, those were the most. the most important games of the year. I mean, he's not just playing, oh, well, he had a stretch, right? He had a stretch where he played 30 plus snaps, seven out of eight games.

Starting point is 00:16:46 Okay, that's good. But when you think about this particular team in 2025, who made a run to the Super Bowl, and you think that Corey Durdon was a guy who was playing 30 plus snaps in seven of the final eight games, the biggest games, the biggest stakes. And he's out there, and he's playing a lot of, of football. So why did Corey Durdon play as much as he did, especially towards the tail end of the

Starting point is 00:17:13 season? It's because, A, he gets significant push on the quarterback. Doug Kide wrote this recently. Corey Durdon had the fourth highest pro football focused pass rush grade among defensive tackles last year, generating 30 pressures on 265 dropbacks, only Jeffrey Simmons, Chris Jones, and Malik Collins graded higher. Now, I looked this up, and from what I saw, Pro Football Focus had Corey Durdon as the eighth best past Rush grade. But it still stands to reason. When Corey Durdon was out there, when he was out there,

Starting point is 00:17:55 and I would imagine that the 265 dropbacks are less than some of the other guys that we just mentioned, the Jeffrey Simmons is of the world, the Chris Joneses of the world. But when Corey Dirden's, was playing football for your New England Patriots, he was getting after the quarterback. When you look at the pro football focus past rush grade, he was in the top 10 at his position.

Starting point is 00:18:18 So that's why he played football. That's why he was getting snaps because he was a headache for the interior offensive line. So you could look at somebody like Corey Durdent and say the arrow is absolutely pointing up. He's only 27 years old. He should be. jogging right straight into his prime.

Starting point is 00:18:40 So you should expect him second year in the system, the confidence that he picked up from last year, his performance as the year went on, you should expect him to take a step. Now, I don't know if it'll be a significant step. I mean, he came out of high school as one of the best defensive tackle recruits in the country, according to Mark Daniels of Mass Live

Starting point is 00:19:05 before Durden committed to Florida State. He was a four-star recruit out of high school. So he was seen as a very talented dude. Now, of course, that's out of high school. You've got to get to college. That's a different level. NFL a different level. Not like Corey Dernan was drafted in the first round, right?

Starting point is 00:19:23 I mean, inevitably, you can talk about somebody's high school career and high school potential. But Corey Dernan was an undrafted guy in 2023. But it doesn't mean that he just lost all of that potential. potential lost all of that raw talent. And we saw some of those flashes last year. And I would look at somebody like Corey Durdon, and I would look at his background. I would look at what he did last season and how he got better as the season went on.

Starting point is 00:19:57 And I would bank on this coaching staff to make him even better in 2026. And I also think it matters when you are surrounded by other talented players. Corey Durding can learn from Milton Williams. He can learn from Christian Barmore. Now, if Durdon is going to replace Kyrie's Tonga, he has to be better against the run. And that's where I'm going to be paying the most attention to. Those joint practices, preseason games a little bit,

Starting point is 00:20:29 but he has to step up against the run. Because last year, Corey Durdon was ranked 52nd in the NFL and run defense grade at 57.5 per PFF. So yes, he gets after the quarterback. He generates that pressure. The arrow could be pointing up, but he has to be better against the run because we know Kyrie's Taga was very good against the run.

Starting point is 00:20:55 If the Pats fail to get Christian Gonzalez signed to an extension, there's another option that could keep everyone happy. That and more next. This is Lockdown Patriots, part of the Lockdown Podcast. network, your team every day. You know, we have been solely focused on a Christian Gonzalez extension, but there could be a middle ground that keeps everyone happy in 2026. Also another positive update on Will Campbell's offseason as he prepares for the biggest

Starting point is 00:21:33 year to this point of his football career. Thanks for checking out the lockdown podcast network. Now the number one sports podcast network, your team every day. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe. Christian Gonzalez, still no contract. as of this recording. Devon Witherspoon of Seattle, still no extension for him. And we've had that conversation in prior podcasts, Devin Witherspoon and Christian

Starting point is 00:21:59 Gonzalez, they have the same agency. And so which one happens first? We're all waiting to see. Now, I don't think there is much of an argument that the Patriots have more leverage than Christian Gonzalez. Yes, you want Christian Gonzalez on the field. You are much better with him than without him. And that is a level of leverage.

Starting point is 00:22:23 But the Patriots, they can look at this and say, Christian Gonzalez has two years left on his contract. And then if we have to franchise him, we can franchise him in 2028. We have his fourth year. We picked up his 50 year option. And we can tag him in 2028, worst case scenario. So they could not do anything for the next three years, technically.

Starting point is 00:22:52 Another thing the Patriots could point to, and Mike Reese mentioned this at ESPN.com over the weekend, there have been other cornerbacks, highly respected cornerbacks, that had to wait. As Mike Reese reminds us, other top cornerbacks in recent years who didn't receive a contract extension until their fifth season include Trent McDuffie, J. C. Horn and A.J. Terrell Jr. Those three guys who were seen as three really good cornerbacks, they didn't get that payday until year five. So what could the Patriots do? What could Christian Gonzalez's camp do if there remains a stalemate?

Starting point is 00:23:40 Well, Mike Reese also wrote about a possible middle ground. And I know Greg Bedard has also mentioned this to me, during our podcast that we do. Reese wrote, the question seems to be whether Christian Gonzalez gets a big money extension or more of a temporary solution such as an increase to his 2026 salary that buys the sides more time to negotiate. So what Mike Reese is saying is you don't have to give Christian Gonzalez that big fat contract extension.

Starting point is 00:24:10 You can give him a bump in 2026 that will make him happy, that will make you happy, you didn't give him the tens of millions of dollars guaranteed. Let him play out 2026. Let him continue to prove himself as one of the best young corners in football. Then you can go back to the negotiating table next offseason. And the middle ground in a vacuum makes a ton of sense because theoretically, Gonzalez is okay with it. The team is okay with it.

Starting point is 00:24:42 And you just move forward without getting dragged into. a contract dispute, make sure the negotiation doesn't turn super ugly. But the problem with this is that the Drake May bill is eventually going to come due. And I have mentioned this and I will continue to mention this. The Patriots, I think it would be stunning if the Patriots did not give Drake May his contract extension next offseason. Now we have to see how 2026 goes and pray to the football gods, he stays healthy, yada yada. But if all things continue to go down this road, Drake May is going to get his extension next off season.

Starting point is 00:25:24 So if you're going to give Christian Gonzalez a bump in 2026 to make him happy, happy enough to play this season, then I'm not sure you're doing that to revisit his contract next off season. Because I don't think the Patriots are going to want to pay Christian Gonzalez and Drake May in the same offseason. I don't even know how much guaranteed money that would be. Hundreds of millions of dollars. And so if the Patriots find this middle road with Gonzalez, I actually think it could

Starting point is 00:26:04 be more likely that the Patriots eventually trade Christian Gonzalez down the road versus extending him down the road. Now, I think he's going to get extended. I think he's going to agree to an extension at some point in July, maybe early August. I still think it's going to get done. But if this is the pathway, if the Patriots say we're going to give you a bump for 2026, I don't think that bump leads to the extension Gonzalez is going to want next year. Let's update you on Will Campbell.

Starting point is 00:26:46 So last week, we discussed. Will Campbell being the second most important Patriot in 2026. And of course, we discussed why development is absolutely necessary for Will Campbell this season. Well, Mike Giardy had an update on Will Campbell at Boston Sports Journal. Giardy wrote, Will Campbell has been at Rook's performance in Oklahoma, working out at the facility co-founded by Eagles All-Pro Lane Johnson. Among the stars and attendance have been Lane Johnson, Tristan Wirthes, Dionne Dawkins, and Creed Humphrey. Those are, you know, four of the best offensive linemen in all the football folks.

Starting point is 00:27:30 Giardy writes, there's no doubt the number four pick in the 2025 NFL draft is doing everything he can to reinforce the notion that he's Rables left tackle now and in the future. Now, is this a guarantee that he's going to improve? Of course not. But remember, right after the Super Bowl, when everybody was crushing Will Campbell, there were a number of veteran offensive linemen that went to Twitter and posted that they thought Will Campbell's issues were more about technique than arm length or anything that couldn't be fixed. So I am fascinated to see Will Campbell's growth.

Starting point is 00:28:13 And he's doing what he should be doing. He's working his took us off. Evan Lazar says he looks like he's bigger. It looks like he put on some weight, some muscle on his frame. Mike Vrable mentioned, you know, he's been working on his technique, and now we have some detail. He's going to Rook's performance in Oklahoma. And he's doing this in between mini camp and camp.

Starting point is 00:28:35 And he's going to this performance center in Oklahoma, co-founded by All-Pro Lane Johnson, to work with Johnson in a number. number of the best offensive linemen in the league. And I would just have to imagine if you have football IQ and you have work ethic and you're working with that type of talent, some of that is going to rub off on you. So I can't wait to see what Will Campbell looks like as we get to camp, as we get to those joint practices against the Colts and the Eagles in August.

Starting point is 00:29:10 And look, worst case scenario, the good news is if Will Campbell doesn't give you average to above average play at left tackle. You can slide in Caleb Lomu in 2027 and Will Campbell goes to guard. But I still am going to give Will Campbell a chance here. And I still believe that he can be your left tackle. And I think he's doing everything he can to take the necessary steps. That wraps up this edition of Lockdown Patriots. Thank you for making us your first listen and for being an everydayer.

Starting point is 00:29:42 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. And if you never miss an episode, the Everydayer Club is built for you. Get Lockdown Patriots ad free plus members-only discord access and more. Head to Lockdownpatriots.com or check the link in the show notes to learn even more. Have a fantastic day and we will see you next time.

Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - Stronger: Patriots Skill Players’ Ranking Revealed | Are They Top-10?!

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