Patriots News 05-03, A.J. Brown Concerns, Vrabel's Saga

Good morning, and a happy Sunday to all. Here is your Patriots news for 05-3, along with this week’s NFL notes.

We’re going to get to the concerns about the potential A.J. Brown trade, which are real, and first to the entire saga involving Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini.

When the heck (deleted the word I wanted to use) did we start getting breaking news stories from the UK’s Daily Mail? And the entire Mike Tomlin story, which the entirety of Boston’s sports talk radio has lapped up, would be laughable if it weren’t so serious a subject.

“Sources inside the Patriots’ organization,” since when?. Does anyone need to be reminded that Wikipedia has banned the Daily Mail and its clone site, the Mail Online, from being used as references on its pages?

Why? Because Wikipedia’s editors cited the Daily Mail’s “reputation for poor fact checking, sensationalism, and flat-out fabrication.”

Are people that hard up for the sensationalistic that this is now passing as fact? Like the moron from TMZ that chases celebs through airports asking asinine questions?

The Vrabel story is real enough without having to inject it with tabloid fodder repeated as hard facts. But then again, some people lap that up.

Vrabel, it has been reported, could lose the locker room over this entire affair with Russini. And that is a possibility. Which was why he addressed the team on the day of their first offseason workout.

While the exact details of that are unknown, Hunter Henry and Robert Spillane did speak with the media and offered their support for the coach.

“Coach coaches football. He keeps the main thing the main thing,” Spillane said. “I know he’s dealing with personal issues. But when we’re in the building, we speak football.”

“I know you guys want to hear about everything that’s going on. To be honest with you, I’m just focused on what we’ve got going on right now in this building with this team,” Henry said.

“Obviously, we had a long season last year. A quick turnaround into the offseason, and we’re in a new building.And every year’s a new year. … We’ve got a long journey ahead of us. We’ve got to start somewhere. So we’re starting right now.”

Drake Maye did the same thing this past Wednesday. “We’re here for Coach, we love Coach and what he does for us, and has done for us this past year,” Maye said to WHDH.

“You can’t speak it into words, and thankfully, he’s our head coach. We know he’s dealing with some stuff off the field and out of the coaching world, but we’re here for him, and I know he’s gonna come back.”

The much-rumored Brown trade would turn things down a notch for a short time in the media frenzy over this story. But the first time the Patriots lose a regular-season game, talk radio will be all over this again as a possible reason. Book it.

Quick Hitters For the Patriots and NFL News:

Eli Raridon: The Patriots drafted the intriguing 6’6, 245-pound tight end from Notre Dame in the 3rd Round, with pick #95 in the NFL Draft last weekend. He has the size and athleticism to become a very good tight end in the NFL.

But it probably will take a year or so for him to find his footing in the NFL. While primarily playing as an inline “Y” tight end last year (66 percent of his snaps), he’ll need to get bigger and stronger this year.

He probably won’t be a big contributor in 2026, but 2027 should be a reasonable timeframe to see him really begin to contribute. And that is okay. Tight ends typically take a bit longer to develop in the NFL, especially the inline ones, as they have blocking and receiving assignments to learn.

Hunter Henry and new TE Julian Hill (known more as a run blocker), should see the majority of the snaps in 2026. C.J. Dippre and Marshal Lang will also compete for snaps this summer.

However, current Patriots top tight end Henry said he was looking forward to being a mentor to the youngster, something he said Antonio Gates in San Diego did for him as a young Day 2 pick.

Khalil Jacobs: The Patriots have reportedly signed Jacobs, a linebacker out of Missouri, as an UDFA on Friday.

The Patriots met with Jacobs at Mizzou’s Pro Day and reportedly had him for a Top 30 visit. He spent two years with the Tigers after transferring from South Alabama after three seasons.

In his two years at Missouri, he played in 19 games, recording 61 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, and five sacks. He’s on the smaller side at 6’1, 228.

Dane Brugler in The Beast wrote this about Jacobs: “With his smaller, cut-up frame, Jacobs looks more like a safety than a linebacker. He has a tough time disengaging once locked up by blockers, but what he lacks in desired size and length, he makes up for with speed to the football. His read-react eyes are still developing, and better anticipation will allow him to make more plays driving downhill and in coverage. Despite not being a full-time starter, he was voted a 2025 team captain, and his passionate leadership was obvious to anyone around the program. Overall, Jacobs has limitations that will cap his role, but his pursuit talent and competitive energy will allow him to compete for a subpackage and special teams role in the NFL.

Linebacker is arguably the Patriots’ thinnest position heading into this season, so the signing of Jacobs is not surprising. It is a position that it won’t be surprising to see the team adding a veteran free agent this summer.

Patriots Hire Area Scout: The Patriots announced this week that they hired Robert Haines as their Midwest area scout. Haines worked for the Carolina Panthers from 2007 until 2024.

He replaces Justin Hickman, who left New England for a job with the Atlanta Falcons. The Patriots have also parted ways with director of scouting projects Marshall Oium.

Chargers Schedule Release Video: Albert Breer mentioned this week that the Chargers, who normally take shots at their opponents when their schedule-release hype video is released, could be salivating at the chance to take a shot at the Patriots and Mike Vrabel.

“My guess would be that you’ll probably see hints of it during the schedule release in a couple of weeks, with the way that teams all make fun of each other during the schedule release,” Breer said.

“You see what the Chargers do every year, right? It’s like nothing is out of bounds with the Chargers, so my guess would be they will. And if they don’t, then it’s going to be a story that they didn’t.”

Breer is practically inviting the Bolts to poke fun at Vrabel and the Patriots, even going so far as to predict how they will. Which is their choice, but if I’m the Chargers, given that playoff performance in Foxboro back in January, “judge not, lest thee by judged.”

Karon Prunty: The Patriots made Prunty the first of their draft picks to sign their contract. According to Chris Price of the Globe, Prunty signed a four-year deal worth a total of $4.81 million, including a fully guaranteed $434,868 signing bonus.

Prunty and the rest of the Patriots’ rookie class will attend their rookie minicamp, which begins next week on Friday, May 8.

Kyle Williams, #8: The Patriots announced that Williams is switching from #18 to #8, the number Stefon Diggs wore last season.

Williams said last year that Diggs was one of his favorite players from his childhood. “It’s been a blessing. He’s my favorite receiver,” Williams said. “Being right next to him is just a (god-given) gift.”

Patriots No Huddle Podcast: Derek, Mike, and I conducted our latest podcasts on our new platform right off the PatsFans.com website. We recapped Day 1, Day 2, and then an overall draft show. You can always check out our podcasts on our YouTube channel.

Please check it out. And be sure to like, share, and leave us a review.

Russ Francis/Chuck Fairbanks: The former Patriot tight end and head coach should be in the Patriots team Hall of Fame, and the fact that Francis isn’t is an absolute travesty. Francis and the Raiders’ Dave Casper changed how teams used the tight end position.

We will continue to display this in our Sunday posts until it happens. Casper is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Francis’ numbers stand up well against Casper’s, yet he isn’t even in the team’s HOF.

Questions And Concerns About The Potential Trade For A.J. Brown:

The Patriots made zero moves in the NFL Draft to upgrade the wide receiver position. And while they did sign a couple of UDFAs, that means one of two things.

Either the team is all in on making the trade with the Eagles on June 2nd, or, barring that, they’re happy with the WR room as it is entering the season. Neither one should be looked upon as necessarily a good thing.

There are questions about Brown that need to be addressed.

#1 Is He Healthy? There are legitimate, well-documented questions about his knee. It is well known that he had procedures on both knees when he was a member of the Titans.

While those were not considered major surgeries, and more of the cleanup variety, any kind of knee injuries should be looked at with the consideration that those have a habit of taking a toll on a player when they start getting older, which is exactly where Brown is at now.

However, during the Eagles’ Super Bowl run two years ago, Brown had his knee drained several times. That in itself is a concerning development. But then in 2025, Brown had the second-lowest receiving total in his career, and his average yards gained per route run was the lowest of his career.

What Was The Cause Of His Decline? This is the $64,000 question that needs answering. Was it his knee injury? And has it begun to slow him down? Or was it the QB play on the Eagles?

Jalen Hurts has been a lightning rod for criticism over his reported refusal to accept changes that would diversify the Eagles’ passing game, which happens to be one of the things Brown is adamant about.

Hurts’ well-known struggles against zone coverage carried over into Brown’s offensive production. In a piece on ESPN, Jerry Fowler wrote, “Brown said he knew he had a chance to be prominently featured when facing a man-heavy team. But when defenders forced tight-window throws via zone coverage, “A.J. disappears,” a team source said.

“Brown’s yards per reception (11.7, down from 14.1) and yards per target (7.3, down from 9.1) dipped substantially when facing zone, and he caught only two of his seven TDs against the coverage.”

Did He Check Out Mentally? Brown’s frustrations were consistently on blast for everyone to see, both in the locker room and on social media.

Brown’s comment near the end of the season about the offense’s struggles proved true as they bowed out of the playoffs early against the Niners. Brown said, “You can’t keep slapping a Band-Aid over them.”

His frustration in Philadelphia may not be a total negative. It may have just been time for him to move on and find a new team where they can play to his strengths.

Are The Chiefs Still In The Game?

The Patriots are the team that continues to dominate the trade talk about Brown. But don’t sleep on the Kansas City Chiefs just yet. Kansas City dropped out of the bidding for Brown when the Eagles’ asking price was higher.

But since the price has come down considerably (especially after the draft, if you believe the reports), KC could be the sleeper team to swoop in and make a deal at the 11th hour. After a 6-11 season, and after losing their two starting outside cornerbacks, the Chiefs drafted mainly with its defense in mind.

The only wide receiver they drafted with pick #176, Cyrus Allen out of Cincinnati, projects mainly as a slot receiver in the NFL. The “X” WRs currently on the Chiefs’ roster are Tyquan Thornton and Jalen Royals. The Chiefs could definitely be in the mix there. Don’t sleep on them.

Most football people believe that Brown still has two years of being an elite WR left in the tank, and that a change of scenery is just what the doctor ordered. Draft compensation could bring some competition for the Patriots in their pursuit of Brown.

_______________

“Somebody asked me what success looks like, and I said, ‘Yeah, you can judge it by wins and losses during the season, but success for me in the offseason is going to be that the players believe in what we’re doing, and they believe in the message, they believe in the teaching, and they believe in the connections that we’re making.’” — Mike Vrabel

Follow me on Twitter @SteveB7SFG or email me at [email protected]
Listen to our PatsFans.com Patriots No Huddle podcasts on Apple and YouTube as Derek Havens, Mike D’Abate, and I discuss the latest Patriots news and game analysis.

🔍 Questions Answered in This ArticleWhat are the main concerns regarding a potential A.J. Brown trade to the Patriots?

Concerns about a potential A.J. Brown trade include his knee health (past procedures, draining), the cause of his recent decline (injury vs. Jalen Hurts’ play against zone), and his mental frustration with the Eagles’ offense. His frustrations were publicly visible.

What is the latest update on the Mike Vrabel situation with the Patriots?

Mike Vrabel addressed the Patriots team regarding his personal issues, with players like Hunter Henry, Robert Spillane, and Drake Maye publicly offering support. The article questions the credibility of some tabloid reports surrounding the saga.

Who was the Patriots’ 3rd Round tight end draft pick?

The Patriots drafted Eli Raridon, a 6’6″, 245-pound tight end from Notre Dame, with pick #95 in the 3rd Round. He is expected to take a year or two to develop, potentially contributing significantly by 2027.

Like this article?
Support Steve and buy him a coffee.

About Steve Balestrieri

A former US Army Special Forces NCO and Officer, Steve has been following the Patriots since their days at Fenway Park. Steve has worked in the film industry and wrote as an Military Editor at SpecialOperations.com, 1945.com as a reporter for the Millbury Daily Voice, Millbury-Sutton Chronicle, and the Grafton News. He’s also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA)