FOXBOROUGH — I'm not even sure the most optimistic Patriots fans thought this was possible, but it's right there on my color-coded depth chart (for BSJ members):
In the span of one free agency class and after the first two days of the 2025 draft, Mike Vrabel and the new-look front office of the Patriots have accomplished what they set out to do this offseason: made just about the entirety of the Patriots roster much more competitive than it was at this point last offseason.
Even Eliot Wolf admits that much - and he was the guy entirely in charge of doing the job (and failing at it) a year ago.
"That was obviously an emphasis, and that's something that we came up short with last year," Wolf said about filling out the depth chart to compete on Day 1.
The free agency period was obviously heavy on defense, which led many (including this corner) to wonder where the offense was and if the hooded guy was still running things. Even the moves made to help "improve" the offense were typical of the former regime. Morgan Moses and Garrett Bradbury were well-worn and cast-offs. Mack Hollins is a limited contributor who can also help special teams. Even Stefon Diggs was a rehab special with a guy coming off a torn ACL.
And then the draft came, and it was an entirely new world, one that never would have been contemplated under Bill Belichick in about two decades: the Patriots went all offense with their first four picks.
Wolf actually did it last year — and it was actually five picks in a row — but unlike the 2024 draft, the Patriots seemed to have gotten the potential for real impact with their first four picks this time around - and without the various red flags and projections they accumulated last year.
The last time Belichick spent his first four picks on offense was the 2006 draft, when the offense was depleted with the departure of Deion Branch. And of course, Belichick used his fourth pick on a fullback, and the fifth pick was a kicker.
From 2007 through 2023, the average number of offensive players taken with the Patriots' first four selections was 1.5. In those 17 drafts, Belichick picked 3 offensive players the same number of times he picked zero (twice)
Yeah, safe to say Wolf and Vrabel are trying to make up for a lot of lost time.
Complain all you want about Will Campbell at 4th overall, but the fact of the matter is this: the Patriots got highly rated players at each of the big remaining holes they had on offense — which they were not able to do in free agency simply because the value and number of players just didn't add up this year.
• Campbell, for his legitimate issues, was universally the highest-rated left tackle in the draft by most teams.
• TreVeyon Henderson, the Ohio State running back taken in the second round, was universally the third running back behind Ashton Jeanty and Omarion Hampton. And if you were looking for an impactful pass back with breakaway ability and able to handle pass protection very early in his career (and the Patriots were), then Henderson was at the top of the list.
• Kyle Williams, the Washington State receiver taken with the first third-round pick, was regarded as one of the most explosive receivers off the ball with the ability to separate.
• And, finally, Georgia center Jared Wilson was the best pure center in the draft, since Grey Zabel was a tackle in college and might actually be a guard. With the Patriots signing Bradbury on a cheap deal, it's very likely Wilson will be given every opportunity to win the left guard spot and then move to center whenever he overtakes Bradbury.
I mean, look at the Patriots' offense now on paper:
QB: Drake Maye with veteran Joshua Dobbs as a backup.
RB: Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson on the first two downs. Henderson on third downs.
TE: Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper.
WRs: Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins, Demario Douglas, Kendrick Bourne, Ja'Lynn Polk, Kayshon Boutte, etc.
LT: Will Campbell
LG: Jared Wilson/Cole Strange/Layden Robinson
C: Garrett Bradbury
RG: Mike Onwenu
RT: Morgan Moses.
That's an offense that can compete, at the very least.
"We see all of them with the ability to come in and compete," Wolf said of the draft picks. "Obviously, with Coach Vrabel, it's going to be a blank slate, and everyone's going to come in and have the same opportunity. Certainly, we have some established players at some of these positions, but each player is going to come in and we'll see what they can do."
We already knew that about the defense.
Wolf said he expects to use the arsenal of six picks they have on Saturday to address some things on defense.
"As we move forward here, certainly going to look to address the defense," he said.
"I still think there are a bunch of areas that we can add depth to, and there's some areas, particularly on defense, that we feel like we need to shore up a little bit."
Things that would be on my list:
• A bigger, more physical nickel cornerback that is vital in Vrabel's scheme;
• Possibly more of a free safety, but they did sign Marcus Epps;
• Edge and defensive tackle because those classes are deep and the Patriots could use more depth;
• Perhaps a weakside linebacker
• Of course, the Patriots are still lacking a kicker and young QB (rooting for Riley Leonard) - possibly a developmental tight end behind Henry.
The Patriots took almost all the time allotted to them before selecting Henderson at 38. Wolf revealed they were fielding trade offers but ultimately the player was more valuable than the offer. Wolf also said the new Patriots brass were having a spirited debate about who take at 38 - Henderson or an unnamed player - before that player went off the board. Considering the Patriots were in offensive mindset, that would appear to be WR Jayden Higgins (a big boundary X receiver who was highly rated) or OG Jonah Savaiinaea, whom the rival Dolphins jumped in front of the Patriots to select.
"There were some really good conversations before our first pick with Coach Vrabel, Ryan [Cowden], Cam (Williams), Matt [Groh] and Alonzo [Highsmith]," Wolf said. "Just there was a little bit of a debate about who we were going to pick, and ultimately, one of the players we were talking about got drafted, so it didn't end up mattering, but I think it was a really good step in the right direction just for us working together in our relationship as co-workers because we have to have productive disagreements for this to work. We can't just agree on everything; we can't just acquiesce to each other on something, so I think it was really productive from that standpoint."
It wasn't all that long ago that there was a lot of depression over the future of the Patriots. There was a ton of talk about this being a multi-year rebuild with all hope just about lost at competing for anything in the 2025 season.
I just don't see how that is remotely true anymore. Give Vrabel and Company a lot of credit. There's a long way to go and many injuries that will have to be overcome, but as it stands today on paper, the Patriots are vastly improved from where they were at the end of the miserable 2024 season and there's little doubt they should be able to compete for something this season.
That's some offseason.