Some draft leftovers and the Brady roast on the menu

Back for another week with the Patriots mailbag. topics this week include draft-weekend deals, rookie minicamp, and the tom Brady roast. Let’s get to it. i don’t think bill belichick (Mr. Value) would have re-signed all these existing players, and i see him trading down with the third pick. (He loved lots of picks.) it’s really a crapshoot when drafting players. Do you like Joe Milton?

— Manny F. (via email)

Manny, not sure Bill would have traded out from No. 3, but i would have bet you we’d see more than the one deal we did witness that weekend. And your point is a good one; it is a crapshoot. As i’ve mentioned here before, the bar for a successful draft (at least in my eyes) is three long-term starters. And while they are all in the nascent days of their NfL journey, i think we’re going to see four from this class blossom into eventual starters: Drake Maye, Ja’Lynn Polk, caedan Wallace, and Javon Baker.

i like Milton as a developmental prospect. My guess is, even in the wake of Monday’s decision to cut Nathan Rourke, Milton ends up catching the foxborough flu and lands on injured reserve for 2024. that way, they can have him work on his short and intermediate game without the danger of him being poached by another team via the practice squad.

Which rookie are you most looking forward to seeing during rookie minicamp?

— Mark t., Philadelphia (via email)

You can tell very little about a rookie at this stage of his professional development, at least until the pads go on, so i’ll hold off on any sort of blanket statements. But there are a few guys i’m curious to see for the first time in foxborough.

i’d like to see Maye, just how he operates, interacts, and runs through drills alongside his teammates. i’m curious to see the two receivers, particularly Baker, and how they look when it comes to running routes and general quickness. And of course, Milton. if he unleashes one deep ball in the practice session we get to see, it’ll all be worth it.

it feels like there are going to be a couple of notable cuts/releases at wide receiver. What does that depth chart look like, and who might be on the outs?

— gerry F., North andover (via email)

the back of the depth chart at wide receiver is a dicey place right about now. Provided both are healthy, kendrick Bourne and DeMario Douglas are sure things. Polk and Baker figure to be locks to make the roster as well. He didn’t put up overwhelming numbers last season, but Jalen Reagor’s brief stint as a kick returner should help him find a spot.

that leaves k.J. Osborn, kayshon Boutte, JuJu Smith-Schuster, tyquan thornton, kawaan Baker, and t.J. Luther fighting for — maybe — two spots. there are a few guys there who need to display a sense of urgency if they want to make the team in 2024.

Who will start at left tackle?

— Justin V, abington (via X)

there are a lot of possibilities. Newcomer chukwuma Okorafor probably leads the depth chart at this point. calvin Anderson has looked good over the course of the spring workouts, while returnees Vederian Lowe and tyrone Wheatley Jr. will be part of the mix. And Wallace will be part of the conversation as well. Ultimately, while it’s not an open competition, there’s certainly an opportunity there for someone to seize the job with a strong spring and/or summer. any word on a stephon gilmore return? Maybe even J.C. Jackson?

— Vincent tubito (via X)

Love both of these possibilities, Vincent. Gilmore’s camp maintained radio silence the last couple of months as teams worked through the draft process, so there’s been no word from them as to which way he might be leaning. i know he likes Jerod Mayo, and still has ties to the area. if the sides can make the money work, it’d be an excellent pickup, but no new updates right now.

As for Jackson, he’s been staying in the area, and a source says he remains hopeful about a return to New England. that similar level of affection for Mayo could play in the Patriots’ favor when it comes to a return for him as well.

What member of the Patriots 2023 draft class is ready to make the leap in 2024?

— austin, Marshfield (via email)

Great question. Even though he only played a few games, it would feel too easy to say christian Gonzalez. Same for Douglas, or Bryce Baringer, as all three performed as well as could be expected in their first season in the league. too easy.

instead, i’ll go with second-round pick keion White. Part of the reason for his emergence last year was that he did take advantage of the opportunities that were presented to him, but it feels like a breakout season could be looming for the Georgia tech alum in the form of a double-digit sack season.

best job at the brady roast? Worst job?

— gretchen D., arlington (via email)

Other than the surprise celebrities — seeing Belichick at the podium all free and easy was terrific — i’ll go with Drew Bledsoe. i gained a new respect for the man for showing up on Sunday night and sitting through that. Struck the perfect tone.

Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman pretty much played their parts to a t — no surprises there. Was interesting to see Robert kraft and Belichick share a toast, although i think it would have been more dramatic if it were Belichick and Jonathan kraft, as i believe that’s where some lingering tension still exists.

Worst job? Bert kreischer and tom Segura. Just kind of flat, at least when you stack it against the rest of the night.