A quick transition to the offseason took Mike Vrabel and the Patriots coaching staff plus front office to the NFL Combine in Indianapolis this week. Beyond getting familiar with prospects in the upcoming draft, discussions continued regarding New England\u2019s free agency plans with roughly one week to go until the legal tampering period.<\/p>\n
With roster movement about to pickup, let\u2019s clean out the notebook from a week in Indianapolis. Welcome to this week\u2019s edition of our Sunday Patriots Notes.<\/p>\n
Patriots Executive Vice President of Player Personnel Eliot Wolf said it himself: \u201c[Edge rusher\u2019s] obviously an area of need for our team.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not just a need, however, as the belief is New England views edge rusher as the No. 1 position to address on their off season to do list. As for the type of player they are looking for, both Wolf and Vrabel shared their preferred traits \u2014 highlighting violence, first-step explosiveness, and pass rush disruption.<\/p>\n
A year into building Vrabel\u2019s vision, the Patriots prototype along the edge has been clear. Last offseason the Patriots signed both Harold Landry (6\u20192, 252) and K\u2019Lavon Chaisson (6\u20193, 254) in free agency. They then drafted Bradyn Swinson (6\u20193, 255) in the fifth round and signed UDFA Elijah Ponder (6\u20191, 258). That build around 255 pounds combined with the described traits appears to be the mold.<\/p>\n
In free agency, the Patriots could look to upgrade from Chaisson as the 26-year old is in line for his first career big payday. That could lead New England towards Jaelen Phillips, who the team already expressed interest in prior to last year\u2019s trade deadline. Going back to their prototype at the position also makes Boye Mafe a name to watch, while they also saw Odafe Oweh up close in the postseason. While there\u2019s plenty of talent available, the prices could get out of hand for the top of the market names.<\/p>\n
Transitioning to the draft, Wolf and Vrabel additionally noted the talent and depth at the position in this year\u2019s class. That group includes Missouri\u2019s Zion Young, who met with the team in Indianapolis this week and has support inside the building in Foxboro. Texas A&M\u2019s Cashius Howell additionally met with New England and fits the skillset\/build they want along the edge.<\/p>\n
And sticking with that prototype, UFC\u2019s Malachi Lawerence is a potential day two option at the position pairing his tape with his performance and measurements at the Combine.<\/p>\n
Then there is the Maxx Crosby situation. The feeling remains split on whether the Raiders will actually move off of their elite pass rusher, but the fit under Vrabel in New England was described as a perfect match. As is their right, Las Vegas is reportedly asking for a similar return that Micah Parsons fetched the Cowboys last offseason (two first-round picks plus a player). That price likely won\u2019t result in a deal, as a Patriots offer would start with pick No. 31 and be paired with later draft compensation.<\/p>\n
Perhaps the biggest question the Patriots must answer this offseason is what to do with Stefon Diggs? The receiver\u2019s presence on and off the field was one of the biggest reasons for New England\u2019s turnaround this year.<\/p>\n
But, Diggs will turn 33 next season, has a rising cap hit, is coming off a lackluster playoff run, and remains in the middle of an ongoing legal issue. The Patriots can free up north of $16 million with a release.<\/p>\n
A solution is expected to be made before Diggs\u2019 additional $6 million becomes guaranteed on March 13. The Patriots know they must continue to support Drake Maye moving forward, but the most popular belief is that it would be hard to see Diggs\u2019 returning with a $26.5 million cap hit. Few believe a return on the current contract could remain a possibility (in part due to the limited available upgrades) \u2014 which highlights how things remain up in the air.<\/p>\n
Diggs did enjoy his year in New England and wants to build on his Hall of Fame case with a Super Bowl ring, perhaps leading to him being flexible with a restructured deal to make a return happen.<\/p>\n
A.J. Brown hasn\u2019t been shy that he would support a change of scenery. Speaking at the NFL Combine this week, Eagles\u2019 general manager Howie Roseman and head coach Nick Sirianni would not guarantee Brown\u2019s return while noting they were open to listening on offers.<\/p>\n
The Patriots will have interest in a trade, and they may be at or near the top of Brown\u2019s list \u2014 which should matter as Roseman is expected to work through offers with the veteran\u2019s agent, Jimmy Sexton, to find a landing spot for the receiver.<\/p>\n
Vrabel, who drafted and coached Brown for multiple seasons in Tennessee, spoke about their relationship this week.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the relationship with players, and specifically, you asked about A.J. It has meant a lot. I\u2019ve watched him grow. I\u2019ve watched him mature. I\u2019m proud of him, proud of the father that he is. I\u2019m proud of the husband,\u201d Vrabel said. \u201cThat has nothing to do with where he plays or where he played. Those are the things that are important. We reach out and text each other during the good things that happen to each other. Sometimes things don\u2019t go so well for the people that you\u2019re close with, and you text for those as well. It\u2019s a two-way street of support and reminders of what got us to where we are here today.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brown profiles as the exact type of wide receiver the Patriots offense could use moving forward. But, it\u2019s also noteworthy that he will turn 29 prior to this season and has dealt with knee injuries in recent years \u2014 including getting his knee drained twice a week during the Eagles\u2019 Super Bowl run. Those factors would likely start the trade package with a second-round pick, although Philadelphia will, and have, push for more and use Brown\u2019s large dead cap hit as leverage.<\/p>\n
Additionally at wide receiver, New England would have interest in Alec Pierce, but the feeling out of Indianapolis remains that the Colts won\u2019t let him see the open market.New England will also look to rebuild the tight end depth chart behind Hunter Henry. Vrabel pointed to the \u201cvolume\u201d in this year\u2019s draft class. It also wouldn\u2019t be a surprise if the team also added in free agency, with the belief here that an in-line blocking upgrade is key. Baltimore\u2019s Charlie Kolar would be at the top of that list, which the Boston Herald reported a team source views Kolar as a better fit than some of the pass catching tight ends available.Like Diggs, Christian Barmore\u2019s status remains up in the air due to a March 13 date when $10 million would be guaranteed and an ongoing legal issue. Although the popular expectation is the defensive tackle will be back for next season, another factor for Barmore\u2019s long-term outlook is an ongoing knee concern.Like the edge spot, safety is a position filled with talent in both free agency and the draft. As Eliot Wolf said, Jaylinn Hawkins has earned the right to test free agency. The talent available may lead to a depressed market for the 28-year old which could end in a reunion.<\/p>\n
In their first year as a staff together, New England opted to leave positional coaches in Foxboro at this time last year. That changed this year as the Patriots staff was well represented under head coach Mike Vrabel.<\/p>\n
Among the assistants in Indianapolis includes quarterbacks coach Ashton Grant, wide receivers coach Todd Downing, defensive line coach Clint McMillan, safeties coach Scott Booker and special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer. Springer was one of the lone coaches in Indianapolis last Combine as the Patriots went on to draft kicker Andy Borregales and long snapper Julian Ashby. With Bryce Baringer entering the final year of his rookie deal, punter could be a place where Springer\u2019s attention was this year.<\/p>\n
As the Patriots defensive backs huddled up prior to Super Bowl LX, it was cornerback Christian Gonzalez who gave a pre-game pump-up speech. That was unusual for the soft-spoke Gonzalez, but part of the 23-year old continuing to find his voice as a leader with help from head coach Mike Vrabel.<\/p>\n
The two sides relationship grew throughout the year which now has set Gonzalez up to sign a lucrative contract extension with the team. In addition to that, Vrabel shared the corner hopes to eventually be named a team captain.<\/p>\n
\u201cReally enjoyed just our relationship, and how he had to put some time into it. Again, there\u2019s a lot of trust that goes along with certain guys. Watched him continue to get better and improve as the season went on,\u201d Vrabel said. \u201cI asked him if he wanted to be a captain and he said that\u2019s something he strives to be. I want to help him try to get there \u2013 to use his ability and instincts and knowledge to help the guys next to him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Newly hired assistant B.J. Edmonds also joined the coaching staff in Indianapolis this week. Edmonds was with the team last summer as part of the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship, which has seen coaches like Ashton Grant, Clint McMillan, and Justin Hamilton grow into positional assistants under Vrabel.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would say that I\u2019ve always tried to be really intentional with the people that we bring in for that internship,\u201d Vrabel said. \u201cIt\u2019s a four or five week interview. And some of those coaches we weren\u2019t able to hire as quality control coaches once the internship ran out, but we still know the job that they did. And when there\u2019s an opportunity that presents itself, we were able to, you say, hey, we really liked this coach and bring them back and hopefully continue to develop them and provide opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n
New England\u2019s current staff currently includes six black positional coaches in addition to Terrell Williams and a handful of general offensive or defensive assistants. Assembling a racially diverse group of coaches is important for Vrabel.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe thing for me that\u2019s really critical is the diversity of ideas, of backgrounds, of race, allows us to make sure that every one of the 90 players that we have or 91 players that we\u2019ll take to camp doesn\u2019t fall through any crack,\u201d Vrabel explained. \u201cThat if they need something, if they need some extra teaching, if they need something off the field, whoever it is, that one of those players doesn\u2019t fall through the cracks. That\u2019s really important to me.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want the best coaches and want the best people, but the diversity of ideas, backgrounds and race is critical because we\u2019re getting players from everywhere across the country, and even we\u2019ll add an international player as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Setting up the week ahead<\/p>\n
The Patriots will continue to work on their plan for free agency as the legal tampering window opens on Monday, March 9. In that process, the team will also stay in discussion with their internal free agents and make some potential difficult decisions about players already on the roster.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A quick transition to the offseason took Mike Vrabel and the Patriots coaching staff plus front office to…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":784451,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[2050],"tags":[7,1167,249,52640,57412,727,1095,2326,2094,6,208],"class_list":{"0":"post-784450","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-new-england-patriots","8":"tag-football","9":"tag-new-england","10":"tag-new-england-patriots","11":"tag-new-england-patriots-analysis","12":"tag-new-england-patriots-free-agency","13":"tag-new-england-patriots-draft","14":"tag-new-england-patriots-opinion","15":"tag-newengland","16":"tag-newenglandpatriots","17":"tag-nfl","18":"tag-patriots"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/116154296314611861","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/784450","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=784450"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/784450\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/784451"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=784450"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=784450"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=784450"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}