The New England Patriots are on to the 2026 offseason. Mike Vrabel and company had a terrific first season, won 14 regular-season games and three playoff games before crashing down to earth. It was a disappointing finish to lose to Seattle in the Super Bowl, but even the most optimistic observers didn't expect them to win it this season anyway.
Now Vrabel turns his attention to the second year of rebuilding what was 2024’s worst NFL roster. Pieces are in place, but many more are necessary. Vrabel gave the Patriots an incredible season, but not winning a trophy when it's almost in your hands is a massive disappointment.
Nevertheless, it's full speed ahead on the offseason, and the Head Coach and master builder likens the effort to a building project, as in building a house, starting with the foundation and then adding on. That's exactly what he'll be doing in the next four months in free agency, the draft, and undrafted free agency.
Mike Vrabel says the Patriots need a remodel, not a rebuild
Mike Vrabel got an A+ for his 2025 offseason. Compare and contrast it with the miserable (absent drafting Drake Maye) 2024 offseason, and the differences and, of course, the results were stark. Vrabel knows exactly what he's doing, and he proved it last offseason. Now he's on to 2026, and he needs to continue the reconstruction.
MassLive's Mark Daniels cited Mike Vrabel talking about what's ahead for the Patriots this offseason.
"I just talked about a disappointing finish to a phenomenal, exciting, enjoyable year. It’s unfortunate,'" Vrabel said. "Talked to them about the foundation I think that we’ve built. Much like a home, you build a home and then run out of things to do, so you continue to add on to it, you finish the basement, you make additions to it, and we’ll try to do that to this football team. I like the foundation of it, and we’ll try to improve on it."
The Head Coach has several objectives that are clear as day. His offensive line, while somewhat of an improvement over the dismal 2024 version, was not good enough. They surrendered 47 regular-season sacks and 21 in the postseason, an inordinate number. On the defensive side of the ball, the edges failed to notch enough sacks. Pressures and hits weren't good enough, especially in the Super Bowl. Sacks need to be addressed on both sides of the ball.
The 2026 Patriots' offseason must largely be about sacks
The Patriots' 2025 offensive line sported four new starters from 2024. That's an 80-percent overhaul. It was an improvement of sorts, but it was never more than a stopgap. The long-term O-line is yet to be put in place. This offseason, Vrabel has to improve it with probably two or three new and improved starters.
He has free agency to try to snag an O-lineman or two, something he failed to do last offseason. That was one of the few disappointments of the 2025 offseason. This year, maybe he can land a starter and then augment with one or two top draft picks as he did last season.
It's incumbent on Vrabel to add young O-line talent in the draft. Right tackle Morgan Moses is 34 years old, and center Garrett Bradbury will be 31 in June. Also, Mike Onwenu can be traded this offseason. Onwenu has a $7.5M dead cap hit if he's sent packing. Yet, in so doing, the team can save $17.5M on the cap. He had a good season, but he's not worth $25M. Trade him.
Conversely, the Patriots need edge players who deliver sacks, not just pressures and hits. They may impact a play, but they don't end it. Sacks do. They crush drives and win games. The Patriots have the oft-injured Harold Landry III at edge. But their other starter, K'Lavon Chaisson, is an unrestricted free agent. If he leaves, there's Landry and no one else.
Vrabel needs to add edges in free agency, the draft, or maybe by trade. Maxx Crosby is a great target, but he'll be costly. But he's a difference-maker and should be strongly considered, no matter what the cost. Free agent Jaelen Phillips of the Eagles is also a possibility.
The Patriots' rebuilding project is ongoing. They weren't good enough in 2025 to win the Lombardi Trophy. There are other positions to fill, but if you're not preventing sacks and getting enough of them, you're unlikely to win the ultimate prize.