The Patriots made quite a splash in free agency for Mike Vrabel's first offseason as the head coach. He has remarkably rebuilt a defense that had fallen from the top of the heap to the bottom of the barrel, with players like Super Bowl star and dynamic defensive tackle Milton Williams. Finally, we'll see a defensive scheme that will take the game to opposition offenses rather than letting them set the tempo. It can't happen soon enough.
Vrabel has also trimmed his squad by allowing underperforming players to leave or moving them on. He also made it clear that he's no member of the so-called "Belichick coaching tree," as he never coached under the former Patriots' head coach. He just played. All this is refreshing, as are his offensive moves to date, although they are still in progress.
He's added three veteran upgrades on the offensive line and two receivers who are upgrades over any other player on the Pats' roster than Pop Douglas. Let's take a look at what all this means if Vrabel hits a home run on offense in the draft, as he has the potential to do. The suggestion may be surprising.
The Patriots are a team in progress but are on the rise
Job one for Mike Vrabel was to completely transform his defense from a tired read-and-react model to a dynamic, uphill, attacking force in action. It's all good from this vantage point, and frankly, long overdue. Bill Belichick's lackluster defense was fine as long as he had the GOAT, Tom Brady, to bail him out. Once he jettisoned the All-Time Great, he was toast.
Vrabel understands and is building an edifice that will not only stifle opponents' offenses but also dismantle their defenses. He's well on his way to so-doing. Vrabel's biggest asset, aside from his perspicacity, is having Drake Maye, a potential superstar quarterback, to work with. He even hinted he may not have been interested in the job at all if Maye weren't around. Enough said.
The new head coach and general manager earned an outstanding grade, transforming his defense seemingly in an instant from flat-footed to speedy, capable of crushing opposing offenses. He traded highly paid underperformer Davon Godchaux, allowed long-in-the-tooth defenders like Deatrich Wise Jr. and Jonathan Jones to leave, and released starter Ja'Whaun Bentley. More outflow will follow.
This connotes a man on a mission who's not tied to the past. That mission is first to remake this last-place team's personnel, and second, as newly minted Patriots Hall of Famer Bill Parcells used to say, "make the tournament" (i.e., the playoffs). Vrabel is on his way to doing just that, but he has significant remaining challenges ahead that we'll address.
If Vrabel shores up two offensive positions, the Patriots' season's record will be this
On offense, de facto general manager Mike Vrabvbel has partially rebuilt one of, if not the worst, offensive lines in the league. He added three veteran starters: Morgan Moses to play right tackle, left guard Wes Schweitzer, and center Garrett Bradbury. All are upgrades over the waiver-wire types who manned the offensive trenches in 2024.
He has a lot more work to do there and elsewhere on offense. Immediate additions are needed in the draft at two key offensive positions. One is the all-important left tackle spot. It's suggested and expected that Vrabel will draft at least two college left tackles, if not more. Left tackles can move to the right or inside. Right tackles can't.
In addition, even after adding the terrific (when healthy) No. 1 receiver, Stefon Diggs, to the team, he still needs to add two receivers in the top rounds of the draft to upgrade his talent and add depth. The Patriots' receiver room is one of the worst in the NFL. Wholesale change is required. If he is available at pick No. 4, Colorado's Travis Hunter will step in immediately as a No. 1 or No. 2 receiver.
The last-place New England Patriots can completely reverse their fortunes under Mike Vrabel, the man in charge of both field operations and personnel, as he should be. If Vrabel completes the makeover he's already initiated on defense and augments his offense as suggested, the Patriots are headed to the playoffs. Their 2025 record will be 9-8 or 10-7.