Mike Vrabel: Patriots Will 'Continue to Target' WRs in FA, Draft amid Kupp Rumors

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel told reporters that the team will continue to target wide receiver in free agency and the draft during a chat with reporters on Thursday (h/t Pro Football Talk's Josh Alper, who cited a team transcript).

“I’m not going to talk about any of the players other than the ones that are right here and the ones that are currently on our football team,” Vrabel began when asked about New England's failed pursuit of Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin and the team's future wide receiver plans.

“We’ll continue to target. Mack Hollins will be in here tomorrow. He’s a wide receiver. But we’ll continue to look at the wide receiver position as it relates to free agency, explore every option with other teams, and potentially then we’ll get to the point where we’re looking at the draft. There’s just a lot of time, and I know that everybody is like, it’s over in free agency. It’s never over.”

ESPN's Adam Schefter (h/t Josh Norris of Underdog) reported that the Pats were willing to pay up to $30 million per year for Godwin before he decided to stay in Tampa Bay for three seasons and $66 million ($22 million per year).

The Patriots have already added former Buffalo Bills wideout Mack Hollins but want to add more resources to the wideout room, with ex-Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp notably in mind, per multiple sources.

"According to a source, the Patriots are currently interested on bringing the veteran wideout aboard," per Karen Guregian of Mass Live. "However, Kupp’s asking price at the moment is a bit too steep."

Schefter (h/t Jon Heath of Broncos Wire) reported that the Patriots, Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos were "teams that bear watching" in the Kupp sweepstakes, adding that "at least a dozen teams have called in and expressed interest in exploring a deal."

The Patriots, who entered the offseason with $125 million in cap space, have spent quite a few resources on the defensive side so far (e.g. Milton Williams, Carlton Davis and Robert Spillane) but need more help on the offensive side to help second-year quarterback Drake Maye. Kupp could certainly be an answer there, but the Pats certainly have competition for his services.