Mike Vrabel highlights 3 positions on first day as Patriots head coach
The current New England Patriots’ rebuild may take multiple seasons to get the team all the way back to where it wants to be, but which positions will get the attention immediately? New head coach Mike Vrabel may have dropped some hints on Monday.
As the Mike Vrabel era begins for the New England Patriots, one of the first major steps will be improving the overall talent on the roster. Upgrades are needed almost universally across the board, but Vrabel himself mentioned a few positions in particular during his introductory press conference and subsequent interviews on Monday.
The position that got maybe the most attention from Vrabel in terms of talent acquisition was the same one many Patriots fans have been focused on for a few years now – the offensive line. Asked about the cap space and draft capital available to the team, Vrabel got right to talking about the importance of being good up front.
“Certainly you look at the teams that are able to protect the quarterback and dictate the flow of the game offensively – making sure that up front we’re sound, we’re strong, whether that’s through free agency or the draft, that’s something that’s critical,” Vrabel said. “The [defensive] linemen, they’re getting better every year. They’re getting more disruptive. They’re getting bigger, more powerful. So as they try to disrupt our quarterback, we have to have some things that counterbalance that. Obviously personnel is the first way, and then scheme and style and tempo and cadence and all those things.”
Bolstering the offensive line also goes hand in hand with Vrabel’s initial answer when he was asked about his philosophy on developing a young quarterback – “put great people around him.” Giving Drake Maye better protection will only help him become a better passer.
When talking about the offensive line, the first position that comes to mind is left tackle. After starting the season with Chuks Okorafor last year the Patriots had to turn to Vederian Lowe early and ended up getting very inconsistent play at the position.
This year’s draft has two tackles at the top in Will Campbell from LSU and Kelvin Banks from Texas. While they both come with their questions (Campbell’s arm length, Banks’ mobility), each does seem to have plus-starter upside at the NFL level. Other top tackles who have similar upside but are more projects include Aireontae Ersery from Minnesota, Josh Conerly Jr. from Oregon, and Josh Simmons from Ohio State (who is coming off of a significant knee injury in October).
If the Patriots want to address the tackle need in free agency, their options will be more limited. The current top projected free agent at the position is Ronnie Stanley of the Ravens, but he’s viewed as an extension candidate in Baltimore. If he doesn’t reach the open market the next group of tackles available is highlighted by Cam Robinson and Alaric Jackson.
Free agency may be a more realistic path to improve at guard. That class is highlighted by Trey Smith of the Chiefs, Kevin Zeitler of the Lions, Will Fries of the Colts, Mekhi Becton of the Eagles, and Teven Jenkins of the Bears.
Vrabel’s initial answer could also point to an added focus on the defensive line and the defensive front as a whole. He mentions how a defense’s ability to “disrupt [the] quarterback” can change a game. The Patriots’ defensive front wasn’t very disruptive last year, with their 28.7 percent pressure rate ranking 29th in the NFL and their 28 total sacks raking dead last.
This is another position the Patriots could fix at the top of the draft. While this is a weaker draft class overall, it’s a strong year when it comes to defensive linemen and pass rushers overall.
There’s a real chance Penn State outside linebacker Abdul Carter is the best player on the board when the Patriots pick at fourth overall. Mykel Williams from Georgia and James Pearce Jr. from Tennessee are other top rushers in this class.
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Even if the Patriots don’t take a pass rusher at the top of the draft they still should have chances at impact players on Day 2. Vrabel’s alma mater has two good prospects in J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer. Princley Umanmielen from Ole Miss, Kyle Kennard from South Carolina, and Donovan Ezeiruaku from Boston College are other players with upside in that range.
The free agent pass rusher class is highlighted by Josh Sweat, Baron Browning, and Chase Young. Khalil Mack is also a pending free agent if the Patriots are looking for a quicker fix.
Finally, Vrabel mentioned a position that hasn’t been talked about much at all around the Patriots for the past few seasons – fullback.
The Patriots haven’t used a full-time fullback since Josh McDaniels left after the 2021 season. However, in an interview with Patriots Unfiltered on Monday, Vrabel seemed to suggest in a back-and-forth with team reporter Evan Lazar that the position could be returning in New England.
When discussing power run concepts that could potentially become a part of the Patriots’ offense, Vrabel noted “the thing is, with power we’ve got to find a fullback and we’ve got to find a tight end that can move and get into some of those movements…we’ll find somebody that can do it.”
Early on in Vrabel’s tenure as head coach of the Tennessee Titans Vrabel’s teams used a dedicated fullback. Later on the team transitioned to using more hybrid tight end/h-back types, but still kept that role in the offense.
The Patriots currently have one player on the roster who could play that hybrid role in 2024 seventh-round pick Jaheim Bell. Bell was used as an h-back at Florida State at times, but may need to bulk up to handle some more of the true fullback duties.
Looking at the draft, the Patriots may be able to add that true hybrid player in Alabama’s Robbie Ouzts. At 6-foot-4, 270 pounds Ouzts had an h-back role in Alabama’s more open offense but is a plus blocker and has talked about making the full-time move to fullback at the next level. Brock Lampe from Norther Illinois, Hunter Brozio from North Dakota State, Hayden Large of Iowa, and Tyler Crowe from Boise State were also top fullbacks in college football this past season.
As for free agents? Former Patriot Jakob Johnson, who Vrabel mentioned in the Patriots unfiltered interview, is currently a free agent after spending time with the New York Giants this year. Patrick Ricard, Reggie Gillam, Michael Burton, and Adam Prentice are all set to be free agents as well.
Just because Vrabel highlighted these three positions doesn’t mean other needs won’t be addressed, even this offseason. In terms of supporting the quarterback, wide receiver is a primary need right along with the offensive line. The team also has its needs in the secondary. Those additions will be important to watch for as well. But on Day 1 of his tenure as Patriots head coach, Vrabel seemed to make improving in the trenches the priority.