It's that time of the year when NFL fans obsess over the free agents their favorite team can sign or the players who might be available for trade who would immediately improve their chances of having an incredible season, and the Patriots are no different.
After a disappointing end to an otherwise impressive season, they are entering a crucial offseason with ample ammunition to upgrade their roster and run it back in 2026.
To accomplish that, they'll have to be aggressive in free agency, which they have the projected cap space to do, and maybe even dabble in some blockbuster trades, particularly for a pass rusher or a wide receiver. That has been the talk of the town in recent weeks, but there might be an issue that people are overlooking.
Since Mike Vrabel became the Titans' head coach in 2018, he has not made a big-time trade that brings a superstar player to his roster. That's a red flag for Patriots fans who are hoping for a name like AJ Brown or Maxx Crosby to make their way to Foxboro.
History shows Patriots fans that Mike Vrabel might not make the splashy moves they want
The Patriots are in a position to make their biggest trade of the last several years this offseason, but looking at Vrabel's history, it doesn't feel more likely to happen this year than it ever did under Bill Belichick.
While he was with the Titans when they moved AJ Brown to the Eagles, Vrabel has never signed off on a trade that brought a superstar player to the team he was coaching, so that suggests it might be a distant thought in his mind with the Patriots, too.
The problem is that they're in a good spot to get a big deal done this year, and based on their performance during the 2025 season, leading them to the Super Bowl, plus Drake Maye still being on his rookie contract, it's the time to do it now if they ever want to get a trade done.
There are a handful of players who would fit exactly what they need, and fortunately, a few are already considered trade candidates.
They have to take advantage of their current circumstances, as Maye is in line for an extension right after Christian Gonzalez, and they'll be very limited in the kind of blockbuster deals they can pull off after that.
Perhaps Eliot Wolf will be more inclined to convince Vrabel that now is the time to do it, especially since he was all-in on acquiring Brandon Aiyuk during the 2024 offseason and has reportedly considered other massive trades as well.
He might be the only hope for Patriots fans to see something marquee get done; otherwise, it looks like another mostly unexciting offseason is set to unfold.