The New England Patriots needed a complete and total reset heading into the 2025 season. It started with a new head coach in Mike Vrabel to arrive with an unbiased view of the team and restore order within it accordingly.
This was an impressive offseason by the Patriots, led by Vrabel’s blueprint and the collaboration of his staff.
Step 1: Build Out the Staff
Vrabel comes to New England with the experience of being a head coach and with the knowledge of how to run a team. He created a coaching staff that is well-equipped and will help him guide the team in the direction he wants to go:
- Josh McDaniels, Offensive Coordinator
- Thomas Brown, TE & Passing Game Coordinator
- Doug Marrone, Offensive Line
- Todd Downing, Wide Receivers
- Tony Dews, Running Backs
- Ashton Grant, Quarterbacks
- Riley Larkin, Offensive Assistant
- Terrell Williams, Defensive Coordinator
- Clint McMillan, Defensive Line
- Scott Booker, Safeties
- Justin Hamilton, Cornerbacks
- Mike Smith, Outside Linebackers
- Zak Kuhr, Inside Linebackers
- Vinny Depalma, Defensive Assistant
- Ben McAdoo, Senior Defensive Assistant
In addition to the great coaching staff, Vrabel also pushed for Ryan Cowden to be hired as the Vice President of Player Personnel, whom he previously worked with in Tennessee, where he held the same role and served well for Vrabel.
Step 2: Clean Up the Roster, Add Veteran Free Agents
Prior to the NFL Draft, Vrabel cleaned the roster by parting ways with most of the players left who were part of Bill Belichick’s coaching regime. This includes players who’ve spent their entire careers in New England, it also includes team captains.
- David Andrews
- Davon Godchaux
- Deatrich Wise
- Jonathan Jones
- Ja’Whaun Bentley
- Joe Cardona
That said, Vrabel came to New England with a plan already in mind on how to retool the team. It started with upgrading the defense by adding veterans who have already played for Vrabel or other members of his coaching staff.
The players previously coached by Vrabel include linebackers Harold Landry III, Robert Spillane, and Jack Gibbens. Cornerback Carlton Davis previously played for Terrell Williams last season for Detroit, who is now the defensive coordinator in New England this season.
While we’re on this topic, it’s worth mentioning that on offense, tight end Austin Hooper, who re-signed this offseason, has previously played for both Vrabel (Tennessee) and Josh McDaniels (Las Vegas). They also added free-agent wide receivers Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins.
Adding players who have previous experiences with the coaching staff is important when it comes to building a culture, and it’s something that Vrabel has mentioned doing since he first took over as head coach. Having players who already know what the expectations are and how things should be done is essential for a rebuilding team with a new coaching staff.
Step 3: NFL Draft
Following Vrabel’s blueprint, the plan was to add to the offense and enhance second-year quarterback Drake Maye through the Draft. In doing so, the Pats drafted the top offensive tackle fourth overall with Will Campbell.
The following three selections were all for offensive needs, still with the goal of surrounding Maye with weapons: running back TreVeyon Henderson, wide receiver Kyle Williams, and center Jared Wilson.
In addition, the Patriots drafted another offensive tackle in the seventh round with Marcus Bryant out of Missouri.
The first defensive selection didn’t come until the fourth round of the draft, which proves that Vrabel is true to his word on adding weapons and protection for Maye.
It’s important to keep in mind that the Patriots drafted the players they targeted, scouted, and had already invested time and resources in. Of the 11 drafted players, the Patriots had contact and met with all of them, whether it was a Top-30 Visit, or at the Combine, or on a Zoom meeting. They targeted their players and went and got them.
It's worth mentioning that the Patriots traded up to draft defensive tackle Joshua Farmer in the fourth round. Farmer received his first college scholarship to play at Florida State from Patriots defensive line coach Clint McMillan. This is another player-coach connection.
Step 4: Undrafted Free Agency
Continuing on with a great haul from the NFL Draft, the Patriots signed 19 players as undrafted rookie free agents. This gives another perspective on what the team is looking for in terms of talent and play style.
The undrafted free agents feature a lot of offensive firepower from players who went to smaller schools but still have the production and skills to try out in the NFL.
Some of those names are wide receiver Efton Chism III (120 rec.,1,311 yards, 13 TD in 2024), running back Lan Larison (284 car.,1,465 yards, 17 TD in 2024), and fullback Brock Lampe, who started his career as a linebacker.
These are all prototypical players that have worked in the system before, and they’re the style of player that is needed in a Josh McDaniels offense.
What Did We Learn About the Patriots After the NFL Draft?
In the end, the Patriots navigated the Draft in an organized, logical, and methodical way with a clear plan with countermoves to adjust accordingly when it was needed— that can’t be said for the last handful of drafts.
After the draft, Fred Kirsch, writer and editor of Patriots.com, said that he’s been told by people inside the organization that this was “Eliot Wolf’s draft”, he had complete control of the room, and that he’s not going anywhere.
This was interesting to hear because it was believed that Vrabel would make the final decisions regarding the team, especially since he brought in his own VP of Player Personnel with Cowden, while the previous one is still involved in Wolf.
However the tasks are being delegated in Foxborough, it’s worth noting that it was Wolf who made all of the phone calls to inform the player that they were drafting them.
So what did we learn? I’d say we learned that there is an equal collaboration between Vrabel and his coaching staff with Wolf, Cowden, and the front office.