The New England Patriots are heading into the offseason with the most salary cap space in the NFL, giving them plenty of financial flexibility to address key roster needs. One of their biggest issues is the offensive line, which struggled significantly this past season. With the team likely turning to rookie quarterback Drake Maye, protecting him will be a top priority.
To help fix the problem, the Patriots recently hired Doug Marrone as their offensive line coach. Given this move, Phil Perry of NBC Sports speculated in a recent mailbag that New England could target free agents with ties to Marrone. One standout option? Offensive tackle Cam Robinson.
Robinson, a former second-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, played under Marrone in Jacksonville and was traded to the Minnesota Vikings at last year’s deadline. Perry noted that while Robinson’s time with Marrone was years ago, he remains one of the top tackles set to hit free agency, making him a logical target for the Patriots. He also earned a solid 70.4 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus last season.
In a separate discussion, Perry also responded to a fan’s trade proposal involving Seahawks wide receiver D.K. Metcalf. The hypothetical deal suggested swapping quarterback Joe Milton and a second-round pick for Metcalf and a third-rounder. Perry believed Seattle would likely reject the offer, though he acknowledged it was an interesting idea.
With Geno Smith entering a contract year at 34 years old, and the Seahawks recently trading for Sam Howell, Seattle could be in the market for a young quarterback.
However, Milton, a sixth-round pick with minimal NFL experience, may not carry enough value to justify a deal involving Metcalf. Then again, with the premium placed on quarterbacks in today’s NFL, anything is possible.
