The Patriots have a new head coach, the No. 4 overall pick and $130 million in salary cap space, so morale is improving among the fanbase.

Let’s answer some questions in the latest installment of our Patriots mailbag.

The obvious one here is Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown, right? Mike Vrabel was part of the Titans organization that drafted Brown in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft (after the Patriots selected N’Keal Harry). Vrabel said this week on WEEI that he maintains a “very, very close relationship” with Brown.

The biggest question is whether the Eagles would even be open to trading him because even if he’s unhappy, which he’s seemed at times this season playing with Jalen Hurts, he’s still one of their best offensive players.

His contract is also prohibitive in potentially dealing him. Trading Brown before June 1 would actually subtract cap space from the Eagles’ books.

As far as other potential No. 1 wide receivers go, it’s never a bad idea to look at players who are due major contract extensions. Drake London, Garrett Wilson and George Pickens were all drafted in 2022 and are now free to sign new deals.

DK Metcalf has also been a popular trade candidate since the Seahawks are in salary cap hell.

Patriots fans might not love this name, but Tyreek Hill also seemed to want out of Miami after Week 18.

Trading for a top wide receiver would certainly make some decisions in free agency and the draft a lot easier for the Patriots. Brown probably isn’t the most realistic option, but there does seem to be a path to acquire a top wide receiver via trade this offseason.

First I need to know who else the Patriots have added in free agency and trades.

But of those four players, I think Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter has the highest potential, so I’d pick him. I would also make the case that pass rusher is an even greater need for the Patriots than wide receiver. The Patriots’ pass rush was basically nonexistent last season outside of their Week 10 win over the Bears. At least they have a few guys at running back, wide receiver and tight end who can catch the ball.

We’ll see how he tests, but I worry a little bit about Tet McMillan’s speed at wide receiver.

Offensive tackles Will Campbell and Kelvin Banks aren’t ideal prospects at offensive tackle given their size, but I still think a guy like Campbell could make sense there since it’s so difficult to find a franchise left tackle outside of the draft.

I would guess a big role. I think some of those things are still being ironed out, and there’s a lot to still be decided since it’s only January.

But, yeah, I would expect Vrabel to have a major role in front-office decisions.

It’s smartest to go best player available with the fourth overall pick in the draft.

But I still do know logically that it’s difficult to find a top offensive tackle outside of the draft. But you want as close to a sure-thing with the No. 4 overall pick, and you want the player who’s going to make the biggest impact. And that’s the best player.

I personally see no reason why they would go into the 2025 season with more than $10 to $20 million in cap space. They need to improve their team, and they need to do it fast.

As you might be able to tell from the mock draft I wrote for Thursday, I’m ready for the draft.

Finding players for that mock draft like Utah State wide receiver Jalen Royals and Rutgers offensive tackle Hollin Pierce got me excited.

I don’t think that will be a major issue. I do think the Patriots might have to overpay a little bit to compensate for state taxes and playing in the northeast, but they also have plenty of cap space. So, they can afford to overpay a little bit.

I certainly don’t think it hurts.

And I would start by looking at players on the Titans and Browns that he worked with. Titans tackle Dillon Radunz, Browns left tackle Jedrick Wills and Titans wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine are all free agents.

They also could pull from the Giants, where front-office executive Ryan Cowden worked. Wide receiver Darius Slayton and edge defender Azeez Ojulari are potential options.

Wide receiver has the best overall player in Tee Higgins but not great depth. Defensive end also has some really nice options like Ojulari, Josh Sweat and Khalil Mack. Offensive tackle is pretty shallow, but Radunz, Wills, Ronnie Stanley and Alaric Jackson are potential starting options.

So, I’d probably say defensive end, but offensive tackle is close behind.

The most exciting option, to me, is Vikings QB coach Josh McCown. The least exciting options would be Tim Kelly, Todd Downing or Alex Van Pelt. And it feels like the most likely choice is Josh McDaniels, who would also be right smack dab in the middle of most and least exciting.

I don’t know, but my best guess is that people just want something new and are wondering why McDaniels hasn’t received interest from other teams as an offensive coordinator.

To the second part, I’m not sure, but he’s still collecting a check from the Raiders and living locally in the New England area. So, it’s possible that he’s just waiting for the right opportunity while still being paid by Mark Davis.

I understand wanting something new, and obviously McDaniels hasn’t worked out as a head coach, but the last time he was an offensive coordinator was in 2021 with the Patriots, and they ranked sixth in scoring. That’s not half bad with Mac Jones at quarterback.

I agree that he has a higher floor than less experienced candidates. I still think I still think it’s worth seeking out someone who can bring more creativity.

Patriots executive vice president of football business Robyn Glaser was in the facility on Thursday, per multiple sources. It’s probably too early to say what will happen in the future, but it sounds like whatever that is will be her decision.

I think the head-coaching change hurts players selected in the 2023 NFL Draft more than helps them.

Jerod Mayo at least had been in the organization with those players before he took over as head coach in 2024. Mike Vrabel has no history with the players drafted in 2023.

I waffled back and forth on this one, but I’d probably rather sign Jackson.

Eliminating a need at offensive tackle would really help the Patriots in the draft to not have to reach for a player.

Will Campbell and Kelvin Banks come with a higher ceiling than Jackson, but a free agent, whether it be Jackson, Wills or someone else, would probably play at a higher level from Day 1.

It does seem likely that a player like Jackson will reach a long-term deal with the Rams before he hits free agency, however.

It sounds like teams prefer him at cornerback with a gadget role on offense.

Where the Patriots would put him could depend on where he’s needed more, however, which would be a nice luxury to have.

Just one? There were a number of Patriots veteran players who didn’t carry their weight in 2024, including but not limited to Kyle Dugger, Davon Godchaux, Jahlani Tavai and Sione Takitaki.

One issue is that contract extensions for Godchaux and Tavai haven’t even kicked in yet.

I like the idea of drafting Ohio State left tackle Josh Simmons, but he’s kind of in no-man’s-land where he’s ranked compared to where the Patriots are picking.

They have the fourth overall pick and No. 38 overall. Simmons’ consensus ranking is around No. 18 overall right now. So, he would have to be a major riser, or the Patriots would have trade was down or way back up in the draft to get him.

They didn’t draft well, so they didn’t sign young players to massive extensions.

And they (pretty wisely) didn’t overextend themselves in free agency last offseason.

There was really no point in spending freely.

I might be willing to go all the way down to No. 9 overall. Assuming two quarterbacks go in the top nine picks, that would leave you with Hunter, Carter, McMillan, Campbell, Banks, cornerback Will Johnson or defensive tackle Mason Graham.

In some ways, trading down, if there’s an offer, still might be the best plan.

I would sign a veteran quarterback, but I don’t know if it needs to be a bona-fide No. 2. I know it was against backups, and I know the Bills were running basic coverages, but I feel good enough about Joe Milton III to make him the backup quarterback in 2025.

So, I’d probably target someone who could compete with Milton for that role and serve as a veteran leader like Marcus Mariota, Andy Dalton, Case Keenum, Joshua Dobbs or Will Grier.