There is considerable curiosity about the Patriots due to the changes they have made in 2025: new coaches, free agent additions, and the draft class got NFL people talking. And while the quarterback's rookie season may have raised some questions league-wide, his talent caught everyone's attention.
On the eve of the season, it's time to share some of the conversations I've had over the last couple of months about this team, where it stands, and where these individuals think it might be going.
On the coaching staff:
"Mike's a really smart guy, and he's surrounded himself with really smart people," said one former AFC South assistant coach. "If this team plays anything like his Titans' teams did, they'll be physical at both lines of scrimmage, hit the shit out of you, and generally avoid beating themselves. Now he had (Taylor) Lewan, (Rodger) Saffold, Derrick (Henry), Big Jeff (Simmons), and some other ass kickers. Henry is a 1-of-1, and the Pats' offensive line isn't on that level, but I can't imagine Mike not trying to duplicate that attitude and level of performance on some level."
An AFC exec wondered about the Josh McDaniels hire: "Everyone says they take the year away to add new pieces to their scheme, re-think it. Does that ever materialize?" But another assistant opined that McDaniels "has always been an exceptional problem solver" and "I like the idea of pairing him with a high-level athlete like (Drake) Maye. If they can get on the same page, and the QB is smart with the football, it could be a bitch to stop."
As for defensive coordinator Terrell Williams, as this is his first go in this role, it's difficult to know what his tendencies will be as a play caller. "His defensive lines were always well-schooled, aggressive, and played with an edge," noted an AFC offensive assistant. "He's got some personnel there to coach the whole group that way." Considering both Williams and Vrabel have highlighted how they crave violence and want a penetrating, attacking style defense, this seems to be as good a take as any. "Vrabel has never had corners like this. If they're going to play a lot of quarters (coverage), those two (Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis) can still operate the way they want - aggressively," added another assistant. "That should allow them to get creative in how they want to get after the quarterbacks."
On the free agents:
"They overpaid for all of 'em," said one front office exec, citing Milton Williams, Carlton Davis, Robert Spillane, and Stefon Diggs. "They had no choice. That roster bottomed out." That said, this exec mostly liked their choices, "Williams is an ascending player. Barmore, too. Those two could eff shit up."
On Spillane: "We had interest. He's smart and he's relentless. It won't be flashy, but it will be effective."
As for Davis and Diggs, "Both volatile players, and the corner position is that with rare exception. But something close to the top end of those two guys makes them a significantly more talented team than they've been."
When I asked some of the scouts on my payroll (that's a joke, and not a very good one), one noted that there was generally a throughline in the free agent acquisitions (mentioning Morgan Moses and Garrett Bradbury in addition to the others): "They went after guys who love football, who care about wins and losses. You laugh, but you'd be surprised at how many only care about the paycheck."
Finally, that same exec said every team wants to "supplement their roster in free agency, not build it that way. The history of their recent drafts has placed them in this unfortunate position of having to chase again, for the second time in four years (referring to the 2021 free agency spree). That's not sustainable, and Mike (Vrabel) knows it. They'll be more intentional in the future."
On the draft:
"There's not much to dislike," said a director of college scouting. "We can quibble with the pick of (Will) Campbell, but they made it clear they wanted to help Maye, and based on the preseason stuff, they're better than they were last year. That's a good place to start."
Yes, the Campbell measurables and his future - whether he will eventually end up as a guard - came up in the "quibble," but the director added, "He'll be good somewhere along that line. Tested off the charts. Played in big games. Got swagger."
As for TreVeyon Henderson, the director called him "one of the best playmakers in this draft, and someone who could get us all in trouble if he looks like this in the regular season.".
I asked an NFC assistant who saw the Pats up close and personal this summer if any other players jumped out to him beyond his observation of Henderson - "Holy shit, is he a handful." The response may surprise you. "The guard (Jared Wilson) looks like he's a ways off. Really struggled with power when we saw him. Putting him next to Campbell may be good long-term, but in the here and now? I'd try to find another answer."
Any other thoughts? "The little slot (Efton Chism) and the third-rounder (Kyle Williams) look the part. They've got more established guys in front of them, but they may have hit there."
On Maye:
A pro scout saw Maye versus Minnesota. "He looked like he was sped up, and did not look comfortable under center." To his point, after nearly getting picked off on the high ball he threw on the over route to Pop Douglas, Maye didn't throw another pass from under center. Small sample, but worth noting for an offensive coordinator who loves himself some play action.
"He took that hit on the throwaway. If I were McDaniels, I'd be pissed. He can't do that every week. It adds up."
Another defensive assistant who watched Maye in one of the joint practices marveled at his ability to sift through some of what they were throwing at him. "He had a lot of answers for us that day. And in talking to some of their coaches, I got the sense that's something they're very excited about. Plus, there's no doubting the talent — big arm, good legs. He could make it happen this season so long as they protect him."
SHORT ARM REVOLUTION?
Campbell's arm length and wingspan were heavily scrutinized here and elsewhere. It wasn't so much about whether the rookie is talented enough to play in the NFL, but more about what his ceiling is and whether left tackle will be his long-term home.
But this summer, we've seen multiple large contract extensions handed out to tackles with less-than-ideal measurable.
Bernhard Raimann, Alaric Jackson, and Luke Goedeke all got rich despite being below the 33-inch arm length threshold.
- Raimann 32 7/8 inches, 80 1/8 inch wingspan
- Jackson 32 1/2 inches, 83-inch wingspan
- Goedeke 32 1/4 inches, 79 7/8 inch wingspan
None of these players has ever made a Pro Bowl (that bar isn't high), and certainly never been an All-Pro. Still, as I inquired about this "softening" of certain thresholds around the league, two common answers emerged: the scarcity of good prospects in college, and the CBA's limitation on practice time.
"We go work some of these kids out and more often than not, realize if we draft this player, we're essentially going to have to build them from the ground up," said one AFC line coach. "There's so much projection involved."
"If you’re running a spread offense in the college game, almost nothing translates to the NFL," former NFL tackle Geoff Schwartz told 'The Ringer', then noting once you get to the pros, "You don’t get as many reps anymore, so I think when guys get to the game, a lot of players are surprised by movement and the things that happen.”
"I don't think the average person understands how much goes into the position, and how technical it is," an assistant line coach told me. "So if you've got good hand placement, you can move your body fluidly and have power, I can work with that. It doesn't do any good if you have long arms and mass, but can't do any of those things that are required to play in this league."
Still, most organizations want the longer limb tackles and will bet on their ability to coach up those who are weaker technically. Cincinnati took Amarius Mims in 2024's first round, and Miami did the same with Patrick Paul a round later. Houston did the same with behemoth Aireontae Ersery this year (also 2nd round). All three are starters to begin the season. Time will tell if their ceiling proves to be higher than the likes of Raimann, Jackson, and Goedeke.
A PRO'S PRO
Jakobi Meyers wants a contract extension. His current team, the Las Vegas Raiders, isn't interested, or at least, not at the number Meyers wants. So, taking a page from the athlete's playbook, Meyers requested a trade. What happened next?
"I asked, they said no. That's where that stopped," said Meyers, chuckling. "I mean, I'm just going to keep doing my job until something shakes out either way, honestly. I don't know which way it's going to go, but I'll be ready for whatever."
Meyers is coming off a career year in 2024-25, recording 87 catches for 1,027 yards and four scores. But the Raiders drafted multiple receivers this spring, including TCU's Jack Bech in the second round. Like Meyers, his best spot is in the slot, and while Bech is no threat to the veteran currently, Meyers is a remnant of the old regime, not this new one headed by Pete Carroll and GM John Spytek.
“Just off what I did previously, I feel like I earned it,” Meyers said. “I was kind of hoping that it would get done. I felt like I proved enough that I deserve to be here. I thought they would see it that way — they don’t.”
But instead of withholding his services — and facing a fine — the 28-year-old (who turns 29 in November) is still practicing and preparing to play against his former team on Sunday.
“Honestly, I got to give a shout out to my teammates, because if it weren’t for them, I probably would’ve did the same thing everybody else do," said Meyers. "But you've got to find a way to separate yourself, honestly, from just the B.S. and all the business. At the end of the day, my teammates got my back and I got their back. I’m just going to rock out with them.”
Meyers' base salary is $10.5 million. He is scheduled to be a free agent this winter and is in line for a healthy raise based on the growing salaries at that position.
NERD NUMBERS
- Matthew Stafford enters 2025 with 59,809 passing yards in his career. He would be the 10th player all-time to reach 60,000 passing yards, and needs 1,553 yards to pass Dan Marino (61,361) for the 9th-most all-time.
- Derrick Henry enters the 2025 season with 106 career rushing TDs (T-6th all-time with HOF Jim Brown). Henry needs five more rushing TDs to pass HOF Walter Payton for 5th-most all-time. Emmitt Smith tops the list with 164 (!).
- Travis Kelce enters the 2025 season with 97 career receiving TDs, including playoffs. He needs three more TDs to become the 4th tight end to have 100+ in his career (including playoffs). The top three: Antonio Gates (118), Tony Gonzalez (115), and Rob Gronkowski (107).
- Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid have won 106 games together entering 2025 (including playoffs). That's tied for 9th-most wins by a QB-HC duo since at least 1950. They need eight wins to surpass Russell Wilson-Pete Carroll for 6th-most all-time. Tom Brady and Bill Belichick have everyone in their rearview (249 wins). That's 105 more than second-place (Brees and Payton).
