The New England Patriots created a new glaring need on their roster by releasing 2025's top receiver, Stefon Diggs. It's now incumbent on Mike Vrabel to not only replace Diggs but also to provide additional strength to that unit for his quarterback, Drake Maye.
One player who's not going to be available, whose name had been bandied about, is D.J. Moore, whom the Buffalo Bills traded for.
Expectations will be high for Vrabel to use the $16.8M saved on the cap by releasing Diggs and more for a top receiver like Alec Pierce of the Colts. He'll be costly, perhaps the best receiver on the free-agent market.
Since they officially missed out on Pierce, who re-signed with the Colts on Monday morning, Vrabel will have to devote resources to another free agent, trade for a No. 1 receiver, or use a top pick in the draft to avoid making the mistakes Bill Belichick made by not always getting the best receivers for Tom Brady.
Vrabel has an MVP-level quarterback himself in Drake Maye. The worst mistake he can make is not to pour mega resources into both the offensive line to protect him in the pocket, and on top wide receivers to catch his passes. If not, he'll fall right into the trap of not giving Maye what he needs in both seasons.
D.J. Moore was a trade option that Vrabel missed out on
It will be seen whether the outlay the Bills gave Chicago for Moore, roughly a second-round pick, will be a bargain. Their General Manager, Brandon Beane, was aggressive in acquiring a top wideout that Josh Allen didn't have last season.
Nate Davis of USA Today commented on the Bills' trade for the Bear's wide receiver, D.J. Moore.
"If nothing else, Thursday's news that the Bills had agreed to acquire Moore from the Chicago Bears, essentially for a second-rounder, solved a major headache for Beane (Brandon, GM) − TBD if he's cured or will be reaching for more Tylenol − while creating options heading into the NFL free agency market and, ultimately, the 2026 draft."
Mike Vrabel now has to seek to keep pace with the Bills, who his team largely outplayed in 2025, or fall behind. The Bills will be the beneficiaries at least schedule-wise in 2026 after the Patriots dethroned them from the pinnacle of the AFC East for the first time in five years. But the challenge for Vrabel will be to improve enough to stay on top.
Mike Vrabel's work load this offseason is increasing
The soon-to-be 29-year-old Moore is an eight-year NFL veteran with four 1000-yard seasons on his resume. While 2025 was a down year for him with only 50 catches for 682 yards and six touchdowns, the pedigree is still there for him to emerge as the Bills' No. 1 receiver.
Vrabel now has no No. 1 and arguably no No. 2 receiver either. No remaining 2025 Patriots' receiver had more than 46 catches or more than 551 yards receiving. That's a big gap to fill, and it will be costly for Vrabel to be sure he improves and doesn't stagnate or regress.
The Head Coach needs to land one of the No. 1 receivers in free agency. Vrabel will have to pay up to get a top guy if he's to keep his offense at a high level.
Buffalo got their receiver in Moore, now Vrabel has to follow suit. If he does land a top receiver in free agency or by trade, he'll still need to draft another. His offensive line needs two or three additions, as does his edge position. And running back and tight end also need help. None of this will be easy or cheap for Vrabel.
He dumped Diggs to save cap space, and he'd be advised to release other players to get more of it.