Patriots
“Improving, playing hard, but thin in multiple spots beyond their starting lineup because of shaky drafts .”
After posting four wins in back-to-back seasons in 2023 and 2024, optimism is abundant in Foxborough this fall for the Patriots.
Beyond the expected strides made by Drake Maye in his second year, the hiring of Mike Vrabel and an experienced coaching staff has sparked hope that New England’s revamped roster is due for a rebound.
But, even after New England shelled out plenty of money this fall to add players like Milton Williams, Stefon Diggs, Robert Spillane, and Harold Landry to the depth chart, any hopes of the Patriots punching their ticket to the postseason this winter might be ill-advised — or at the very least, extremely optimistic.
ESPN’s Mike Reiss acknowledged in his latest Sunday notebook that New England still has plenty of work to do if it wants to re-establish itself as a true contender. At least, such is the sentiment shared by others across the NFL.
“One NFL front office source who has watched the Patriots this preseason described his view of them this way: Improving, playing hard, but thin in multiple spots beyond their starting lineup because of shaky drafts in recent years that have contributed to a roster that will require more than one year to replenish,” Reiss wrote.
Even with the amount of talent both in place and added to New England’s roster over the last few months, the Patriots also can’t afford to lose several key cogs to injury — given the limited depth in place on the depth chart.
Despite the promise showcased by Maye as a rookie, the second-year QB could be in trouble if a proven wideout like Diggs is hampered by injury.
As of right now, Vrabel might be calling on 2025 seven-round pick Marcus Bryant to slot into the starting lineup if New England’s starting tackles in rookie Will Campbell and 34-year-old Morgan Moses struggle or are sidelined.
Years of poor drafting in New England has left Vrabel and his staff with little marin for error, as noted by ESPN’s Neil Paine.
In an article where Paine ranked all seven first-year NFL head coaches in order of who is in the best position to win with their new group, Vrabel ranked sixth overall — with only New Orleans’ Kellen Moore ranked lower.
“Everyone agreed that Vrabel’s reunion with the Patriots made far too much sense to not happen. With it, there will be an infusion of that familiar Belichickian ethos of no-nonsense grit, plus the experience of a coach who went 54-45 with three playoff appearances in five years with the Tennessee Titans,” Paine wrote. “Still, expecting a true revival of the Pats’ dynasty is a bit premature.
“Maye’s passing efficiency remains a work in progress, though his mobility propped up his QBR. The team was one of just seven with an SRS rating of -1.9 or worse on both sides of the ball, which was a sign of how much renovation was needed. However, an offseason spending spree has locked them into a bunch of big bets right away — a risk when we consider how unpredictable the outcomes of offseason moves can be. All of this explains why the Patriots rank lower than their fit with Vrabel would seem to indicate.”
Sign up for the Today newsletter
Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.
