The New England Patriots need to bounce back.
They haven’t been competitive since Tom Brady left, and Mike Vrabel will now be in charge of fixing the mess Bill Belichick and Jerod Mayo got the team into over the past three or four years.
However, he knows he will need his players to step up to do so.
When asked about his roster, the former Tennessee Titans head coach admitted to being quite excited about Drake Maye and Christian Barmore (Via NJ Tank 99 & Los Talks Pats):
“Excited about where Drake’s at and the offseason he’s had working with some of our new players. Excited about Christian Barmore. I’ve seen him work extremely hard. His energy and passion to get back has been really fun,” Vrabel said.
Who does Mike Vrabel believe will be key to the #Patriots success this year?
Drake Maye and Christian Barmore.
“Excited about where Drake’s at and the offseason he’s had… Excited about Christian Barmore… his energy and passion to get back has been really fun.”
(? @NjTank99) pic.twitter.com/7MwIXM6RBF
— Carlos A. Lopez (@LosTalksPats) August 3, 2025
Barmore has drawn some buzz during training camp, and he’s reportedly in great shape after missing some time with blood clots last season.
As for Maye, he showed some signs of great play in his rookie season.
It’s been a long while since the Patriots were last considered to be a legitimate Super Bowl contender, and it will be some more time before they get that distinction again.
But hiring Coach Vrabel was certainly a step in the right direction.
As a former Patriot himself, he’s more than familiar with their ways, and he knows what it takes to be at the top.
Having Maye take a leap and play up to his potential will certainly do wonders for this organization, especially now that he will have an improved supporting cast and offensive line.
Even so, this team has always taken pride in its defense, and a stout lineman like Barmore being out there will give them a huge boost, especially against the run.
NEXT: Mike Vrabel Explains His Approach At Training Camp
