There’s a different vibe surrounding the New England Patriots as they prepare for the official start of training camp this week.

With new head coach Mike Vrabel leading the charge, the Patriots are widely expected to bounce back after posting a 4-13 record in consecutive seasons. They have a promising second-year quarterback in Drake Maye, a proven offensive coordinator in Josh McDaniels, several defensive improvements via free agency, a true No. 1 wide receiver in Stefon Diggs, and an offensive line that should take a much-needed step forward thanks to first-round left tackle Will Campbell and veteran right tackle Morgan Moses.

It’s a refreshing change for Pats fans, who haven’t had much to cheer about since Tom Brady’s departure in 2020. As NBC Sports Boston’s Patriots insider Tom E. Curran noted on Monday’s Early Edition, there’s a welcome sense of optimism in Foxboro.

“If you go back, whether it was Deion Branch’s contract in 2006 or post-Adam Vinatieri, all the way through, the Patriots always had some kind of drama or chaos, or expectations placed upon them that were self-inflicted because it’s good creative tension,” Curran said.

“But now I think with this team in particular, there is a feeling of optimism that at least they’re on the right track, because even in the latter days of Bill (Belichick), even if you have the greatest head coach of all time on the sideline, you wonder if he still is who he was. And then with (Jerod) Mayo last year, it was all fingers and toes crossed it would work out. You definitely know that this year will be better than last year. You can almost bet your life on it.”

The Patriots hired Vrabel shortly after firing first-year head coach Jerod Mayo in January. Vrabel helped Tennessee clinch a playoff berth in three straight seasons from 2019 to 2021, and with a relatively easy 2025 schedule, it isn’t far-fetched to say he could lead New England back into the postseason.

Mike Giardi of the Boston Sports Journal agreed with Curran’s take, citing Vrabel as the main reason for the newfound positivity surrounding the organization.

“It has been a long time since you entered camp not trying to twist yourself into a pretzel that this is headed in the right direction,” Giardi said on Early Edition. “They got a real football coach. Is he the guy to take them to a Super Bowl? Well, he’s never been there before, but he took Tennessee and pointed them in the right direction until injuries sort of laid that team down. So to me, there’s just a better feeling.

“We came off the draft, you weren’t even twisting yourself about the draft. Like, ‘Hey, I remember him in college, he was good.’ … So to me, it is. It’s a different vibe, a different feeling. Now, they have to capture it. They have to take that in the right direction.”

Veterans are expected to report to Gillette Stadium for training camp on Tuesday. The first practice is scheduled for Wednesday at 10:15 a.m. ET.

Watch the full Early Edition segment with Curran and Giardi below: