Better, younger, cheaper

DaBruinz · Mar 12, 2026

SlowGettingUp said:
Guregian: For the most part, better, younger, cheaper. Except Byard and Dre'Mont Jones. And overall worse at edge. She gives it a B+ and believes we still get AJ Brown.

https://www.masslive.com/patriots/2026/03/10-thoughts-on-the-patriots-moves-in-free-agency-thus-far-karen-guregian.html

I think that we're actually better at Edge, though our depth needs to be improved. . Jones is an upgrade over Chaisson in terms of his run defense.

I fully expect an edge player in the 1st or 2nd round.

TheRainMaker · Mar 12, 2026

I'm not sure why this is surprising given Bill did this during his first year in NE getting rid of dead weight or players that didn't fit. It's puzzling when posters freak out when a fringe player walks.

Vrabel doesn't want to inherit guys like Dugger, Peppers, Jennings, Tavai, Godsmack and others that don't fit his scheme. Mapu is the last man standing of the BB tweeners who probably won't make the team this time around.

Chaisson is not a big loss...like at all. Do we know anything about Jones? Is he better run defender? I can't find any info on him.

RobertWeathers · Mar 12, 2026

Joey007 said:
We’re off to a good start, as far as I’m concerned.

Little surprised we let everyone walk. But we largely replaced the guys walking accordingly so far. Chaisson would be the only one if you want to say we need to bring in another speed rusher.

IMO the FO and Vrabes are doing a great job.

The only one that doesn't sit well with me is AVT as he is injury-prone but since it's only a $7.2m singing bonus and the contract has $4.25m tied to availability, the NEP did VERY well to protect themselves.

Huckleberry1 · Mar 12, 2026

Hugepatsfan said:
The quote was always taken out of context. He was speaking in generalities about how every team always wants to get younger, cheaper and better while players fight to hold onto their jobs. That's just the business of the NFL.

People here took the soundbite and ran with it like it's realistic to get all 3 with each move. That's sillyness. You're competing with the other 31 teams for the same players. Everyone else goes for the awesome, young, cheap ones too.

This is right on the money.

palialka · Mar 12, 2026

Joey007 said:
We’re off to a good start, as far as I’m concerned.

Little surprised we let everyone walk. But we largely replaced the guys walking accordingly so far. Chaisson would be the only one if you want to say we need to bring in another speed rusher.

Like you, I think the Pats have done a good job so far in FA but they’re not going to use FA as the primary way to retool and fill holes. Some posters here have a hard time understanding or accepting that.

Vrabel and Wolf have made it clear from the beginning of their time together that the draft is going to be the primary option to build this team. We can look at the team, current as of today, and say they lack a speed edge rusher, LB depth, a young athletic TE and WR playmakers. That’s a fair, rational assessment which team will focus on strengthening via the draft.

The Pats are going to utilize free agency to target specific players and to supplement the draft as the draft can’t fill every need.

We just need to realize and accept that the Pats aren’t going to go after every “media darling, flashy” FA because their team building philosophy is draft oriented.

TommyD4207 · Mar 12, 2026

palialka said:
We just need to realize and accept that the Pats aren’t going to go after every “media darling, flashy” FA because their team building philosophy is draft oriented.

The fact that I can still see the long-term vision is really encouraging.
Honestly, it's something we haven't seen here in a while, a lot of the last couple decades was patching holes and building around people already here - certainly they were at that stage and it makes sense.

But I can see what VCH is trying to do, and I'm on board. Next year, honestly, is going to be a crucial, crucial year, because the core has to basically be in place at that point.

Dec54 · Mar 12, 2026

Better.... That is how you improve
Younger....Picking well in the draft.
Cheaper......Good contract management

It's not complex!

palialka · Mar 12, 2026

TommyD4207 said:
The fact that I can still see the long-term vision is really encouraging.
Honestly, it's something we haven't seen here in a while, a lot of the last couple decades was patching holes and building around people already here - certainly they were at that stage and it makes sense.

But I can see what VCH is trying to do, and I'm on board. Next year, honestly, is going to be a crucial, crucial year, because the core has to basically be in place at that point.

I agree…

Honestly, the SB run was a surprise to everyone but I’m happy to see that, so far, the front office hasn’t swayed from their plan of building this team the right way. We’ll continue to grow and get better (even if our record is worse next season due to schedule strength).

2027 is when we’ll really see what Vrabel and Co. have envisioned for this team.

Joey007 · Mar 12, 2026

palialka said:
Like you, I think the Pats have done a good job so far in FA but they’re not going to use FA as the primary way to retool and fill holes. Some posters here have a hard time understanding or accepting that.

Vrabel and Wolf have made it clear from the beginning of their time together that the draft is going to be the primary option to build this team. We can look at the team, current as of today, and say they lack a speed edge rusher, LB depth, a young athletic TE and WR playmakers. That’s a fair, rational assessment which team will focus on strengthening via the draft.

The Pats are going to utilize free agency to target specific players and to supplement the draft as the draft can’t fill every need.

We just need to realize and accept that the Pats aren’t going to go after every “media darling, flashy” FA because their team building philosophy is draft oriented.

Yeah. This cycle to me always felt like it was more going to be a cross between 24 and 25.

We weren’t going to break the bank and throw money everywhere. But we were going to use FA to fill in “puzzle” type pieces needed to fill out this roster that don’t sacrifice our future cap health when Gonzo, Maye get extensions. I feel like we’ve done well with that so far.

bakes781 · Mar 12, 2026

Joey007 said:
Idk if we’re truly worse at edge yet. Chaisson did a really nice job, but he was definitely replaceable.

Still rushers out there on the market like the guy from Atlanta, and the draft.

Leonard Floyd?

Joey007 · Mar 12, 2026

TommyD4207 said:
The fact that I can still see the long-term vision is really encouraging.
Honestly, it's something we haven't seen here in a while, a lot of the last couple decades was patching holes and building around people already here - certainly they were at that stage and it makes sense.

But I can see what VCH is trying to do, and I'm on board. Next year, honestly, is going to be a crucial, crucial year, because the core has to basically be in place at that point.

It feels like you can piece together the logic behind what this staff wants to accomplish.

They sign the guys you hope they may sign, they draft the guys you hope they would draft.

Even in Bill’s heyday, he was always filling out the roster in ways you couldn’t really understand. Much of that was once beneficial, but eventually became a downfall in later years.

Joey007 · Mar 12, 2026

bakes781 said:
Leonard Floyd?

Arnold Ebikete.

mike_usagisan · Mar 12, 2026

TheRainMaker said:
I'm not sure why this is surprising given Bill did this during his first year in NE getting rid of dead weight or players that didn't fit. It's puzzling when posters freak out when a fringe player walks.

I'm not surprised about the Duggers or Tavais who were holdovers from when he got here, but by the Chaissons and the Hawkins, guys Vrabel brought in last year.

DaBruinz · Mar 12, 2026

bakes781 said:
Leonard Floyd?

He's 34...

mgteich · Mar 12, 2026

VrabelJr said:
Definitely feels like "better, younger. cheaper" might have been a pick two scenario.

I'm not worried about Chaisson because every DE benefits from our DTs. We addressed Safety and G before the draft so likely won't need to use high picks there. We have a lot of options.

1) I don't know how our top 10 Defense is much weaker at EDGE because we substituted James for Chaisson.

2) I expect that we will draft an EDGE rusher in the first two rounds.

3) I expect us to add a free agent "replacement" for Jennings. Personally, I think that Ponder is that replacement, but Vrabel will like add another.

TommyD4207 · Mar 12, 2026

mike_usagisan said:
I'm not surprised about the Duggers or Tavais who were holdovers from when he got here, but by the Chaissons and the Hawkins, guys Vrabel brought in last year.

The Chaisson thing...I mean..I'm still trying to figure out why they didn't think he was worth keeping - feels like cost-cutting, and I'm not sure why, unless you're keeping a nest egg to bring someone else in.

Zuma · Mar 12, 2026

mike_usagisan said:
I'm not surprised about the Duggers or Tavais who were holdovers from when he got here, but by the Chaissons and the Hawkins, guys Vrabel brought in last year.

Yeah but not Hawkins...that was Mayo.

DaBruinz · Mar 12, 2026

Joey Bosa is an intriguing name still out there. As is Payton Turner.

TommyD4207 · Mar 12, 2026

DaBruinz said:
Joey Bosa is an intriguing name still out there. As is Payton Turner.

Unless Joey Bosa has decided to go back on his medicinal program, I'm not interested.
And if he has, well - the injury issue comes back into play.

mgteich · Mar 12, 2026

mike_usagisan said:
I'm not surprised about the Duggers or Tavais who were holdovers from when he got here, but by the Chaissons and the Hawkins, guys Vrabel brought in last year.

For Vrabel, I think there is a lot of difference between a 1-year deal and a 3-year deal.

Someone on a 1-year deal will and should be matched against free agent alternatives every year. Consider a very top 1-year contract (Byard). no one knows just how good Byard will be after the season. If he continues, we certainly will try to extend him, probably before the season ends (like Brown) or we will offer what we need to in free agency.

I have no problem at all upgrading Hawkins to Byard. Havin Byard, I don't think that Vrabel would have offered Hawkins more than what he got.

In addition, I don't think that Vrabel considers a #3 safety to be very important, although he may have a safety or two in mind in the 4th round. In any case, we have Pettus, Brown and Saunders.

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