Lots of attention has been paid to the Patriots' defensive additions this offseason. They added to all three levels of the defense while not making much of a splash on offense. Those are fair observations, though the offensive additions are better than initially may appear.
Regardless, Mike Vrabel is now boxed into a corner. He has to roll the dice in the always-risky draft to land upgrades at two critical offensive positions: left tackle and wide receiver. Those two positions (possibly after his first pick, possibly not) are where he needs to focus in the top four or five rounds of the draft. If not, the Patriots' offense will flounder again in 2025.
Having confidence in the new Head Coach, the suggestion here is that he will hit these two positions hard both early and in the middle rounds of the draft. Vrabel is expected to secure two or more solid additions at left tackle and wide receiver. If he does, the sky's the limit and the playoffs may beckon. After that, two positions lie under-the-radar for Vrabel to bolster. We'll explore them here.
Mike Vrabel needs to add and maybe subtract from the running back room
Running back has been on the back burner this offseason in Patriot Nation. Yet, it's a position that needs attention and replenishment. The Patriots' top two backs, Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson, are both legitimate NFL running backs. Yet, neither will get Patriots fans bubbling with enthusiasm. They are what they are: solid, if unspectacular, NFL backs.
Not much is behind them. Should one get injured, the cupboard is essentially bare. Vrabel needs to address it, and this is the year to do so. draftwire.usatoday.com says this about the 2025 class,
"The running back draft class of 2025 is a good one, both at the top and in terms of quality depth. Even though college success doesn't necessarily portend NFL ability, many of the RBs here are entering the draft after outstanding collegiate careers, too."
An outside-the-box idea for the Patriots' top pick (perhaps after a trade-down) is Boise State star back, Ashton Jeanty. It would be a major surprise were Jeanty to wind up in Foxborough. First, it would suggest that both WR/CB Travis Hunter and edge Abdul Carter are off the board at pick No. 4. If so, a slight trade-down while picking up an additional second-round pick might be optimal.
Securing Jeanty would be shocking, especially to the AFC East. A tandem of Drake Maye and Jeanty is a nightmare scenario for defensive coordinators who'll be unlucky enough to have the Patriots on their 2025 schedule. It's double trouble, plus.
Absent that dream scenario, there could be solid options available later in the draft when it's advised that the Patriots go fishing. Later-round picks are a total crapshoot. Yet, you never know when you might strike gold with a running back later in the draft, as the Broncos did in the 1995 sixth round with Hall of Famer Terrell Davis. The Pats have three seventh-round picks. Use a couple on running backs.
The Patriots can add a young tight end in the middle-to-late rounds
Another position of need in Foxborough is the tight end room. The top two are currently Hunter Henry, a legitimate starting NFL tight end, and solid backup Austin Hooper. After them, there is little. The position requires an addition in the later rounds of the draft or through undrafted free agency.
The team should consider addressing the position, perhaps with their fifth-round pick, No. 143, if someone like Terrance Ferguson of Oregon slips to that spot, or certainly with one of their three seventh-round picks. Both of the Patriots' top two tight ends are in their 30s. They need to think ahead.
The Patriots need to shore up both of their cavernous gaps, left tackle and wide receiver. Two picks each among their top five in the first four rounds should be devoted to those positions, and one to a defensive tackle. Those are draft imperatives for the team this year.
Yet, hopefully after trading veterans who may fetch later-round picks, they'll cast a wide net for both running backs and a tight end or two. Drake Maye and his offense will get two left tackles and two wide receivers. They also need depth at running back and a promising young tight end.
The 2025 draft will provide ample opportunity for Mike Vrabel to solidify his left tackle and wide receiver positions early in the draft. He should do just that. Then, the late rounds will be the time to move for running backs and a tight end or two. They're not in the news, but these two positions matter and need bolstering. That's how he can do it.