This will be an interesting week as two of the top prospects in the draft will be visiting Gillette Stadium, with each of them potentially spending some time in Foxboro ahead of what may be a longer stay with the New England Patriots<\/strong><\/a> in the coming years.<\/p>\n One of the big names has already been here.\u00a0 North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye was reportedly in the building on Friday for his Top 30 visit.\u00a0 Maye’s stock appears to be skyrocketing, and it certainly is starting to feel like if he’s there when the Patriots are on the clock just over three weeks from now, he could be the one whose name is called.<\/p>\n However, that may depend on what Washington does, and they seem to be all over the place.\u00a0 Various reports had seemed to indicate they’re leaning strongly toward Jayden Daniels<\/strong><\/a>, but Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports has heard that may not be the case.<\/p>\n Vacchiano reported on Friday that<\/strong><\/a> “multiple NFL sources said they don’t believe Maye will get past the Commanders at No. 2.”\u00a0 If that’s the case, the next question is going to be who the Patriots might pivot to.<\/p>\n Albert Breer reported that the club is expected to have dinner with Daniels Monday night<\/strong><\/a> ahead of his meeting with Patriots brass on Tuesday.\u00a0 So how these next two days go will likely determine whether or not he’ll be their next choice, or if instead might be the next quarterback who will follow that visit, which is Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy.<\/p>\n McCarthy is obviously coming off a National Championship-winning season, with plenty of people wondering just how he might fare in the NFL, given how little he was asked to throw the ball behind the Wolverine’s ground game and offensive line.<\/p>\n But as far as which way Eliot Wolf is leaning, it’s tough to say.\u00a0 Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald, who checked in on the previous rumors from Tony Pauline that Wolf was high on McCarthy, reported in his recent mailbag<\/strong><\/a> that even those inside the building are unsure which way he’s truly leaning.<\/p>\n That’s what makes this upcoming week so intriguing.\u00a0 With so much at stake, this is New England’s one chance to get each of these guys in their building to hopefully get some final answers.<\/p>\n Granted, their final decision may be out of their hands based on what the Commanders ultimately do, but what happens from there will likely depend on whatever they take away from each of these guys over the coming days.<\/p>\n With the news of the Patriots finally reaching an agreement to lock up Kyle Dugger for the next four years<\/strong><\/a>, the club now has one of its key playmakers locked up on defense for longer than any of its other players.<\/p>\n The two sides reportedly agreed to a\u00a04-year, $58 million deal which could be worth up to $66 million, including $32.5 million guaranteed.<\/p>\n The deal will ensure Dugger remains a Patriot into 2027, which, for now, has him under contract longer than any of his teammates<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0 This news was a bit of a surprise, especially since it came following reports this week where Dugger was apparently unhappy having received the transition tag<\/strong>\u00a0<\/a>this offseason.<\/p>\n That move gave the Patriots some control in terms of keeping him in New England, with Dugger originally locked for one more year at just over $13 million in 2024.\u00a0 That designation also kept him from hitting the open market, extending their window to get a deal done. Had another team made an attempt to sign him, it also gave Jerod Mayo and the Patriots the right of first refusal for any offer Dugger might have received elsewhere.<\/p>\n As it currently stands, the Patriots now have 17 players who have contracts that will expire in 2026<\/strong><\/a>, most of which are last year’s draft class.\u00a0 The rest include offseason acquisition Antonio Gibson, with newly re-signed Mike Onwenu, Kendrick Bourne, Hunter Henry, and Anfernee Jennings among the few veterans who round out that list.<\/p>\n Dugger certainly put together a good resume last season.\u00a0 He finished 2023\u00a0as the team\u2019s second-leading tackler<\/strong><\/a>, totaling 109 tackles, including 71 solo, along with 1.5 sacks, 5 QB hits, and six tackles for a loss.\u00a0 He also added two interceptions and seven passes defended, with the latter total tying him with Jonathan Jones and Myles Bryant.\u00a0 Jabril Peppers led the team in that category with 8 in 2023.<\/p>\n 3-minute reminder of what Kyle Dugger can do at his best pic.twitter.com\/vRWDY4hfVc<\/a><\/p>\n — Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) April 7, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n![\"Kyle](\"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/USATSI_19747848_168390408_lowres-660x440.jpg\")
<\/p>\nDugger Now Longest Locked-Up Player<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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