The Patriots hierarchy is largely in place for 2025. With the hiring of Josh McDaniels as Offensive Coordinator and Terrell Williams as Defensive Coordinator, it’s time to get to work on the ever-critical offseason.
Mike Vrabel seems in charge of the operation and will likely make all the final player selections. Here we delve into the draft, which, of course, will follow free agency. We may be putting the cart ahead of the horse, but let’s go ahead anyway. Let’s suggest how Vrabel can best use his draft picks.
First, let's quickly say that free agency should be used to sign two top wide receivers.
Tee Higgins is choice #1. Sign him and another wide receiver at least in free agency, and then fill several other positions of need in the draft. To put it mildly, the Pats have drafted abysmally at the wide receiver position. Go free agency there. Adding a veteran offensive tackle like Ronnie Stanley of Baltimore would be great. Even if so, Vrabel still needs to draft offensive tackles and two key positions on defense.
It’s best player available at a position of need for the Patriots
Vrabel must address left tackle above all others on offense in the draft. It's assumed here that the overall strategy will avoid two pitfalls that have plagued Bill Belichick's personnel operation, which is now represented by Eliot Wolf and Co. This would be reaching for players before the consensus thinks they should be drafted and not drafting positions of need.
Vrabel can trade his fourth pick overall for more premium (rounds one through three) picks, but he can't trade out of the top 10. Let’s assume, for the sake of argument, the Patriots go heavy in free agency on wide receivers and land Tee Higgins, another WR, and maybe a veteran left tackle like Ronnie Stanley. That would be optimum.
Regardless, Vrabel still has to add left tackles, especially if no Stanley. Vrabel can’t go wrong on offense by drafting the best left tackle on the board. That’s Will Campbell of LSU, PFF’s top-rated tackle in 2025. The Pats have no tackles to speak of unless they position Mike Onwenu back at right tackle.
Campbell is a plug-and-play left tackle, or if they land Stanley, he can play on the right. They should clean the house on the O-line and start over. Additionally, holes exist at the running back and the tight end. These two positions should be addressed in the draft's mid-lower rounds. Two tackles in the top four rounds and two at-one position on defense are essential. Now, onto defense.
The Patriots badly need talented EDGE players after their lackluster 2024 season
The Patriots lost defensive tackle Christian Barmore to a health issue for much of the 2024 season. His status is uncertain. The Pats need to add a DT high in the draft. Yet the most pressing need is at the edge. Having traded their two best in 2024, Matt Judon and Joshua Uche, for draft picks, the Pats have no solid edge players.
Mock drafts are projecting a big investment in the position. As a former edge himself, Vrabel knows that no pass rush equals no success on defense. If he lasts to pick four, the obvious choice is Abdul Carter from Penn State. Carter is the best edge in the draft and arguably the best player. He’s a difference-maker. Sacks and tackles for loss are big plays, and he had 12 and 24, respectively. Carter is a home run pick.
Additionally, Vrabel needs to add another edge in the top four rounds. The cupboard is bare and has to be replenished. Assuming no trades, the Patriots can draft two left tackles and two edge players with four of their current five picks in the first four rounds.
Another pick in the top five has to be a defensive tackle. Assuming Vrabel puts Keion White inside where he belongs, along with Davon Godchaux, he'll have two defensive tackles as starters available if Barmore isn't. Regardless, a young pocket-crusher is necessary since Godchaux may not be around after 2025.
Lower-round picks can be used to fill in positions like running back and tight end for depth. Trading up by packaging picks to get better players in the 2025 draft may be advisable. Vrabel needs quality players, not just bodies.
That's a draft strategy for Mike Vrabel and his personnel guy, Ryan Cowden. Offensive tackles are the line's anchors, and left tackle is the second most important position on the team. Edge players are playmakers, and the Patriots have none. Those and defensive tackle have to be the draft's priorities and add from there. We'll see if they agree in April.