5 Players Mike Vrabel Could Lure to the Patriots

3. Daniel Brunskill, C/OG, Tennessee Titans

While he isn’t as big a household name as the first two players, Daniel Brunskill may be the most important. Brunskill played for Vrabel as a Titan in 2023. As mentioned in my colleague Ryan Markham’s article, “Patriots Urged to Reunite Free Agent Veteran with Mike Vrabel,” the team needs to address its offensive line, particularly when it comes to cutting down on penalties. In his introductory press conference this week, when asked about the team’s expectations for the upcoming season, Vrabel said:

"We can work towards taking advantage of bad football and being good enough to, when someone makes a mistake, capitalizing on it, and not being the ones that make the mistakes."

- Mike Vrabel, Patriots Head Coach

Frequently, the team’s offensive line set the team back with avoidable penalties and put the offense in long-yardage plays. Getting a versatile offensive lineman like Brunskill, who has only committed 10 penalties in his career, would be a great start to improving a weak offensive line. Adding an experienced veteran should raise the professionalism and potential of the whole line.

4. Lonnie Johnson Jr., CB, Carolina Panthers

While the Patriots have arguably the best young cornerback in the league in Christian Gonzalez, the team could use an upgrade at the other cornerback position in 2025, and a great option to add to the roster would be cornerback Lonnie Johnson Jr.

Coach Vrabel’s relationship with Johnson Jr. dates back to his college years when Vrabel tried to recruit Lonnie while working as defensive line coach under Urban Meyer at Ohio State. While Johnson Jr. first played in junior college and wound up finishing his career at the University of Kentucky, their paths would eventually cross again in the NFL when Vrabel found his first head coaching position with the Tennessee Titans. Lonnie recorded 11 tackles in 12 games with the Titans in the 2022 season. Throughout his career, Johnson has proved to be a versatile player and would be a welcome addition to the Patriots secondary this season.

5. Austin Hooper, TE, New England Patriots

Last season, one of the lone bright spots for the Patriots' offense was at tight end. The duo of Hunter Henry and offseason addition, Austin Hooper, proved to be a serviceable pair for quarterback Drake Maye. Through week 12 of last season, both tight ends combined for 70 receptions and 728 yards. This performance put them fourth in the NFL, in some pretty great company with league-leaders Mark Andrews (Baltimore Ravens), Brock Bowers (Las Vegas Raiders), and Travis Kelce (Kansas City Chiefs). In addition, both tight ends served as mentors for Drake Maye:

"I ask Hunter [Henry] a bunch of questions. I think Hunter's a wealth of knowledge. Him, Jacoby [Brissett], [Austin] Hooper, David [Andrews] and guys like that, that are just on the offense, that veteran side."

- Drake Maye, Patriots QB

With the start of the Mike Vrabel era already in full swing, the tight end room could look different come the 2025 season, especially since Austin Hooper is a free agent. That being said, Coach Vrabel does have experience with Hooper, having coached him in 2022 when both were on the Tennessee Titans.

The most important thing for the Patriots is to surround Drake Maye with talent, and it would be a huge benefit to him if Austin Hooper is re-signed and the tight end room remains intact.

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