The Patriots' first preseason game is in the books, and it looked like an emphatic win for the home team. But was it? Not really. The Patriots beat up on the Commanders' scrubs (30 players were not dressed) just like they "beat" the Bills' third-stringers last season. That cost them the 2025 first overall pick in the draft, much to the delight of the guffawing Bills. These wins are what they are: meaningless.
What does matter is evaluating the Patriots players and their individual performances. These games and joint practices are the only way to prepare against other NFL teams. The games may be of dubious value, but the joint practices can tell a lot.
The Minnesota joint practices and game, along with the final preseason game against the Giants, will help evaluate players to finalize the roster before playing Pete Carroll's Raiders at home on September 7th.
Yet, what questions need to be answered as well as they can be now by Mike Vrabel and company?
3 key questions to answer in the 2nd pre-season game
Who will be the Patriots' starting offensive line?
Mike Vrabel started an eye-opening offensive line in the Commanders game. Mike Onwenu was the only 2024 starter who played. Veteran free agent center Garrett Bradbury accompanied him and, surprisingly, three rookies. That was hardly a resounding endorsement of the 2024 O-line. It was the NFL's worst, and Vrabel won't roll it out again with Drake Maye and his other starters.
Future All-Rookie teamer Will Campbell started at left tackle as expected, and Jared Wilson unsurprisingly at left guard. They were accompanied by seventh-round pick Marcus Bryant at right tackle. Starting two rookies on the offensive line is surprising. Starting three is startling.
It's no surprise that Vrabel opted to stick with his guys over 2024's flops. Expect Bradbury to start at center with Campbell and Wilson on the left. Morgan Moses will be the right tackle if he's healthy, but surprising rookie Bryant is being prepped at both tackle spots.
Who gets the wide receiver reps against Minnesota will also say a lot
The Patriots' wide receiver position is a competitive one. Seven or eight guys are vying for maybe six or seven spots. Locks are Stefon Diggs, Pop Douglas, Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams, and probably Kayshon Boutte. Others in contention are last year's draft picks, Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, and super underrated free agent, Efton Chism III.
Chism should be a lock for the roster. If not, Vrabel will make a big mistake. Choosing one or two (if any) from the 2024 second-round pick, Polk, and fourth-round pick, Baker, will be a tougher decision. Neither has proved worthy of tying up a roster position. Chism has to make the team, and one or both of Polk and Baker should go.
We'll see who plays against the Vikings. Polk has been injured, and IR may be a face-saving move for Eliot Wolf, who wasted that second-round draft pick. Baker can't play as an NFL wide receiver either, but his special team value may keep him around. The Patriots' best play is to move on from both 2024 flops. We'll see if either shows up against Minnesota.
Key questions are where Mike Vrabel will play Keion White and Marcus Jones
Mike Vrabel is an astute NFL personnel evaluator, as his 2025 offseason attests. The contrast between the amateurish 2024 offseason and Vrabel's brilliant 2025 is stark. But not-so-obvious choices still have to be made by Vrabel if he's to maximize the use of his roster. Two top players have been misemployed by his two predecessors as Head Coach. It's time he rectified those mistakes.
Keion White is playing the edge, but he's a much better defensive tackle. Will Vrabel realize it or continue the mistakes of Bill Belichick and Jerod Mayo's errors? It will take outside-the-box thinking to make that change. The shift is unlikely, but we'll know soon.
Similarly, Marcus Jones has been used as a cornerback when his best position is on offense. He's an explosive offensive playmaker and, teamed with rookies TreVeyon Henderson and Kyle Williams, would wreak havoc on NFL defenses. Again, this will take perspicacity by Vrabel to make the change. Don't expect it, but it will be a masterstroke if he does.
These questions may be answered this week. The starting offensive line should be in focus after the Minnesota game. Unfortunately, it's unlikely Vrabel will change White's and/or Jones's positions, no matter how much sense it makes. But anything can happen. That's why they play the games.