With Week 18 on the horizon, let’s answer some questions about the future of the Patriots in our latest mailbag.

@kylermcd
Besides Higgins, what WR do you think we have a good chance to sign?

The next-best wide receivers after Tee Higgins are Chris Godwin, Amari Cooper, Stefon Diggs, DeAndre Hopkins, Marquise Brown, Darius Slayton and Keenan Allen.

Higgins is not only the best player, but he’s also the most attractive because he’ll only be 26 next season. Brown and Slayton will be 28, Godwin will be 29, Cooper and Diggs will be 31 and Allen and Hopkins will be 33.

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There’s some value in signing an older wide receiver to a short-term contract, but the Patriots should be spending on players who will be part of the team’s overall rebuild.

So, I would say Brown, Slayton and Godwin are the next-most attractive players on that list. I like Godwin, though he is primarily a slot receiver. At least he’s a slot receiver who’s put up a number of 1,000-yard seasons.

I also wouldn’t rule out the possibility of the Patriots signing Higgins. I know he’s said he wants to play with a top quarterback and top wide receiver, but at the end of the day, money talks, and the Patriots would be crazy if they’re not offering him top dollar. They have the cap space for it.

@rodrigonavarr0
What approach do you think the current coaching staff’s should have for the offseason as in FA and Draft picks?

I would try to fill as many needs as possible in free agency in order to be flexible enough to add the best player available in the draft. That means spending a lot of money, and the team has plenty of cap space.

Obviously, that takes out some positions. The Patriots won’t be drafting a quarterback, and I wouldn’t advocate for taking a running back in the top 10, but the team has major needs at wide receiver, offensive line, defensive tackle, edge defender and even cornerback.

They can’t enter the draft needing to draft one player to fill out their depth chart. I think that’s partially how they ended up taking Ja’Lynn Polk and Caedan Wallace last season. They felt like they needed an outside wide receiver and offensive tackle, so they potentially reached on both players.

@ffootballbum
If you’re on the clock and you HAVE to take one of the top tackles. Who are you taking: Banks or Campbell?

I don’t know enough yet, but neither player seems ideal to take at No. 1 overall. Either seem like fine options within the top 10. I guess I’d go Will Campbell over Kelvin Banks, just because he was regarded more highly entering the 2024 season. But Banks is undersized, and Campbell supposedly has short arms.

@TjCarola
If all they do is fire Van pelt how can you justify that?

You can’t. The Patriots’ offensive system certainly has its flaws, but the unit has actually gotten better since last year and in-season since Drake Maye took over as the starter.

I don’t think you can overlook how well Alex Van Pelt has done developing Maye, as well, and you don’t want to get into a situation where Maye is playing under a new coordinator every year.

I think there is some justification for moving on to a new offensive coordinator, but in that case, I don’t think you can keep DeMarcus Covington as the defensive coordinator, as well.

@BenMillett_
The coaching situation… if you have other proven coaches available with the one you have very questionable at best… why wouldn’t you upgrade?

That’s the question Robert and Jonathan Kraft have to ask themselves.

What do you believe Jerod Mayo does or can do better than another head coaching candidate like Mike Vrabel? Where does he provide a higher ceiling? Because we know he comes with a lower floor.

@markclimbs
how does mayo (or any HC really) approach this final game in terms of balancing wanting to keep his job and win the game and lose the game to ensure 1st overall pick?

I actually think it would be in Mayo’s best interest to start Joe Milton III and ensure the No. 1 overall pick.

If you start Maye and go all-in on beating the Bills just to lose to their backups, that’s going to look a lot worse than losing with a sixth-round pick at quarterback.

Let’s go rapid fire.

@Cmerc5
If we move on from our coordinators, do you see them hiring a veteran coach with HC experience for the role? Robert Saleh for example for defense

I think that would make the most sense. The Patriots need stronger leadership and more experience overall.

@IceFrog67
Hi, Doug. How many starting offensive linemen from the 2024 Patriots do you expect will start on the team in 2025? Do you expect them to build the line primarily through the draft or are the Patriots willing to invest serious salary cap dollars in potential OL free agents?

On the current roster, I could see Mike Onwenu, David Andrews, Layden Robinson and Caedan Wallace being starters in 2025.

I don’t think Robinson or Wallace should be guaranteed starting spots, however. So, I see the Patriots investing in free agency and the draft in the offensive line.

@garylanglais
Eliot Wolf oversees player roster and cap. But has no coach mgmt responsibilities (Team’s words, not mine). Do you think this is a successful – Owner picks HC who then hires his staff w/o front office intervention? Or, should Team have single decision maker over everything?

It’s the way the Krafts intended the team to be run, because they felt Bill Belichick had too much power.

I think there would be value in having one vice president of football operations run everything, but I’m not sure if there’s an ideal candidate for that job.

@frizzaud
What practice squad players would you like to see elevated to game day roster to see what they can do?

I’d like to see offensive tackle Caleb Jones and tight end Jack Westover get some run on offense.

@lobster_dog
Be honest: you’re happy this is the last week you have to watch this god awful operation for a while, aren’t you

I love football season, and I love my job, but this year did get a bit repetitive after a while. Hoping to see a better product in 2025.

@FlamingoMike
Need good apple-picking venues for Sundays next fall.

You guys crack me up.