It's no secret that all but the very best NFL teams that have a top quarterback will have their season decided by how well they execute the offseason. It's the key to any and every NFL season for almost every team not having a Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, or Jalen Hurts-type on hand. If so, it really won't matter so much.
In Foxborough, the Patriots may very well have that type of quarterback in second-year player Drake Maye. Unfortunately, his rookie season was derailed by a 2024 Patriots' offseason that rated among the worst in the NFL and certainly one of the worst in the team's history. Yet, uncannily, he still was able to complete 66 percent of his passes, his poor accompaniment notwithstanding.
Absent drafting Maye, the Jerod Mayo-led regime had anything but a great offseason. Then, to further complicate matters, the team mishandled Maye's development during last season, leading to a farewell. It led to another last-place finish in the AFC East. The good news is that 2025's offseason has been the polar opposite under Mike Vrabel. His presence has made all the difference.
Mike Vrabel aced the entire 2025 offseason
Ben Arthur of Fox Sports has sought to describe every NFL team's 2025 offseason with one word. The Patriots were "ascending". It's an apt description because that's exactly what the 2025 offseason has helped the 2025 Patriots to be.
"With promising second-year quarterback Drake Maye and a proven head coach in Mike Vrabel, the Patriots are poised to take a major leap in 2025. Their big free agency period and a universally respected rookie draft class could set a strong foundation for years to come. "
The difference between 2024 and 2025 couldn't be more pronounced. Vrabel did virtually everything right. There are never any guarantees in the NFL, but when you "do the right things," your chances of succeeding are greatly enhanced. Vrabel has set the team up for success.
Vrabel has his quarterback, and he proceeded almost immediately to provide him with the wherewithal to win this offseason. He added three free-agent offensive linemen and then drafted three more. It was a unit that needed a major infusion of talent and got it.
He also added a potential No. 1 receiver in Stefon Diggs and another capable, veteran big-play, big guy receiver in Mack Hollins. In the third round of the draft, he drafted Washington State's explosive playmaking receiver, Kyle Williams. Then, he signed a top undrafted free agent playmaker, slot receiver, Efton Chism III.
Vrabel also invested a high second-round pick in Ohio State's electric running back, TreVeyon Henderson, an offensive coordinator's dream. He can hit a seam and take any carry to the house. He's great at catching the ball out of the backfield. And, to add even more to the toolkit, he's an uncannily effective blocking back. All that gives the precocious Drake Maye a lot more to work with.
Vrabel stocked his defense with playmakers
Adding to the "ascending" aspect of the roster, defensive guy Mike Vrabel went heavy on playmakers on defense. He signed the best young defensive tackle available in Milton Williams. He had solid stats with limited snaps in 2024. He'll get many more snaps in 2025. Expect a breakout monster season statistically from Williams, with 10 sacks and 17 tackles for loss.
Vrabel also added edge playmakers in Harold Landry III, now the team's best sack artist, and the emerging K'Lavon Chaisson. He later added another sack man, Bradyn Swinson from LSU, in the fifth round of the draft, while further bolstering his interior defensive front with fourth-round pick, Florida State's Joshua Farmer.
At linebacker, he signed a free agent and very underrated tackling machine, Robert Spillane, and former Titan, Jack Gibbens. He also very astutely gave a contract extension to emerging playmaker Christian Elliss. He was one of the few 2025 Patriots free agents who warranted an extension, and he matched a qualifying offer to retain him. It was a smart move, indeed.
In the defensive backfield, he signed Carlton Davis III, another lockdown cornerback to partner with All-Pro Christian Gonzalez. They're as good a tandem as there is in the NFL. And while he may have reached a bit, he also drafted a safety, Craig Woodson, in the fourth round to add to the mix there.
The Patriots are "ascending". Good teams are built in the offseason, and Vrabel has done a fabulous job in one. It was a masterclass by the experienced NFL Head Coach and personnel evaluator. He made all the difference as the contrast with the dreadful 2024 offseason is stark. Vrabel has the Patriots on an upward trajectory, and the NFL playoffs are where they're headed.