The first shoe has dropped, and Mike Vrabel is the new Patriots Head Coach. It was a top selection by the oft-bungling owner, Robert Kraft, who finally got one right. Vrabel was the choice last season and is now finally at the helm.
The next shoe to drop may have already done so. It’s personnel control and there seems no logical way that Vrabel won’t be making the final decisions and reshaping the whole roster in his image. If not, all’s not right in Foxborough, and the whole operation may still be in jeopardy.
Here, we'll proceed with a five-round, post-Mike Vrabel-hiring draft, presuming it will be Vrabel making all the calls and adding the type of players he wants to roam the field at Gillette Stadium. The theme is quality over quantity.
The Patriots need lots of outstanding players. There is no substitute.
The New England Patriots select Penn State's Abdul Carter (EDGE) with the No. 4 pick
As reflected in mock drafts, draft evaluations are but shadows of what might be. Every draft requires time to evaluate. Yet, occasionally, a player excels from the outset, steps right into the void, and becomes a top NFL player right out of the gate.
In 2025, under newly minted Head Coach Mike Vrabel, the Patriots are ready and willing to go into the void and roll the dice on a player who might do just that. In a counter-intuitive move of sorts (but not really with Vrabel), the Patriots select ... with the fourth pick overall in the first round, Penn State edge, Abdul Carter!
Carter is the best edge player in the NFL draft. He also fits right into one of the Patriots' two most needy positions. (The other, of course, is left tackle). Vrabel moves quickly and surgically to remedy one of the team's dire needs with the best option available in the draft in Carter. Having been an edge himself, the Coach knows what he's looking for, and he crushes this pick.
Carter will step right in and start at the left edge, facing NFL right tackles. It's going to be a mismatch—for all the tackles! The 6'3", 252-pound Carter dominated in 2024. He racked up 68 total stops, a whopping 24 tackles for loss, and 12 sacks.
Pro Football Focus (PFF) has Carter rated as the best edge in the draft. (No surprise there.) Here's how they list his superlatives,
• Rare athlete for the position
• Natural explosiveness and bend are both elite
• Willingness to play physically despite lighter weight
• Pass rushes like a basketball guard; cross-over style (basketball background)
Mike Vrabel knows tha,t edge players are playmakers and Carter is the best in the 2025 draft. Having played there, Vrabel appreciates the added value of a top edge disruptor and scoops him up with the fourth pick overall without hesitation. Carter starts from Day One.
Patriots trade down and draft defensive tackle Kenneth Grant of Michigan
The Patriots seek value in the second round and make a deal with the Bengals. They send their 37th pick to Cincinnati for the Bengals' 49th and 81st p,icks, adding another third-rounder in the bargain. They waste no time, again going defense (after all, the Head Coach was a defender!), and draft another position of need, defensive tackle. They select Kenneth Grant of Michigan with pick No. 49 in the second round acquired from the Bengals.
The 6'3", 339-pound massive Wolverine is a pocket-pulverizer and will nicely complement the Patriots' dynamic inside duo Christian Barmore and Keion White. nfldraftbuzz.com has this to say about the Michigan "marvel,"
"Kenneth Grant is an athletic marvel who combines exceptional size, explosiveness, and raw power. His rare blend of physical traits, including running a sub-5.0 40-yard dash at 360 pounds, has generated significant buzz within the Michigan Wolverines program. Grant’s ability to disrupt the run game and collapse the pocket makes him a key addition to any NFL defensive front. His versatility allows him to excel in both 4-3 and 3-4 schemes, providing flexibility for defensive coordinators looking to maximize his impact."
Grant, added to Barmore and White is an offensive coordinator's worst nightmare. With Barmore's health status still an issue, Grant also provides cover if he's sidelined. As PFF's second-rated defensive tackle in the draft in the fold, Vrabel is on a proverbial roll.
Patriots double-dip with pass rushers by drafting Princely Umanmielen from Mississippi at No. 68
Mike Vrabel appreciates the value of having a top pass rush. He's already shorn up one side by adding the best edge in the draft, Abdul Carter. He goes back to the edge and takes another top prospect with the Pats' own third-round pick, No. 68. He selects Princely Umanmielen from Mississippi.
Umanmielen fits in many mock drafts as an option for the Patriots. He has top size, at 6'4", 260 pounds, and production. In 2024 he logged 37 total stops with 14 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks for the Rebels. Added to Carter, Vrabel has two tough attackers for any offensive line to contain. That's double-trouble, especially with pocket-collapsers Barmore, White, and now Grant on hand.
the33rdteam.com has this to say about Umanmielen,
"Umanmielen has the right stuff to be a disruptive presence on the edge. He’ll be most effective in a wide-9 alignment in the NFL to allow him to threaten tackles with his speed and ability to turn the corner. This is someone who is capable of screaming down off the edge and quickly getting into the mesh point, thanks to his acceleration and his length, which protects him along the edge from overcommitting and missing out on contact from the quarterback."
Drake Maye finally gets his starting left tackle with North Dakota State's Grey Zabel at No. 77
With the pick No. 77 in the third round acquired from Atlanta for Matt Judon, Mike Vrabel adds to a position he knows needs shoring up this offseason. He drafts Grey Zabel, a big offensive tackle from North Dakota State. The 6'6", 305-pound Zabel has been a left tackle but also displays versatility including at center. If the Pats also sign a solid veteran left tackle in free agency, that will also be a huge plus.
the draftnetwork.com comments on the big Bison offensive tackle,
"A mainstay starter since the end of the 2022 season, he has logged starts at every position on the line except center. In 2024, Zabel served as the full-time left tackle, showcasing a physical and promising skill set that projects most effectively to the interior, particularly at center. Despite limited experience at the position, Zabel’s tools and film have made him a highly sought-after prospect in what is shaping up to be a weaker class at center.
"Zabel’s game reflects the same physicality, power, and relentless finishing ability that have become hallmarks of NDSU offensive linemen, who consistently anchor one of the nation’s top rushing attacks. His size and frame are prototypical for an NFL center, offering a strong foundation for success at the next level."
Patriots add more insurance to the offensive line by selecting Earnest Greene III from Georgia at No. 81
With their third pick in the third round, No. 81, acquired in the trade with the Bengals, Vrabel goes back to the offensive left tackle position. Vrabel is well aware of the folly of the 2024 Patriots entering an NFL season with essentially no left tackles of note on the roster. He's too astute to allow that to happen again, no matter who else is involved in the draft process.
The selection here is another left tackle, Earnest Greene III from Georgia. Green is slightly undersized at about 6'4" tall and 320 pounds, but his Georgia pedigree can't be overestimated. He'll battle Zabel to start on an almost totally revamped Patriots offensive line. Both tackle spots are wide open.
Greene hails from a top program in the best conference in the country, the SEC. Here's what nfldraftbuzz.com says about the big Bulldog left tackle,
"Greene projects as a high-ceiling, developmental tackle with day-two draft value. His SEC pedigree and immediate impact at Georgia suggest he can contribute early in a zone-heavy scheme. Expect him to start his NFL career at right tackle with potential to slide to the left side as he refines his technique. His anchor strength and lateral agility translate well to the next level, but he'll need to improve his pad level and pass set depth to handle NFL edge rushers. Greene's floor is that of a solid backup tackle, while his ceiling could be an above-average starter by year three."
The Patriots' offense adds a weapon in Round 4 with tight end Terrance Ferguson from Oregon
In the fourth round, Vrabel adds to his offensive skill positions and adds a big tight end, Terrance Ferguson, from Oregon. The 6'5", 245-pound Ferguson caught 43 passes for 591 yards and three TDs in 2024. He'll be a solid developmental type to learn from the Pats' over 30-year-old veterans, Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper (if he's still around).
nfldraftbuzz.com comments on the big Ducks tight end,
"Ferguson currently profiles as a solid Day 2 selection in the NFL Draft, likely coming off the board in the second or third round. His combination of size, athleticism, and receiving ability make him an intriguing prospect for teams looking to add a versatile tight end to their offense. While Ferguson may not possess the elite traits of a first-round tight end, his well-rounded skill set and production against top competition suggest he can contribute immediately as a rookie. His ability to line up in multiple spots and threaten defenses at all levels of the field will be attractive to offensive coordinators."
With pick No. 142, the Patriots select RB Dylan Sampson out of Tennessee
The Patriots' running back room is, at best, average. Rhamondre Stevenson is a top back when he's healthy and not fumbling, but he's been inconsistent. Antonio Gibson is a decent backup, but after that, the cupboard is bare. Vrabel wants more dynamism in the backfield, and he gets a top pick in the fifth round with the Patriots' own pick, No. 142.
Vrabel selects the uber-productive, Dylan Sampson, a 5'11', 190-pound speedster from Tennessee. Sampson is a bit undersized, but he can fly, posting a blazing 4.35 seconds in the forty. The Pats haven't had a back like that in forever.
nfldraftbuzz.com talks about the Vols' uber-productive back who gained 1431 yards with a 5.8 yards per carry average, and a whopping 22 TDs on the ground in 2024!
"Dylan Sampson has become a dynamic playmaker for Tennessee after joining the program as a 3-star recruit out of Louisiana. The junior running back steadily climbed the depth chart, showcasing explosive speed and versatility that caught the attention of NFL scouts. In 2023, Sampson rushed for 604 yards and 7 touchdowns while adding 175 receiving yards, forming an effective backfield tandem. He built on that success in 2024, leading the SEC with 9 rushing touchdowns through just 3 games.
A standout track athlete in high school, Sampson's elite speed translates seamlessly to the football field. He clocked a blazing 4.35 40-yard dash and has been measured reaching 22-23 mph during games. That game-breaking speed was on full display in 2022 when he ripped off an 80-yard touchdown run against Vanderbilt. Sampson couples his speed with impressive vision and cutting ability, allowing him to exploit gaps and make defenders miss in the open field."
Sampson appears a steal in the fifth round. As a change-of-pace back, he'll complement big backs Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson nicely if they're still in Foxborough in 2025. With his speed, he'll be a threat to take it to the house on every carry, an attribute no one else on the Patriots possesses.
That's a look at a 5-round, monster draft navigated brilliantly by Patriots' Head Coach, Mike Vrabel, who'll be making all the final calls on personnel this offseason. Couple this draft with a top free agency that delivers a WR1, another top receiver, and maybe a solid veteran offensive left tackle, and the Patriots will be primed to make some noise in the AFC East.