The Patriots have become a new team under the leadership of Mike Vrabel and, possibly more importantly, unofficial general manager Eliot Wolf.
Not only did he redeem himself after a disastrous 2024 offseason, but he also made the right decision by getting the team their next franchise quarterback and proved he's willing to do what it takes to get the caliber of talent he needs to make the Patriots a powerhouse again by trading for A.J. Brown.
That has put New England back on the map for the upcoming season and keeps Maye in the MVP conversation, and it would be fair to say that the offense is much improved from just one season ago.
However, the lack of sufficient pass rush remains a major concern among analysts and fans, particularly since Harold Landry is still on the PUP list with no return to practice in sight. It should push the higher-ups to make another addition to the group, whether via free agency or a trade.
That's likely why ESPN's Seth Walder has suggested they get back in on Kayvon Thibodeaux again, whom they were consistently linked to earlier this offseason. And since he still looks like the odd man out in New York, it seems like a no-brainer decision for New England at this point.
The Patriots should seriously consider trading for a top pass rusher before the season begins
With a few trades still likely happening before Week 1, the Patriots are in the mix for a pass rusher, most notably Thibodeaux, despite the Giants insisting they are not interested in moving him.
Walder believes the Patriots could get a deal done for a 2027 third-round pick for the 25-year-old and offer him an extension that could make him an anchor of their defensive line for a long time.
"New England fits the bill and then some because Thibodeaux offers long-term upside if the Patriots decide to re-sign him. Their current edge rushers are Harold Landry III and Dre'Mont Jones.
At this stage of their careers (Landry is 30, Jones 29), they're better fits as No. 2 and No. 3 edge rushers, respectively, on a contending team. Thibodeaux hasn't been good enough yet to be New England's unquestioned top edge rusher, but he possesses the promise to develop into that."
The Vrabel staff has made it clear they want to build a young and aggressive roster, especially on defense, to help bring some Lombardi Trophies back to Foxboro, and it would be fair to say that Thibodeaux fits the bill.
Although he had a noticeably lackluster 2025 season, with his best year so far coming three years ago, he is still a former first-round draft pick. He is presumably being pushed off the Giants' roster because of their crowded edge.
The group is led by veteran Brian Burns and Abdul Carter, their first-round pick from last year. On top of that, they add Arvell Reese from this year's draft, further pushing Thibodeaux down the depth chart.
It's looking more likely that the best bang for their buck would be to move him to a pass rusher-needy team, and there might be no one better than the Patriots at this stage of the offseason. And if they could get him for a third-round selection, it's hard to understand why they wouldn't jump at the chance.
They already missed out on signing Jadeveon Clowney, who returned to the Texans last week, leaving just Joey Bosa, who is rumored to be uninterested in football right now, according to his brother Nick Bosa, and Kyle Van Noy, who might not be at the top of the list given his age.
That makes Thibodeaux even more sensible, especially since he would immediately elevate the defense to the level they need to compete with some of the best teams in the league this fall. Even better, he could be a long-term solution to a problem that has been one of their biggest weaknesses in recent years.
Seems like a win/win situation for the Patriots and Thibodeaux.
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