What a difference a year makes. Before the 2024 season, expectations were justifiably low for the Pats. They had bungled most of the offseason (except for drafting Drake Maye) and even entered it without a solid NFL-level left tackle on the roster. It was a disaster in the making that happened just as expected.
Now, the Patriots' world has been turned upside down. There's a professional atop the decision-making pyramid on and off the field. His name is Head Coach and de facto general manager, Mike Vrabel, and he's made all the difference.
Expectations were high after the Patriots finally got sense and hired the man they should have for 2024, Mike Vrabel. He is an experienced NFL Head Coach and personnel evaluator. There was no on-the-job training necessary for Vrabel. He took the team's reins firmly and has driven it back into playoff contention. Let's examine why a 10-7 or 11-6 record is doable.
Mike Vrabel crushed the Patriots' 2025 offseason
Patriots' defensive free agency was superb
The offseason is about getting better everywhere you need to. Free agency is the best place to secure NFL-proven talent. Mike Vrabel did just that. He first fortified all three levels of the defense. He signed the best player at a position of need, defensive tackle, 26-year-old Milton Williams.
Then Vrabel bolstered his second-level signing edge players, Harold Landry III, and K'Lavon Chaisson, and extended Christian Elliss's contract, an astute move to keep a player who's an emerging star. He also signed two linebackers, tackling machine and leader, Robert Spillane, and Jack Gibbens. In the secondary, he signed top lockdown cornerback Carlton Davis III to partner with Christian Gonzalez.
Patriots offensive free agency was solid
On offense, Vrabel began the reconstruction of his bottom of the NFL offensive line. He signed three veteran offensive linemen in right tackle, Morgan Moses, center, Garrett Bradley; and guard, Wes Schweitzer. The former two will start, and if he's healthy, Schweitzer may also. That's 40-60% of the line potentially improved. Left tackle wasn't addressed.
He also added star receiver Stefon Diggs, who, if he's healthy, will be the best in Foxborough since Julian Edelman. Additionally, he signed another former Buffalo Bill, playmaking wide receiver, Mack Hollins. Hollins doesn't catch a bundle of throws, but good things like first downs and touchdowns happen when he does. Two nice improvements right there.
Vrabel completed the makeover in the draft
Vrabel continued his 2025 major team makeover in the NFL draft. First, he addressed the team's most needy position, left tackle, with the best in the draft, LSU's Will Campbell. He'll start from Day One. Later, he also prudently added a depth left tackle, Marcus Bryant of Missouri. All good there.
Then, Vrabel turned to the need for additions in the running back and wide receiver skill positions. He added two explosive players, Ohio State's top back, the shifty and fast TreVeyon Henderson, in the second round; and receiver, Kyle Williams of Washington State, in the third. NFL Hall of Famer Steve Smith Sr. says Williams reminds him of himself. That's high praise indeed.
The Head Coach added two consensus third-round value playmakers, defensive tackle Joshua Farmer of Florida State in the fourth, and edge, Bradyn Swinson of LSU in the fifth round. Then, to top things off, in undrafted free agency, Vrabel signed several highly-touted players in running back, Lan Larison, from UC-Davis, slot receiver, Efton Chism III from Eastern Washington, and Alabama tight end, CJ Dippre. All may make the 53-man roster.
These additions, all improvements, among others, should convince doubters that the 2025 Patriots are a completely remodeled team that will contend for a playoff berth - or more. When you have a top young quarterback like Drake Maye, and you've added the necessary pieces around him, which Vrabel did, expect big things and be excited. The Patriots are back.
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