At the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel expressed confidence in the organization’s strategy for the upcoming free agency period as the team looks to rebuild.
Patriots Head Coach Mike Vrabel Speaks Out About New England’s Approach to Free Agency
“We want to be aggressive,” Vrabel stated. “We want to target players that we feel are going to help us. They’re going to be outstanding players; they’re going to be outstanding additions to the locker room and the community.”
Vrabel relayed the organization’s position on free agency, “We’ve started some of those discussions internally. And I think having different plans, and having an option A and option B [is important]… Everybody’s looking at the same players, so we have to be ready to pivot and adjust and have a vision for each player.”
The former Patriots All-Pro offered prospective free agents a unique value proposition, adding, “Free agency gets broken down into compensation, and then it gets broken down into opportunity. And I feel like we’re in a position to offer both.”
HC Mike Vrabel on how the #Patriots will approach free agency:
“Hopefully aggressive. I mean, we wanna be aggressive. We wanna target players that we feel like are gonna help us. That are gonna be outstanding players, outstanding additions to the locker room, and the community…… pic.twitter.com/5IwetANrgk
— Carlos A. Lopez (@LosTalksPats) February 25, 2025
Vrabel emphasized the team’s readiness to pursue high-profile free agents, with the Patriots holding a league-leading $123 million in cap space. He likened the process to car shopping, suggesting overpaying is a necessary evil for unique, high-value targets.
“I like to shop like everybody else,” Vrabel explained. “And so when you go and there’s only one of a certain car, maybe you have to pay a little bit more for that one car because there’s only one of them.”
Vrabel outlined plans for the Patriots’ multi-faceted strategy in free agency:
- High-level signings are expected to be completed quickly
- Mid-range dollar acquisitions
- Opportunity-based signings
Top Free Agent Targets for the Patriots in 2025
Here’s a look at the biggest needs, along with potential top free agent targets, for New England during the 2025 NFL offseason.
Offensive Line
The Patriots’ most pressing need is at offensive tackle, particularly left tackle. Protecting Drake Maye’s blind side is paramount for the team’s success. New England could opt for LSU Tigers tackle Will Campbell or Texas Longhorns bookend Kelvin Banks, Jr.
In his 7-round mock draft, PFSN’s Joe DeLeone went with Banks, declaring that he’s “the best offensive tackle prospect in the class, with the power and athleticism to be a reliable starter.”
Even with a top draft pick, the Patriots could bolster the line further by adding free agents Ronnie Stanley, Tyron Smith, or Cam Robinson. Stanley is the 11th best free agent according to PFSN’s Top 100 Free Agents of 2025, while Smith is 16th and Robinson’s 40th.
Wide Receiver
The Patriots haven’t had a 1,000-yard receiver since Julian Edelman in 2019, and their recent draft picks at the position have underperformed. The team could target a top receiver like Tee Higgins, Chris Godwin, or Amari Cooper in free agency.
Edge Rusher
After trading Matt Judon to the Atlanta Falcons for a third-round pick before the 2024 season, the Patriots’ pass rush suffered in 2024, ranking last in the NFL with only 28 sacks. They could draft Penn State’s Abdul Carter or pursue top free agents like Josh Sweat or Chase Young.
A savvy draft haul and the aggressive multi-prong approach to free agency combined with a walloping wallet would accelerate the rebuild and pave the Patriot Way back to the playoffs.