Yes, the Patriots might feel they have struck gold with first-year Pro Bowler QB Drake Maye. But if they really want to keep that gold shining—there’s some work to do. You can’t just have a Tom Brady without his Randy Moss. It’s clear as daylight the Patriots need a better support cast around Drake Maye. Likes of Kayshon Boutte, Kendrick Bourne, DeMario Douglas and Ja’Lynn Polk—none of them showed any signs of consistency. However, the one they are probably looking at helping Maye in his sophomore year actually isn’t consistent either—at least since his triple-crown year in 2021.

See, the problem is the Pats were looking at Tee Higgins’ situation in Cincinnati. He was all set to hit free agency. Then, the Bengals suddenly realized how big of a mistake it would be to let Higgins move on. So, they have yet again opted for another franchise tag with hopes of securing a longer deal later. That has led to the Pats looking somewhere else. And it’s not like there aren’t any great receivers on the board. Chris Godwin, Amari Cooper and Stefon Diggs will all be free agents in a few days.

However, The Athletic’s Chad Graff believes the Pats could actually pursue a trade. And whom is he referring to? Well, someone who, like I said, hasn’t been the same since winning Super Bowl LVI MVP—Cooper Kupp. After 2021, where Kupp caught 145 catches for 1,947 receiving yards, playing all 17 games, his time on the gridiron has been somewhat limited. Why? Because of constant trouble with injuries. In his last three seasons, Kupp has only played 33 games. Yeah, you might say he is an inconsistent, unreliable, injury-prone shadow of his former self-player.

But Kupp has actually never allowed those injuries to get the better of him. Just take a look at last season. Yes, he played only 12 games, but Kupp also caught 67 catches for 710 yards and 6 TDs. And those are the numbers the Pats are looking at. That’s why there’s an expectation New England could be the latest chapter for Kupp. Actually, Kupp isn’t the only player Mike Vrabel might be looking at to kickstart his rebuild. With the NFL combine approaching, Vrabel is also drolling at the prospect of signing last year’s Rose Bowl MVP.

Mike Vrabel predicted to use their No.4 overall pick on a defensive powerhouse

See, the Pats may not get the chance to draft the likes of Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter, who are almost certain to be picked No.1 and No.3, respectively. They could actually get someone who might be an even better choice with No.4 overall. ESPN’s Mike Reiss believes Vrabel is looking at the possibility of drafting Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham to solve their defensive woes. Graham is coming off a sensational last year with the Wolverines, where he racked in 46 tackles.

And without any doubt, he will be an instant upgrade on Pats’ defensive tackle Christian Barmore. His constant struggles with non-football injuries have kept him in and out of the Pats. Not having that explosive pass-breaker in the Pats D-line last year made them one of the worst teams in the NFL.

23rd in opposing rushing yards and 4th in allowing most carries. Clearly, those aren’t the numbers Vrabel will be looking at in his first season. So Graham’s presence and Vrabel’s defensive intel could quickly change the Pats’ defensive game. And who knows, it could actually make the saying come true—defense wins championships. Maybe with Graham leading from the back and Drake Maye from the front, the Patriots can turn their franchise around. Because there’s no way a team like the Pats belong in the trenches of the NFL.