Two consecutive 4-13 seasons and last place finishes in the AFC East required a response from the New England Patriots.
It came during the offseason.
The Patriots went through a roster overhaul with Mike Vrabel in charge. According to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, only 47 of the 91 players currently on the Patriots roster were with the team last season.
The Patriots spent big in free agency, handing defensive tackle Milton Williams a four-year, $104 million deal, which was the richest contract ever awarded in franchise history. They also added Harold Landry III, Carlton Davis and Robert Spillane among a few others to fortify the defense while signing Stefon Diggs and Morgan Moses to provide more support to Drake Maye.
All the moves caught the eye of an AFC East scout, who believes the Patriots could challenge for a division title in 2025.
Story continues below advertisement
“This is the best offseason they’ve had in a while. I feel like they’re the Bills’ biggest threat,” the scout told Reiss.
The scout noted to Reiss about the Patriots building from the inside out, especially on the defensive line where Williams could make an impressive tandem with Christian Barmore depending on Barmore’s return from a blood clot.
Another AFC East scout drew a comparison of this Patriots team to Vrabel’s teams with the Tennessee Titans.
“Look at the history of Vrabel’s teams — they’ll play hard and mirror his personality,” the scout told Reiss.
Story continues below advertisement