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It is draft week. Things have changed fairly dramatically over the course of the last few months. Here are a few New England-centric things I still believe in as we approach this biggest weekend of the NFL offseason.

• I am slowly coming to terms with the fact that Jacob Rodriguez isn’t going to last until the end of the second round. What are the various stages of grief again? Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. I’ve cycled through all of them when it comes to the linebacker out of Texas Tech, who has likely exceeded expectations throughout the pre-draft process and won’t be available to the Patriots on Day 2. I still think New England needs a coverage linebacker — or at the very least, an oversized safety who can run with tight ends and running backs in the passing game. There are a few guys like that out there, including Pitt’s Kyle Louis. But I’m realizing that Rodriguez probably isn’t going to be there by the time the Patriots are on the clock at No. 63. Doesn’t mean I have to like it.

• The way the pre-draft process has played out, and when you look at their needs (either perceived or real), the Patriots are almost certain to go lineman at No. 31, on either side of the ball. Ran a number of pre-draft simulators this week, and the names that kept coming up were offensive tackles Blake Miller (Clemson) or Max Iheanchor (Arizona State), or edge guys Akheem Mesidor (Miami), Cashius Howell (Texas A&M), or Zion Young (Missouri). They could throw us all a curveball — more on that in a second — but if the first round plays out as expected, one of those five seem to make the most sense for New England if it sticks at No. 31.

• The only offensive skill position player I can see them trading up for — and when I say trade up, I mean if he falls into the mid-20s — is Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq. Sadiq is the best tight end in a pretty good class, and will almost certainly go in the top 20. But if he falls for some unknown reason, a New England team that could certainly use a game-changer should start making some calls. Mike Vrabel has talked plenty about how enamored he is of this year’s tight end class, and while there is good Day 2 and Day 3 value out there with guys like Oscar Delp, Eli Sowers, Joe Royer, and others, Sadiq is the best of the bunch. Getting him in an offense with Josh McDaniels would be absolutely diabolical.

• The decision to part ways with Joshua Dobbs (and not add a signal-caller in free agency) is a pretty good indication that the Patriots are going to draft a quarterback. The only question is where. As a sportswriter who unapologetically roots for the best story, I’m keeping my fingers crossed they use a mid-round pick on LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier. A certified friend and former college teammate of Will Campbell, the left tackle is actually dating Nussmeier’s sister. (For what it’s worth, I think Nussmeier also fits the bill as an excellent developmental guy who can also take 15 inactives/emergency quarterback classifications this season in the name of building out that room.) Oh, and the fact that they’re going to select a quarterback shouldn’t be seen as a referendum on Tommy DeVito. They’ve almost always had three quarterbacks. Just makes good sense.

Garrett Nussmeier says hey.

• I also think they’re going to draft a running back. Maybe not until Day 3, but the fact that they only have Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson as NFL-ready backs on the roster shows a need to fill out the position a little more. Plenty of questions about Lan Larison over the last couple of weeks. I think that he turned a lot of heads late in the season when he came back to be around the team during his rehab, and he can also offer some special teams value there as well. I like the kid, but you’re still a little thin there heading into the draft. (For what it’s worth, Antonio Gibson still hasn’t signed with anyone yet. Stranger things have happened, ya know?)

• The great receiver debate rages on. End of the first round? A Day 2 possibility? Or just keep a seat at the table for what is feeling like the inevitable deal for A.J. Brown? (More on that in the coming weeks, you can be sure.) I had draft analyst Joe DeLeone on my podcast this past week and asked him what he thoughts of the possibility of someone like Malachi Fields from Notre Dame as a possibility at the end of the second round; big body, excellent when it came to contested catches, sturdy, etc. Checks a lot of boxes, right? My guy Joe, who watches a ton of Irish football, compared him to N’Keal Harry. (I’ll wait for you to finish audibly gasping.) I like K.C. Concepcion, a speedy pass catcher who can also fill a role as a kick returner (a place where the Patriots had problems with consistency last year). But I’ve heard more and more people say Antonio Williams out of Clemson should be the answer as a Day 2 target.

K.C. Concepcion offers value on offense and special teams, as well as a great backstory.

• I keep coming back to Ohio State’s Caden Curry as a potential early Day 3 guy for New England. Kind of a Discount Vrabel; a 6-foot-3-inch, 260-pounder (Vrabel was 6-4, 261 as a player) who is a defensive end/edge tweener willing to play just about anywhere. A high-motor rusher (11 sacks last year), with good special teams experience and great intangibles. If he’s there in the fifth round at 171 — which is debatable, to be honest — I’d jump on him.

• The draft isn’t the end of the process. When it comes to team-building, there are a lot of really good players who are still out there. Wide receiver Jauan Jennings will inevitably back off what are some excessive contractual demands, and some team will realize that he had 132 catches combined the last two years. If the Patriots can’t land an edge rusher in the draft, how about someone like Joey Bosa on a one-year, incentive-laden deal? Defensive tackle D.J. Reader has a background with Terrell Williams in Detroit. Defensive tackle Calais Campbell is one of the most well-respected guys in the league. And…ahem…there’s a veteran wide receiver who already has a great working relationship with Drake Maye that’s still on the market. Just sayin.

• Spent some quality time talking with my pal Joe DeLeone for this week’s “Patriots Report” podcast. We talked about what they might do at No. 31, some under-the-radar possibilities, and more. Always a good time talking football with Joe.

• After spending a whole lot of time watching film from last season, here’s a list of local guys who might hear their name called on draft weekend. I’m unabashedly rooting for most of these guys, but two of them really stick out to me: one, wide receiver Skyler Bell from UConn reminds me an awful lot of Zay Flowers. Smart, quick, a great route runner, and a little under the radar. Good Day 2 pickup. And two, running back Montie Quinn out of Curry. He’s an undersized (5-9, 180) overachiever (2,446 rushing yards last season) out of Curry College. The 2025 Walter Camp Division 3 Player of the Year set an NCAA all-division rushing record with 552 yards against Nichols in October.

• The mailbag was chock full of great questions this week, including some pre-draft queries, thoughts on Lan Larison, the new facility, and much more.

• Back in the saddle! With the start of the offseason program on Monday, we’ll be down at Gillette to hear from two players on Tuesday. Then, the draft will have us in Foxborough on Thursday, and maybe Friday. (Saturday is apparently remote access.)

• Good luck to all the runners Monday. I was lucky enough to be able to run Boston in 2022, and it was legitimately one of the five best days of my life. That last mile-plus from Kenmore to the finish is an experience you’ll never forget.

Until next time.