With the recent pair of trades the New England Patriots made on cutdown day, Mike Vrabel's trades rose to 12 in just two offseasons.
Of the trades, 11 involved a pick no higher than the fifth round; the only trade with greater compensation was the 2028 first-round selection the team traded to Philadelphia for A.J. Brown.
Most of Vrabel's trades have looked good so far, but it is too early to tell for some, since several players still haven't played meaningful snaps for the Patriots or their new team. That said, every trade elicits a gut reaction, which can help us gauge the move.
While feelings on trades are subject to change, we can no doubt slot trades made thus far during the Vrabel era into tiers.
Ranking the best and worst trades of the Mike Vrabel era
Tier 1: Incredible trade
Trades: NT Davon Godchaux to NO | WR Ja'Lynn Polk to NO | SAF Kyle Dugger to PIT | C Garrett Bradbury to CHI | OL Caedan Wallace to MIA
In the case of all these trades, I'd give the Patriots an A+. While the return for the majority was minimal, the fact that the team managed to get capital at all was impressive. Specifically, shipping off Godchaux and Dugger's contracts for draft value was impressive business, especially considering how poor each of their play was after signing their extensions.
In the case of Polk and Wallace, the team got value for players who brought little to no value. Polk was on the season-ending IR before he was traded and managed just 87 receiving yards in his rookie season, despite playing in 15 games.
Wallace played 8 offensive snaps in 2025 after playing in four games as a rookie and was released before Miami sent the team a draft pick in the 11th hour.
Bradbury was a run-of-the-mill center for New England in 2025, but his lackluster playoff performance and the potential of Jared Wilson at his position made keeping him as a starter a difficult decision.
The sudden retirement of Pro Bowler Drew Dalman forced the Bears to find a center, and the Patriots received draft capital likely one to two rounds better than they otherwise would have received.
Tier 2: Can't complain
Trades: QB Joe Milton to DAL | LB Marte Mapu to HOU | WR A.J. Brown from PHI
While the value back might not have been what fans hoped for, there aren't bad trades. Milton's Week 18 play in 2024 caused a stir during the offseason, and trading him out of the building to clear the air as Drake Maye developed was likely the best option.
Initially a sixth-round selection, the Patriots sent Milton and a seventh-rounder to Dallas for a fifth, a significant move up on Day 3.
I struggled to understand the team's desire to get rid of Mapu, whom they released initially. The Texans would ship a draft pick to the Patriots for him in the end, but moving a depth linebacker and key special teams player in April seemed unnecessary.
From the "might as well get something" perspective, it's not a bad trade, but I'm confident they could have found a role for him this season.
Putting Brown in the second tier is certainly nitpicking, since, like most fans, I was thrilled the team added an alpha receiver. Rumblings that a second-round pick and a Day 3 selection would be the compensation may have set a false baseline, but Brown shouldn't have much trouble being far better than recent Patriots first-round picks.
The team hasn't re-signed a first-round pick since Dont'a Hightower (drafted in 2012) before extending Christian Gonzalez last week.
Tier 3: Disappointing but necessary
Trades: ED Keion White to SF | WR Kayshon Boutte to HOU
After White had 4.0 sacks across the first two games of 2024, it appeared the Patriots had a rising star on their hands. He recorded just one more sack during his time in New England and was traded at the deadline last season.
The frustrating piece is that the team could use a player like White. The team's top-end talent on the edge is limited, as is their depth. He also has the size Vrabel praises in Dre'Mont Jones. Nonetheless, White's limited role in a crowded 2025 room likely made a deal necessary.
Boutte's trade was more disappointing than White's, as there wasn't a strong market for the ex-LSU Tiger. The team received Jaylen Reed in exchange, along with a pick that they flipped for running back Corey Kiner.
If both Reed and Kiner can be solid rotational pieces, then trading Boutte won't look as bad, seeing that he had only a year left on his contract and was buried behind Brown and Romeo Doubs in the depth chart.
Tier 4: Too early to tell/Unknown
Trades: RB Corey Kiner from AZ | OL Walter Rouse from MIN
While it's true we haven't seen Brown, Boutte, Wallace, Bradbury, or Mapu play yet this season either, Kiner and Rouse are in a different category. Not only have we yet to see them in a Patriots jersey, but we've yet to see them take legitimate NFL snaps. Combined, they've seen only 118 offensive reps over their careers.
After Jam Miller failed to make the club in any capacity and Lan Larison managed only the practice squad, Kiner claims the RB3 slot and is likely in line for a sizable role on special teams, potentially as a kick returner.
While a 2028 seventh-round pick is very minimal compensation for Kiner, it's hard to believe the Cardinals could have found a role for him on the 53-man roster, given their running back depth. The trade, however, lets them avoid losing him to another squad.
The Rouse deal could prove to be a vital one if the team loses any starters to injuries over the first few weeks. With experience at guard and tackle, Rouse could be the next man up early in the year. Ben Brown missed time in preseason due to injury, while Marcus Bryant will start the year on IR.
Caleb Lomu wasn't as good as Bryant was, meaning more insurance (Rouse) was likely required.
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