The Patriots are essentially a new team for 2025, with changes all over the place and on the field. Mike Vrabel has taken charge, and nothing's the same. Vrabel is a pro's pro, and from top to bottom, he's reshaping the Patriots landscape, and it's all to the good.
From free agency to the draft, to undrafted free agency, and everything in between, Vrabel's influence is pervasive. It's his team now, from the front office to the on-field operations, and it shows. Vrabel's Patriots organization exudes professionalism and competence, and it's evident to any onlooker paying attention.
One key aspect of Vrabel's assimilation is his relationship with his most important player, Drake Maye. If that's askew, nothing else will fall into place. Recently, CBS Sports' Cody Benjamin ranked the "Most promising" new Head Coach/quarterback relationships. There are 13 examples in 2025.
CBS Sports ranked the Patriots Head Coach/QB tandem in the middle
Cody Benjamin thinks the Patriots' Head Coach/quarterback duo is about in the middle of the pack of the 13 teams ranked. While it's better than being at the bottom, mediocracy isn't exactly where you want to be.
"Maye didn't just survive New England's pivot off Bill Belichick in 2024; he found a way to flash his dual-threat potential even without reliable weapons or consistent messaging from coach Jerod Mayo. Vrabel's return to the franchise he once repped on the field brings instant gravitas to a newly stocked defense, and his more proven voice as a playoff-contending head coach should help strengthen the entire operation, including Maye."
While the write-up on its surface seems rather flattering, why the low rating? The Pats fell way below the second-ranked (behind Dallas) Vikings' Head Coach Kevin O'Connell and his quarterback, J.J. McCarthy. Now, O'Connell is a top NFL coach, but what about McCarthy? Well, the fact is he's never even taken a snap in an NFL regular-season game. He was injured before his rookie season.
That ranking with a "totally" untested quarterback has to cast some shade on Benjamin's ratings. Now, the Vikings on paper are a better football team than the 2024 version of the Patriots. No question at all about that. But what about now?
These rankings underestimates Drake Maye and the Patriots' revised supporting cast
Benjamin addressed that McCarthy is untested by stating that he " really needs to be is adequate to capitalize on the Vikings' treasure trove of playmakers, all of whom are maximized by O'Connell's beloved leadership."
But does that supposition hold enough water to drop the Patriots well below the Vikings? No, it doesn't, and here are some reasons why. Another notable similarity is that both Vrabel and O'Connell have been named NFL Coach of the Year. Vrabel was after 2021, and O'Connell won it for last year, 2024. That's a pretty fair comparison. These guys are both great coaches.
The other two major factors are the quarterbacks and the supporting casts. This is where Benjamin underrates the Patriots. Vrabel, the GM, has rebuilt his roster with substantial upgrades. He knew he had his quarterback in Maye and that he's the real deal. All he had to do was fill in the roster blanks.
The Vikings didn't require an overhaul, having gone 14-3 last season. But Vrabel's upgrades to a team that lost six games by one score have made a dramatic difference. But that's not the key issue. The issue is the quarterback comparison between Maye and McCarthy.
McCarthy was lighting up the 2024 pre-season before getting injured and missing the season. Yet, he did miss the season and has never started an NFL regular-season game. Maye, on the other hand, took his lumps with a terrible Patriots team, got experience, and excelled. That team no longer exists.
While Benjamin's analysis is solid, he underestimates the Patriots' side of the argument. The two cornerstones, the coach and the quarterback, are both game-tested in New England, while in Minnesota, they're not. Additionally, the Vikings were a far better team in 2024 than the hapless Patriots.
Yet, now, that Patriots team is gone. A new shiny model is in place and ready to roll. The call here is that the Maye/Vrabel combination is far closer to the top than the bottom of the CBS Sports rating. We'll see in a few months who's closer to being accurate. The Vikings are a good bet, but the Pats might just surprise.