In free agency, Mike Vrabel did a top job shoring up and remaking a defense that had lost its edge. He's shifting focus to a more mobile, attacking style, and it's a refreshing alteration. Yet, one major team need that threatens to derail the 2025 season as it did in 2024 is still unfilled. It's the left tackle position, and Vrabel has limited his options dramatically.
The Patriots had little chance to sign the best options at left tackle in free agency, Ronnie Stanley of Baltimore and Alaric Jackson of the LA Rams. Neither reached free agency. Yet, the next best option was available, and Vrabel whiffed. It was Cam Robinson of the Vikings. He signed a reasonable deal with the Texans of all teams.
The logical question is - who's running the store at Gillette Stadium? Is it the naive amateurs who guided the 2024 offseason into a dreadful culmination in a 3-14 season? Or is it Vrabel and company, whose free agency has been solid until now but has fallen off the table by not signing a left tackle?
The Patriots' missing on a solid free agent left tackle is a huge misstep
If you have no left tackle, you effectively will have no offense. That's the thought borne out by the dreadful 2024 season when the Patriots' "braintrust" neglected the position entirely and paid the ultimate price - last place in the AFC East. To date, history seems to be repeating itself with the ostensible top man, Mike Vrabel in charge.
Vrabel's offseason thus far has been solid. As theorized, he centered on defense in free agency and perhaps has left the draft for the offense. Despite those positives, securing a left tackle in free agency was an optimum scenario. Unfortunately, Vrabel, like his assumed predecessor in charge of personnel, neglected to fill the most necessary of his need positions in free agency.
Having a veteran left tackle on hand solves a whole host of issues. Protecting his quarterback is secured. He also has better options in the draft to add the very best players at whatever need positions he may choose. Not signing a left tackle limited those options dramatically. It's not a good look for Vrabel.
His only option, barring trades, a problematic situation in the NFL at best, is the draft. The draft, at best, is a crapshoot, even at the top. Vrabel has to approach it with two clear and present imperatives: draft two top left tackles and two top wide receivers. He has none of either on his roster now.
Vrabel needs to either trade for or draft his second-most important player
Mike Vrabel has boxed himself into a corner. He now needs to either pull off a less-than-likely trade for a left tackle or go heavy for a couple in the draft and hope one works out. Now, Vrabel has to be astute enough either to pull off an unlikely trade or hope he can land a left tackle in the draft who can do the job.
One way to do so would be to draft LSU's Will Campbell with the fourth overall pick. That's an option and his best one. Campbell will be thee at No. 4. The issue for Vrabel is the opportunity cost. He has no No. 1 or No. 2 receiver. If he has to pass on Travis Hunter to take Campbell, it will be a major gaffe.
Hunter is a two-position star. If Vrabel has to pass on him to take a left tackle, who could have been selected a round or two later after signing a capable veteran, he missed a golden opportunity. All of this smacks of the naïve inattention to an essential requirement of NFL team construction. If you have a quarterback, you better ensure he has a left tackle to protect him.
If there isn't a top left tackle on hand to contribute, you've failed in your mission. Like the 2024 Patriots, you will also fail. Mike Vrabel and/or whoever is making personnel decisions still has potential trades and the draft to bail them out from this significant current offseason blunder. The clock is ticking. We'll see if they've learned anything from 2024. It will be evident after the draft.