The Patriots have filled their coaching staff. Now it’s about improving the roster.

Let’s answer your pressing questions on trades, free agency and the draft in another edition of the Patriots mailbag.

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@kylemarsden441
What are the chances the patriots add at least two WRs this offseason? (One in free agency and one in the draft) I feel like the whole WR room needs a rebuild.

I’d throw a potential trade in there too. We know Cooper Kupp is available, and it seems like other wide receivers could potentially free up via trade, as well.

As for Kupp, I know he’s struggled to stay healthy since his true breakout 2021 season, but he’d still be the Patriots’ best and most accomplished wide receiver if acquired. NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport said the Rams could be willing to eat money to accommodate a trade. Kupp looks more appealing at $12.5 million than he would at $20 million, but it still might be worth taking a risk and seeing if the Rams are willing to cut him.

Kupp is primarily a slot receiver, but he has historically played about a third of his snaps outside.

If the Patriots do acquire Kupp, though, I don’t think they can be done at the position. I also wouldn’t give up more than a Day 3 pick. The Patriots only have about $13 million invested in cap space in the wide receiver position next season. They could certainly afford to add Kupp and also sign a player like Tee Higgins or trade for a guy like D.K. Metcalf.

I certainly wouldn’t mind the team adding a wide receiver in the draft, as well, but you’d like to add a sure thing at the position. The No. 4 overall pick might be too steep to add a player like Tet McMillan, but Matthew Golden, Tre Harris, Xavier Restrepo, Jalen Royals and Jack Bech all seem like solid Day 2 options.

The Patriots currently have Kendrick Bourne, DeMario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte, Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker at wide receiver. You know what you have in Bourne, and Douglas and Boutte both showed potential in 2024. I’m not personally ready to give up on Polk or Baker. But head coach Mike Vrabel and his staff have no ties to any of those five players. And none of those five players need to be guaranteed a starting spot in 2025.

The Patriots should look to add as much competition as possible at wide receiver this season and let things sort out during training camp.

@bostonblueliner
Doug can you make me feel better about WR coaching #MailDoug

The Patriotshired Todd Downing as their wide receivers coach. Downing has worked under Vrabel and current offensive line coach Doug Marrone, so it’s certainly not surprising to see him on staff. Downing has never been a wide receiver coach, however, so that aspect is somewhat unexpected.

Downing has a ton of experience as a position coach on the offensive side of the ball, and twice he’s done a good enough job as a position coach to be elevated to offensive coordinator.

He doesn’t have a great track record as an offensive play-caller, but he certainly has a wealth of knowledge on offense, especially in the passing game. He did a great job with Derek Carr as a quarterbacks coach in 2015 and 2016, and his tight end units were in good shape with the Vikings and Titans.

He has a lot more experience than the Patriots’ last two wide receivers coaches, Ross Douglas and Tyler Hughes.

@xavierstarr26
After the year he had, Could Kyle Pitts be a realistic trade option?

I haven’t seen anyone report that Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts is a trade option.

I don’t know if I love the idea since Pitts is due $10.878 million on a fifth-year option this season.

Pitts is undersized, isn’t much of a run blocker, and since his 1,000-yard campaign as a rookie, he’s averaged 542 receiving yards per season. Given his size, Pitts should be a red-zone threat, but he has just 10 career touchdowns in four seasons.

I think I’d rather re-sign Austin Hooper and potentially draft a tight end in the third or fourth round.

@Captmike24
Who do you see being cut or moved through trade? Who do you think gets resigned?

The Patriots really don’t have many trade candidates, at least among players they would want to deal. Davon Godchaux and Kyle Dugger could have some value, but the Patriots would incur more dead money than they would free up cap space by trading those players before June 1. It would actually cost the Patriots cap space by trading Rhamondre Stevenson. He could wind up having a resurgence under Josh McDaniels anyway.

Bourne is always thrown out as a trade candidate. I’m not sure how much interest there would be around the league, however.

There are a lot of cut candidates on the roster, but most of them are lower-tiered players who were added last season.

And I wouldn’t expect the Patriots to re-sign many of their own free agents. I’d bring back LB Christian Elliss as a restricted free agent and exclusive-rights free agents CB Alex Austin, C Ben Brown, OT Demontrey Jacobs and DT Jeremiah Pharms. But as far as unrestricted free agents go, Hooper is the top player I would bring back. I think there’s a spot for S Jaylinn Hawkins, CB Jonathan Jones and K Joey Slye, as well.

@junkfishjordan
If Ronnie Stanley resigns in Baltimore, is there any way to deal with LT (and potentially RT) outside of the draft?

Cam Robinson, Alaric Jackson, Dan Moore Jr., and Jedrick Willis Jr., are all free-agent options at tackle. They would all be better options that who the Patriots lined up at tackle last season.

@LTizzel32
Could they draft a RB like Skattebo or a RB pretty high? To revamp the old pass catching back? (Faulk,Vereen,Woodhead,White) That seemed to be very important in McDaniels scheme

It’s a great year to draft a running back, and the Patriots should be looking for a young option at the position. Arizona State’s Cameron Skattebo would be a great fit in the third or fourth round.