The New England Patriots went into the 2024 NFL season with low expectations, as many thought they were set up to be the worst team in the league under rookie head coach Jerod Mayo.
They just about lived up to those low expectations and went 4-13 to obtain the fourth pick in the draft, and after moving on from Mayo to hire Mike Vrabel, Bill Simmons and the rest of this fanbase have high expectations for this offseason.
Simmons took to X to outline his proposal for what the Pats should do in the offseason, and it includes drafting either Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter or Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham with the No. 4 pick, while also splurging on a left tackle and wide receiver Tee Higgins in free agency.
I want Abdul Carter or Mason Graham for NE. Make the DL a strength. Splurge on an LT + Higgins in free agency.
Best-case: Ward/Sanders go 1-2, Hunter to NYG … Carter to NE at 4 aka McGinest 2.0.
If Ward/Hunter/Carter go 1-2-3 — NE swaps 4 w/ LV for 6 + a pick, takes Graham.
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) February 16, 2025
He believes the best-case scenario is if Cam Ward, Shedeur Sanders, and Travis Hunter are the top three picks, which leaves Carter at four for the Pats, but if Carter goes in the top three, the Pats should trade with the Las Vegas Raiders and move down to No. 6 to take Graham if Shedeur is still available for the Raiders at 4.
It’s always nice to have a top-5 pick and not need to use it on a quarterback, as 2024 No. 3 pick Drake Maye looked quite promising after taking over as the Pats’ starter during the middle of this past season.
Carter is seen as a potential game-breaking edge rusher a la fellow Nittany Lion Micah Parsons, and if Carter is the move for the Pats, he’d be an immediate massive upgrade to a defense that is in desperate need of a foundational piece.
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