Patriots Mailbag: Readers are still unsettled about the quarterback and offensive line

– Patrick Halley, Bartow, Fla., via Hudson

In the days following the loss to the Jets, my colleague Nicole Yang asked Jerod Mayo about the possibility of bringing in a veteran backup quarterback for that specific reason, and the coach quickly dismissed the conversation. “That is not in our plans at this time,” he said.

But I wonder if he might reconsider that opinion given the ongoing beating Brissett took against the 49ers. There are no potential Pro Bowlers, but there are some veteran free agents who might be able to keep a clipboard and get some snaps if Brissett is out. This group includes Ryan Tannehill, Trevor Siemian, Kellen Mond, Desmond Ridder and CJ Beathard.

None of them will make you forget Tom Brady. But when it comes to a potential emergency, it’s worth keeping them in mind.

Did Eliot Wolf or Jerod Mayo admit they screwed up the left tackle spot?

— Bruce Newman, Portsmouth, Virginia, via Winthrop

I’m not sure either of them would use this language, but I’m sure they’d both like a mulligan for how things turned out last year. It’s notable that the Patriots have started six different left tackles in their last 10 games since last season, including four (Chukwuma Okorafor, Vederian Lowe, Caedan Wallace and Demontrey Jacobs) in four games this year.

In his only appearance with us this summer, Wolf expressed his confidence in the offensive line, while Mayo maintained throughout that it was all about finding the right five guys. (For the record, Mayo was at times very blunt about the state of the line.)

To be fair, there were some injuries and some poor plan adjustments. But it is inexcusable for a franchise in such a high-value position to get so much wrong over several years. That should be a top priority this offseason.

Why didn’t the Patriots strengthen their pathetic offensive line this summer?

—Robert Toomey, Melrose

Going back to the previous question, it’s more about the left tackle position than anything else. In my estimation, the interior and right tackle are about at or better than current league standards, but I see your point. They made a few moves, including selecting two linemen on the second day of the draft in Wallace and Layden Robinson and adding Okorafor as a free agent.

But while the rookies have performed as well as one would expect (Robinson is one of two players who have played every possible offensive snap in four games), they have missed Okorafor by a wide margin. They also misjudged veteran Calvin Anderson, who was released through injury settlement and then quickly acquired by the Steelers.

Ultimately, regardless of the specific position, the offensive line has experienced a veritable storm of instability in recent years (five different offensive line coaches since 2020), with poor decisions in free agency and poor health. They need to have a better offseason in 2025.

Do you think the Patriots should have more success in October than they did in September?

— Ed Helinski, Auburn, NY

With “winnable” games against the Dolphins and Jaguars in October – and three of their four games at home – there is certainly an opportunity for them to improve. It’s about them getting healthy (Kendrick Bourne and Cole Strange should return this month) and performing in the most important moments.

From this standpoint, they have a chance of a better October. It all depends on whether they can take advantage of the breaks they could (or should) get.

When was the last time the Patriots drafted a Pro Bowler? (Mac Jones doesn’t count.) It’s frustrating to see a homegrown lineup like the Niners and then think about the fate of four current Patriots first-round picks: N’Keal Harry, Mac Jones, Isaiah Wynn and Cole Strange. It’s really hard to imagine that their next Pro Bowler could be a punter!

—Andy Pherson, Wakefield and Anthem, Arizona.

While the Pro Bowls might be a poor benchmark – after all, Brandon Meriweather has won as many as Rodney Harrison – recent drafts have lacked elite talent. It can be argued that players like Rhamondre Stevenson, Mike Onwenu, Ja’Whaun Bentley, Marcus Jones (as a punt returner) and Christian Barmore are among the best in the league at what they do, and they have all been drafted and by developed by the Patriots. (That’s in addition to player Bryce Baringer, as you noted.) But when you’re up against a team like San Francisco, the difference in key spots can be jarring.

More to the point, I don’t want to make this a referendum on Bill Belichick’s final drafts in New England, because there was some talent there. And that’s not the only reason for the difficulties this season. But there have been some fluctuations and misses that have set the franchise back in some key positions.

To paraphrase an old maxim of sports talk radio: It’s all part of the conversation when you try to throw some blame around the state of the franchise.

With the Patriots headed for another low-win season, which players who aren’t part of the future could they trade before the draft pick deadline? Would KJ Osborn add value? A healthy Kendrick Bourne for a WR-needy team?

—Jack Flynn, Amherst

I was just thinking about this the other day, Jack. If his numbers increase at some point between now and the trade deadline, a smart, low-cost receiver like Osborn (who is on a one-year deal) could be coveted by a team in need of a pass-catcher.

I would hesitate to bring Bourne into this conversation just because he’s coming off an injury and has a three-year contract; Uncertainty over health and expectations could cloud any trade talks.

But I also think that someone like Joshua Uche, who is on a one-year deal, could give a team looking to bolster their defense a boost in pass rush.

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Christopher Price can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @cpriceglobe.