Vrabel tells it like it is about the Pats drafting

[sb1]

He’s not lying. I’m ok with not getting Parsons if this is his thinking…but I hope Coach backs up those words.

Also tells me the league has noticed how terrible GM Bill and to a lesser extent Wolf were with the drafts in recent years, not just us fans.

 

[varjao]

He's 110% right

 

[borg]

He’s not lying. I’m ok with not getting Parsons if this is his thinking…but I hope Coach backs up those words.

Also tells me the league has noticed how terrible GM Bill and to a lesser extent Wolf were with the drafts in recent years, not just us fans.

During his limited time at the helm, Wolf has maximized his awfulness

 

[DC Patriots]

He’s being honest. And while I agree with the “let’s no get ahead of ourselves message,” it’s a bit of a downer before the opener

 

[lancerman]

He’s being honest. And while I agree with the “let’s no get ahead of ourselves message,” it’s a bit of a downer before the opener

It's probably better to temper expectations. Some people really want to believe the Pats are going to be contenders this year. At best this is just the first step from the consecutive 4 win seasons we had.

His take on Parsons is spot on. This isn't a team ready to make a big splash for an impact player.

 

[DC Patriots]

Hey, I didn’t say he wasn’t 100% spot on

 

[Mike the Brit]

Also tells me the league has noticed how terrible GM Bill and to a lesser extent Wolf were with the drafts in recent years, not just us fans.

Actually, BB's 23 draft was a huge success:

Gonzalez, White (still TBD), Mapu (still TBD), Andrews, J. (face didn't fit, but playing for Houston), Ryland (abandoned too soon), Sow (had his moments, but didn't pan out -- coaching?), Mafi (failure), Boutte, Baringer, Douglas, Speed (failure), Bolden (showed some promise, but didn't pan out).

That is pretty amazing.

Of course, 22 was terrible and only Marcus Jones survives (though maybe Strange suffered because of regime change).

There are no excuses for Wolf in 24. Maye apart, only Wallace survives, and he was drafted as a transfer to LT and may or may not work as a backup guard. Milton is on a roster, so there should be some credit there, although whatever made them ship him out so soon goes against the pick.

 

[Thelonious]

This is the first year (again) of a two or three-year rebuild. Their record will likely not be great this year, though it will be better, which is very good news: they have made progress. They probably won't get to the playoffs this year, and it doesn't make a damned bit of difference whether they do or not. Probably because he doesn't want to see fanboys leaping off bridges, Vrabel won't put it this way, but that is what he's saying, and he's right.

 

[Mike the Brit]

It's probably better to temper expectations. Some people really want to believe the Pats are going to be contenders this year. At best this is just the first step from the consecutive 4 win seasons we had.

His take on Parsons is spot on. This isn't a team ready to make a big splash for an impact player.

They paid a lot of money for Diggs, Milton Williams and Carlton Davis. Not saying that that was wrong, but they'll be up against the cap next year, even if they carry money over from this one.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Agreed, we should round out the roster a little more before we do a parsons type splash. Its not a one year fix

 

[Tunescribe]

He’s not lying. I’m ok with not getting Parsons if this is his thinking…but I hope Coach backs up those words.

Also tells me the league has noticed how terrible GM Bill and to a lesser extent Wolf were with the drafts in recent years, not just us fans.

BB shored up rosters by signing mid- to lower-tier free agents as role players. Vrabel has done that to some extent and perhaps we'll see more, but it's an effective stopgap approach. Of course, he's right about building depth through the draft although it takes time.

 

[Nikolai]

Yep, this makes sense to me. While I have a 10-7 prediction, I'll be happy enough just looking like a competitive team that gives a **** for the first time since 2021.

 

[sb1]

23 was ok.

Yep, this makes sense to me. While I have a 10-7 prediction, I'll be happy enough just looking like a competitive team that gives a **** for the first time since 2021.

Same. They’ve been unwatchable the past couple of seasons and regardless of record at least that will change for the better in 25.

 

[Ross12]

He’s being honest. And while I agree with the “let’s no get ahead of ourselves message,” it’s a bit of a downer before the opener

I don't think they conflict. Vrabel is saying that they have not built depth through the draft, and he's right. Instead they have signed free agents as stopgaps to help their depth. However, those guys are generally older and on shorter term contracts, and obviously more expensive.

He's simply saying that they need picks to build up depth consisting of young guys on longer cheaper deals. It's not an indictment on this year's roster, which is built to be competitive this year, but where most players won't be here next year or the year after.

 

[sb1]

I can be patient. As long as there’s a plan and it sounds like there finally is.

 

[rkarp1]

They paid a lot of money for Diggs, Milton Williams and Carlton Davis. Not saying that that was wrong, but they'll be up against the cap next year, even if they carry money over from this one.

everyone with an eye on paying Maye, rightfully so (hopefully)
but Gonzo is coming due first and CB's are blowing up the market
Gonzo could set the market if he remains healthy.

 

[rkarp1]

the core of the roster, the top 10-12 players should be players drafted in the first 2 rounds over the past 5 years.
2025 picks tbd
2019-2025 picks
-Maye, Gonzo, Barmore fall into that category
-Polk, White, Strange, TT, Mac, Dugger, Uche, Harry, Williams do not

 

[PatsFan2]

everyone with an eye on paying Maye, rightfully so (hopefully)
but Gonzo is coming due first and CB's are blowing up the market
Gonzo could set the market if he remains healthy.

IF Gonzo hopes the blow up the market he better get healthy.

 

[rkarp1]

IF Gonzo hopes the blow up the market he better get healthy.

he is signed for 2026, but I believe the team has to tender him for 2027 before the 2026 season begins, right?
they also have the franch tag after 2027.
I hope they get out in front of him and get him done early
waiting only costs more money, creates player resentment and roster uncertainty.
on the player side, the team needs to be winning. he has to like Vrabel and WIlliams. the offer has to be top 1-3 for CB's. he has to like playing in NE.
clock is ticking

 

[The Gr8est]

I can be patient. As long as there’s a plan and it sounds like there finally is.

Especially if we have more drafts in the future like 2025 was.

That is the best I have felt after a draft in a long time, and it was validated by how many made the 53. No outright busts.