Patriots Mailbag: More playing time for Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker?

The New England Patriots have two games left in their season before all eyes turn to a major offseason. Some are (rightfully) already looking to the offseason and on who will be making those moves.

So, let’s get right into this week’s #PostPulpit mailbag.

If the team is trying to figure out what they have in Polk and Baker, why not put them out there for meaningful snaps in these meaningless games and target them 4-5 times each? – c. lassiter

It would be nice to see both rookies play some meaningful snaps down the stretch to see if they can build some momentum with more time on the field and potential targets.

The read here, however, is that the coaching staff is coaching to win and isn’t comfortable enough with either player to play significant snaps in order to do so. Alex Van Pelt has mentioned that Javon Baker needs better performances in practice to earn more time on the field, while Ja’Lynn Polk has looked lost at times on the field leading to a decline in his snaps.

Two weeks ago in Arizona, the first snap of the game saw Polk (top) fail to clear out his defender which led to cluttered spacing around tight end Austin Hooper. Drake Maye was then forced into a check down.

Compare that to the same play back in Week 10 where Polk (top) helps opens things up for the tight end with his vertical to help create a 28-yard gain.

While Baker has only two targets this season, he also wasn’t on the same page as Maye on his first target of the season — breaking his route late as Maye’s pass hit the turf in front of him. If coaches can’t trust them on the practice field and then they are failing to do things correctly on the field, their roles will decrease.

You could make the argument that other players are doing the same thing. Before last week, Kayshon Boutte had trouble finishing routes while Kendrick Bourne has admitted route issues on his end almost weekly — the most recent playing a role in Maye’s interception vs. Buffalo.

For a draft and develop team, that’s the tough thing to balance — especially when trying to make the environment better around Maye. But for now, it seems that a coaching staff trying to win (and potentially save their jobs) are siding with the experience and production down the stretch.

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Ive heard D.K. Metcalfs name as someone the Seahawks could be moving on from this offseason. He definitely be the best receiver this team has had in years. Should be a no brainer based on ask? – brian r.

Speaking of receivers, the struggles from the rookies this year has left the position a need yet again entering the offseason. With a shallow free agent market outside of Tee Higgins, New England could look to the trade market for veteran help.

Typically, receivers who are entering the final year of the contract are ones to be shipped off. D.K. Metcalf fits that description as a 2026 UFA.

It’s been an interesting season for Metcalf, who is on pace for one of the worst statistical seasons of his career. With that being said, he still has 63 receptions for 939 yards and four touchdowns after an all-around sloppy Week 17 Thursday Night Football game — where the receiver also drew an unsportsmanlike conduct flag.

Beyond the drop in production, Metcalf has also been criticized for his general inconsistencies and a decline in his contested catch percentage. But, it also has been fair to note that Metcalf’s usage and route tree has changed a bit under new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb.

If New England thinks their usage plan and pairing him with Maye will get Metcalf back on track, the 27-year old may be worth the draft capital and extension it would take to acquire.

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Don’t we need to pump the brakes on the fire Eliot Wolf talk? I mean, he did draft the franchise QB and the probable 2025 LG and signed the best OL available in FA to play RG along with two good TEs. LT and WR remain trouble spots…but there are never many if any good LTs available and you can’t fill all major spots of need in one offseason. – ghosthaud

Really outside of Drake Maye, it hasn’t been a good haul from Eliot Wolf’s first offseason. Antonio Gibson and Hunter Henry were good value signings, but Wolf’s return elsewhere in free agency and the draft has not been one to write home about.

With that being said, this is the offseason where Wolf will get to go out and prove himself. He’ll have the most cap space in the league to work with and very little internal free agents to re-sign. But beyond the money, Wolf is going to have to be able to sell free agents on why they should come to New England, which still is not a premiere destination despite Maye’s early success.

Then, Wolf will have what looks like another top-5 pick and four top 100 selections in total to work with due to his best move to date of trading Matthew Judon for a third rounder. It’s what he does with those picks outside of the first-round that makes an elite executive.

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Will they clean house on upper management and scouting this offseason? – chris coughlin

As for Wolf, he is going to get his second season along with Mayo. But, with all those resources available to him this is where he decides his future. Elsewhere, there could be some turnover in the scouting department.

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When will the coaches start doing the teaching part of coaching instead of just the motivational part of coaching? The players seem to be motivated, but they’re out of position, making dumb-a$$ penalties and turning the ball over in a very motivated fashion. – SlotMachinePlayer

The reoccurring fundamental issues are one of the biggest concerns with the coaching staff, specifically on the defensive side of the football. As seen on James Cook’s long touchdown run last week, the run fits continue to plague the defense which has been an issue all season long.

Whether it’s a scheme or execution issue, it all comes back to coaching which is why there are expected to be staff changes under Mayo this offseason. The drastic fall off on defense and in the run game could reflect on DeMarcus Covington and defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery, who also oversaw a Packers front that fell off the last two seasons.

That’s all for this week’s #PostPulpit mailbag. If you have questions you’d liked to be answered next week, submit them online in our weekly submission post or on Twitter using #PostPulpit. Make sure to be following @iambrianhines and @PatsPulpit as well.