NFL teams will be announcing unofficial depth charts for Week 1 of the regular season this week. For the New England Patriots, the word “unofficial” takes on added meaning.
The Mike Vrabel regime has spent its first year at the helm overhauling the roster, and that approach hasn’t changed since the initial 53-man rosters were announced on Aug. 26. The Patriots have made a flurry of moves since cut-down day, with the decision to release veteran safety Jabrill Peppers among the most recent (and the most eyebrow-raising).
The team has also utilized its high waiver wire priority to add several players to the roster, with former Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito the most recognizable to Patriots fans. Making a move at third-string quarterback doesn't exactly move the needle for a rebuilding team like New England, but it does hint at a clear agenda for Vrabel in Year 1 as head coach of the Patriots.
Mike Vrabel is prioritizing culture over talent in Year 1 as head coach of the New England Patriots
It’s been about seven months since the Patriots announced Vrabel as the 16th head coach in franchise history, and he’s spent the bulk of that time ridding the roster of players with strong ties to the Bill Belichick regime.
Per Mike Giardi of Boston Sports Journal, the Patriots re-upped five such players prior to the 2024 season in Peppers, Davon Godchaux, David Andrews, Joe Cardona, and Kendrick Bourne. All of those players are now gone — and that list nearly grew with safety Kyle Dugger and EDGE Anfernee Jennings both on the trade block prior to cut-down day.
Vrabel inherited a Patriots roster with a glaring need for high-end talent. The ongoing purging of veteran, starting-caliber players signals a clear objective. New England’s new regime is all about culture and scheme fit, and its decision to use a roster spot on DeVito is a shining example.
Patriots QB Tommy DeVito fits Mike Vrabel’s 2025 agenda to a T
Giants fans didn’t only fall in love with DeVito for his Italian heritage. He only started eight games for the Giants over the 2023 and 2024 seasons, but he showed poise and moxie in those appearances while injecting life into a franchise that had been floundering at the bottom of the NFC East for years.
DeVito is far from a polished prospect entering Year 3 as a pro, but he’s improved each season and deserves a chance to be a top NFL backup. Analyst Kris Knox recently called it a “smart decision” for Vrabel to add the young QB while grading the move a B+ for Bleacher Report.
“DeVito only turned 27 earlier this month and has eight starts and an 88.4 career quarterback rating on his resume. He'll only be a restricted free agent next offseason, so the Patriots have up to two years to determine whether he can be their long-term backup.”
Vrabel knows he needs to get the roster right in his first season in Foxboro, and he clearly has a type. Young players who fit the team’s vision and still have a ton to prove are being prioritized, and Patriots fans can only hope that the strategy leads to a more competitive team from top to bottom.