The New England Patriots, under new Head Coach Mike Vrabel, moved aggressively and comprehensively in free agency to shore up a defense that went from very good to poor in a season. Vrabel is a defensive guy who addressed that side of the ball first. Fine.
That said, Vrabel is now on the spot. He has to improve his offense through the draft (and trades, if he can). That's not an easy task. Last offseason, Eliot Wolf did great with his first pick, Drake Maye, after a not-so-subtle nudge from owner Robert Kraft. Whatever the reason, he did the right thing.
Subsequently, however, Wolf, after whiffing earlier in free agency, totally botched the rest of the draft, adding no one who contributed. Vrabel can't afford that kind of draft if he wants to do the only thing that matters, which is to win.
Patriots need to maximize their high draft status in every round
Mike Vrabel will have a high pick in every round due to the Patriots' dismal 4-13 2024 season. He has the fourth pick overall. He has to hit a home run with that pick. One way to do so is to draft either wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter, his best option, or edge Abdul Carter, if he checks out physically if available. Vrabel added two free-agent edges allowing him to draft another position first, if he so chooses.
Should both be off the board, a trade-down, if he can engineer one, is his best option. Yet, he needs to remain in the top seven picks and pick up another second-round pick (maybe having to send a three or a four out in the deal, too). Around pick seven, he'll still have a top option or two from "best at their positions in the draft" players available. He should just take one.
Any of LSU left tackle, Will Campbell, Michigan's defensive tackle, Mason Graham, Boise State's running back Ashton Jeanty, or Arizona's wide receiver, Tetairoa McMillan would be a solid pick and fill a need. Vrabel can't go wrong with any of those players after a slight trade-down. While there aren't ever any guarantees in the draft, these players are as close as it gets to sure things he'll find.
Mike Vrabel's necessities in the draft, no matter how it happens, are clear
Vrabel has two absolute imperatives in the draft to be successful. First, he has to draft offense and offense almost exclusively after that first pick. He signed mostly defense in free agency, making drafting offense imperative. If he gets Hunter, he must bolster his still poorly-manned offensive line. Drafting two left tackles is crucial. Even should he take Campbell, he still has to devote another premium pick (rounds one through three) to another left tackle. The LT cupboard is entirely bare.
If he goes with another position with his first pick, he should address left tackle with his second-round pick, No. 38, and again with another premium pick. Patriot Nation is aware the team still has no NFL-qualified left tackles. Even if Vrabel signs a free-agent starter, he still needs to draft another, but he then could defer taking one to perhaps the third round, but no later.
Vrabel also has to draft two wide receivers in the top three or four rounds. If he's fortunate enough to get Hunter, using a third-round pick (he has two at the moment) on a solid receiver like Jaylin Noel or Jayden Higgins, both of Iowa State makes perfect sense. He must use two other premium picks on wideouts if he doesn't get Hunter. The position is deficient and requires significant draft capital.
Defensive tackle is also a need. The health status of Christian Barmore is uncertain. Drafting Mason Graham with his first-round pick makes sense. If not, he needs to devote a premium pick to the DT position and add another one later in the draft.
To summarize, Mike Vrabel has to add two left tackles, two top wide receivers, and a defensive tackle, all preferably in the top three or four rounds. Later on, adding a running back (one, if Jeanty is the first pick) or two is also necessary. Vrabel can shore up all those positions if he gets the draft right. Drake Maye needs top accompanying players. He didn't get them in free agency. He has to be in the draft.