The New England Patriots begin the second year of the Mike Vrabel era after a mesmerizing, almost entirely unexpected trip to the playoffs and then the Super Bowl. While the ride ended with a thud, it was great while it lasted.
The whole enterprise was fashioned by Mike Vrabel, who engineered one of the most successful Patriots' off-seasons ever. And one major component now being lauded by a top analyst was his terrific 2025 NFL draft.
Vrabel knew he had the most important chess piece on hand in his brilliant young quarterback, Drake Maye. But there was a huge rebuild to undertake, and he began the process by cleaning house and replacing players through a superb free agency, which delivered numerous new and improved starters.
The next step in the revamping came in the 2025 NFL draft. Vrabel had some nice assets in hand as he would be picking third overall and then have high picks in every round thereafter. It was a good starting point for the second phase of his 2025 effort.
Mike Vrabel's 2025 draft was one of the Patriots' best ever
The draft implementation began when Vrabel wasted no time in selecting his left tackle of the future, Will Campbell from LSU, Pro Football Focus's best tackle and fifth-best player overall in the 2025 draft. Campbell started from Day One as expected and, absent an injury, was locked in to be the first Team All-Rookie left tackle.
The good picks continued thereafter, and now a major sports outlet has acknowledged Vrabel's sterling effort.
Josh Edwards of CBS Sports has graded the Patriots' 2025 rookie draft class with an A to reflect just how good they really were.
"Year 1 hits: OT Will Campbell, OG Jared Wilson, RB TreVeyon Henderson, S Craig Woodson
New England's draft was a solid double into the gap. They identified multiple starters with high floors, but relatively low ceilings for a team that advanced to the Super Bowl.
Henderson is one that has become an explosive producer for the Patriots. Campbell and Wilson are two big parts of a revamped offensive line. Wide receiver Kyle Williams played extensively despite being further down the depth chart."
Edwards says the Patriots hit a "double into the gap", but after the 2024 debacle (absent the Robert Kraft-induced mandate to draft Drake Maye), it actually measured as a grand slam home run. Vrabel delivered the four offensive and defensive starters Edwards mentioned and a whole lot more.
MIke Vrabel must replicate his 2025 draft this year
In addition to Campbell, Wilson, and Woodson, Vrabel's second-round pick, TreVeyon Henderson, also became a starter. He was benched for the foolish reason of not being a top blocker. Yet, when Henderson got a chance to do what he does, explode for big runs, he excelled.
He had four runs of more than 50 yards for touchdowns. Had he played a full season, he would have easily smashed the 1000-yard mark. Starting only four games, he notched 911 yards and a whopping nine touchdowns.
Vrabel also added two special teams starters in kicker Andy Borregales, who, after a slow start, was excellent, and long snapper Julian Ashby. Also contributing, though he fought through injuries, was fourth-round pick, defensive tackle Joshua Farmer.
Like Henderson, third-round pick, wide receiver Kyle Williams was also kept on the pine by Patriots Offensive Coordinator, Josh McDaniels. Yet, in limited snaps, he showed the explosiveness for which he was drafted. Expect a lot more in 2026.
It was a terrific draft, and the contrast between the amateurish 2024 version that delivered nothing but Maye and 2025's was stark. But the Patriots are on to 2026, and now Vrabel has to attack the draft with 11 picks, many of which are much lower in the rounds than he enjoyed last year.
He'll be picking from the bottom rungs of many rounds, beginning with the 31st overall pick as the Super Bowl runner-up.
Regardless, Vrabel will be expected to score highly again with the 11 picks he now has at his disposal. These include the Patriots' own first four picks and an extra fourth-rounder. He'll have to maximize their value if he is to continue with the positive rebuild and win the ultimate prize.
There is no rest for the weary. In 2026, the Patriots face a far more difficult schedule against division leaders. Fortunately, for Patriot Nation, though, Mike Vrabel is in charge of the draft and everything else. Absent taking home the Lombardi Trophy in his first season, there seems to be little that Mike Vrabel can't accomplish in NFL football.