Patriots coach Mike Vrabel didn't reveal too much in his ;pre-draft press conference on Tueday. (AP file photo)

New New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel is certainly in charge, and on Tuesday he gave the media and fans a few pre-draft nuggets.

First of all, don’t discount the Patriots taking a left tackle at some point, even as high as No. 4. Vrabel was asked if he thought there were starting caliber players at the position in the draft.

“I think there’s some starting tackles that certainly will come in and start in the NFL. I think that that’s really what you start to look for, impact players,” he said.” When you start picking that high, what they’re going to do for you, what’s the impact, what’s the position, you talk about premium positions. That’s where you weigh all the circumstances and end up making that pick. Do I think that there are starters in this draft that left tackle? Yes, I do.”

Thus Vrabel set the table for the possibility LSU’s Will Campbell could be taken at No. 4, basically if he’s the only one left of the trio that includes him, Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, and pass rusher Abdul Carter. The only way they’re likely available is if the New York Giants take QB Shadore Sanders with the No. 3 choice.

“I think that we probably know as much as everybody else and what gets reported,” Vrabel said. “I mean, Tennessee’s not calling or Cleveland’s not calling. Even though I was a consultant there last year, I haven’t heard their plans on who they want to pick. So, we’ll see as we get closer. If any of that information’s available, we would love to have it.”

Best available or pick of need?

“Well, we’d love for them to align, having a need and having the best player be there,” Vrabel said. “That doesn’t always happen, and we certainly want to pick the best player as many times as we can and the player that we think at that point is the best player.

“Then we’ll figure it out. Maybe you look at one position and we may have some returning starters or we feel like are starters, or there’s depth at that position, but to add premium players when available is something that you should probably always try to do.”

If Carter and Hunter are gone, do the Patriots have a plan? Of course they do.

“Well, we’re in the process of going through what everybody calls these simulations, and that’s been and will continue to be good exercises,” Vrabel said. “It’s just running scenarios and what we would do based on those scenarios. So, to say that we have a definitive answer on those scenarios, no, but those are processes that are ongoing, and we’ll be done here shortly.”

ON MILTON TRADE

Why was backup QB Joe Milton III traded to Dallas? Pretty simple: He wasn’t going to play here in Vrabel’s mind, so why have a disgruntled player around?

“Well, we felt like his reps were going to be decreased as we worked through the offseason,” Vrabel said. “We felt like – just like every other decision – that we’re going to try to do what’s best for the team, and that’s the decision that we ultimately made. So, we’re excited to move forward with Drake [Maye] and Josh [Dobbs]. That’s going to be a tough one for me to continue to say over and over is Drake and Josh”