Patriots Rumor LaCanfora: WR Mike Evans and LT Rasheed Walker Could Be On Patriots’ Radar

[Rob0729]

Take it with a grain of salt since LaCanfora hasn't been relevant in years.... If he ever was. And I don't think they would go for Evans unless he was coming cheap.

 

[Ian]

Take it with a grain of salt since LaCanfora hasn't been relevant in years.... If he ever was. And I don't think they would go for Evans unless he was coming cheap.

Interesting, LaCanfora is apparently at this site now, which is where those came from:

Exclusive: Chiefs And Patriots Among Teams Eyeing Packers LT Rasheed Walker Ahead of Free Agency

Green Bay Packers left tackle Rasheed Walker, a coveted free agent, is expected to be among the highest paid players in the league next month. With interest from contending teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots, Walker's steady play and size make him a top target this...

www.sportsboom.us

Exclusive: Mike Evans Expected to Draw Interest From 49ers, Buccaneers, Patriots, Chargers in Free Agency

Mike Evans, a standout receiver in this year's free agent class, is carefully considering his next move as negotiations heat up. Despite interest from Tampa, Evans is exploring other options with a focus on offenses, quarterback quality, and chances to win a Super Bowl. At 33, he remains a...

www.sportsboom.us

 

[TheRainMaker]

That would be a wild twist if the Pats pursue Rasheed Walker at LT.

 

[Ian]

(Mod edit: Post(s) moved to own thread)

 

[Rob0729]

Interesting, LaCanfora is apparently at this site now, which is where those came from:

Exclusive: Chiefs And Patriots Among Teams Eyeing Packers LT Rasheed Walker Ahead of Free Agency

Green Bay Packers left tackle Rasheed Walker, a coveted free agent, is expected to be among the highest paid players in the league next month. With interest from contending teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots, Walker's steady play and size make him a top target this...

www.sportsboom.us

Exclusive: Mike Evans Expected to Draw Interest From 49ers, Buccaneers, Patriots, Chargers in Free Agency

Mike Evans, a standout receiver in this year's free agent class, is carefully considering his next move as negotiations heat up. Despite interest from Tampa, Evans is exploring other options with a focus on offenses, quarterback quality, and chances to win a Super Bowl. At 33, he remains a...

www.sportsboom.us

Wow! How the "mighty" have fallen.

 

[Triumph]

That would be a wild twist if the Pats pursue Rasheed Walker at LT.

Makes no sense.

LG is what NE needs yesterday. Every LT gets schooled by Myles Garret and lots of LTs have been blown up by that Seattle DL. Stay the course in 2026 with Willie Campbell @ LT and hope for the best. Its all good.

 

[Triumph]

I wonder why KC is addressing LT 2 years in succession?

Just roll with Simmons and think positive.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

That would be a wild twist if the Pats pursue Rasheed Walker at LT.

They don't have infinite resources, and I think Walker would not be an ideal use of their salary cap space.

 

[Steve102]

Just a guess, but wouldn't you be "interested" in everyone? BB talked to all kinds of draftees, a lot of it was just to get intel and who they are. Why wouldn't the Pats do the same? Visit with everyone who will chat. Get intel. Drives up costs for other teams while your at it, nice side benefit.

 

[Triumph]

6' - 5" 231 lbs

Evans has been a Beast his whole career, but he will be 33 when the 2026 season commences. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/E/EvanMi00.htm

Maybe he has another one in him.

 

[borg]

Sign all beasts

 

[Dec54]

Rasheed Walker yes, but will it cause problems for Campbell, moving him to guard will not do his confidence any good at all. No to Evens to old and injury prone now. Also he is just testing the water.

 

[KCSVEN]

Rasheed Walker yes, but will it cause problems for Campbell, moving him to guard will not do his confidence any good at all. No to Evens to old and injury prone now. Also he is just testing the water.

I would really hope Campbell, as he has stated, would just give his all to help the team at whatever position they ask of him. I also think if he moves to guard and dominates (and he has the perfect skill set to do so) his confidence would be sky high.

That being said I know little about Rasheed Walker outside the fact he was a 7th round pick, and PFF rates him a 63.0 in 2025 vs 66.3 for Campbell. He does rate slightly higher in pass blocking but much. much lower in run blocking.

Though my previous analysis shows a "2nd year leap" is somewhat a fallacy, 1/3 of players get better, 1/3 the same and 1/3 are worse based on PFF ratings. Left Tackles tend to have a higher percentage of second year leaps than almost any other position. Still no guarantee but odds favor Campbell being better in year 2 and could be significantly better.

If so, then he would be much better than Wallace.
If Campbell stagnates development at LT then moving to guard and playing a different LT like Wallace make sense.

If you sign Wallace, and he plays at the same level as he did the last 3 years, which equals what Campbell did this year, what are you gaining? Wallace was terrible against Cleveland, same as Campbell, and had his other worst 2 games in the playoffs, like Campbell.

I think odds are better to think Campbell improves, you sign a guard and move Wilson to center.
Of course, it all comes down to Campbell's improvement or not in year 2.
Will Campbell's development is one of the most important factors for the Patriots in 2026.

 

[Real fan 02]

Interesting, LaCanfora is apparently at this site now, which is where those came from:

Exclusive: Chiefs And Patriots Among Teams Eyeing Packers LT Rasheed Walker Ahead of Free Agency

Green Bay Packers left tackle Rasheed Walker, a coveted free agent, is expected to be among the highest paid players in the league next month. With interest from contending teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots, Walker's steady play and size make him a top target this...

www.sportsboom.us

Exclusive: Mike Evans Expected to Draw Interest From 49ers, Buccaneers, Patriots, Chargers in Free Agency

Mike Evans, a standout receiver in this year's free agent class, is carefully considering his next move as negotiations heat up. Despite interest from Tampa, Evans is exploring other options with a focus on offenses, quarterback quality, and chances to win a Super Bowl. At 33, he remains a...

www.sportsboom.us

Ian,

It makes no sense to pursue walker his pass blocking grade was meh and Vrabel's already made it emphatically known Campbell isn't moving.. Campbell was hurt and should have never been playing after the injury. He was rock solid prior to injury... talk about Recency biases.. we need help in the interior! Why go after walker may as well extend vederian lowe..

 

[Real fan 02]

6' - 5" 231 lbs

Evans has been a Beast his whole career, but he will be 33 when the 2026 season commences. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/E/EvanMi00.htm

Maybe he has another one in him.

Exactly correct.. we have Diggs and Hollins in the 30 plus club we need some 20 something year old players.. guys to grow with Drake.. Evans is a hamstring waiting to be pulled..

 

[davidrw]

I don’t see us throwing big money at a 32 year old WR like Evans unless all other avenues dry up, but a cheap veteran swing could make sense if Drake Maye needs a security blanket. As for Walker at tackle, that’d be a fun twist but I’d rather see us lock up the guys already in house first.

 

[WhatJustHappened]

I hardly think Evans is leaving Tampa, and I also don't believe WC is moving.

 

[Huckleberry1]

" Will Campbell is our left tackle, he's not moving to guard, center , tight end, or anywhere else."

- Mike Vrabel

 

[patfanken]

Campbell DID have problems in the at least 2 of the 3 playoff games, though I would subscribe that he did fairly well in the Denver game, especially in the 2nd half. However now, according to the current wisdom, his problems have expanded to include the "2nd half of the season", as we enter the free agent season speculations.

The fact is that Campbell rated among the better LT's in the league by all the freakin' charts and graphs we'd get after each game and the various ratings services, right up until the time he was injured at the start of the Bengals game. He did all this DESPITE the fact he was just 21 and not fully grown. DESPITE the fact he was playing next to another rookie LG who was also going through the same rookie mistakes and not a solid vet who could mitigate some of the growing pains. DESPITE the fact he was thrown into a brand new complex offense, new language, new coaches, etc, etc. DESPITE the fact we have no idea how much of his issues during the playoffs come because of his serious knee injury.

We almost hear NOTHING about that. I did see one analyst (an X-OLman) state that he was getting to his 'spot' well enough on his drops, but too often didn't have the balance and control to anchor and stop the defender's initial progress. And it wasn't like he could NEVER do it, he just didn't do enough. Now how much of that issue was because of the injury, I have no idea, but I'm sure it didn't help.

The fact that PATRIOT fans are calling for Campbell's move to LG, or RT, or anywhere else just boggles my mind. Myself I'm more of the mind of going to get a quality veteran FA LG to be our version of the Bear's Joe Thurney pick up. Someone like Seimalo, Edwards, or Bitonio, and them move Wilson back to C and save Bradbury's cap space. (though I wouldn't hate it if Bradbury was back and some other iteration of OL remains. He was more than often very solid all year and better than I was led to believe.)

 

[Lagaffe_07]

" Will Campbell is our left tackle, he's not moving to guard, center , tight end, or anywhere else."

- Mike Vrabel

I’m not advocating for changing Campbell position but It wouldn’t be the first time that plans changes.

Mike Vrabel’s role is to improve the team and if acquiring a LT and playing Campbell at RT or at guard is improving the team in his mind he will do it regardless of what he said one day after the SB.