Could Mike Vrabel and the Patriots make a Commanders-level leap in 2025 season? – Boston Herald

A year ago, they were the Patriots.

A team with a top-5 pick, new, culture-building head coach and the most cap space in the league.

A franchise attempting to shake off years of dysfunction, like a wet dog stepping into a dry house.

They reworked their front office. The offseason came, and that front office executed a plan to rebuild around a young quarterback. The plan succeeded.

Washington clinched an unexpected Wild Card berth last month, and last weekend won its first playoff game in almost two decades. Jayden Daniels is a burgeoning star. Around him, Dan Quinn has galvanized the rest of the Commanders, who can bank on postseason hope, if not expectations, for years to come.

So, why not the Patriots?

Mike Vrabel owns a higher career winning percentage than Quinn, even after he just led Commanders to a 12-win season. The Patriots can spend their top-5 pick on a position around their young quarterback instead of using it to pick him, as Washington did with Daniels. And they can invest their league-leading $120 million in cap room — almost $40 million more than the Commanders had last year — on outside free agents, considering all of their own free agents are aged 30 or older and maybe two are starting-caliber.

If the Patriots do spend, they would be wise to follow part of Washington’s blueprint in free agency.

The Commanders prioritized the trenches, adding a starting center in Tyler Biadasz and left guard in Nick Allegretti, plus a few backups. Defensively, Washington replenished its pass rush with defensive ends Dorance Armstrong, Dante Fowler and former top pick Clelin Ferrell.

Quinn knew Fowler from coaching him at previous stops, just as he did veteran linebacker Bobby Wagner, whose value to the Commanders quickly surpassed the one-year, $6.5 million deal he signed in free agency. Wagner not only brought critical system experience to Quinn’s defense in Year 1, but leadership. Wagner was voted a captain and helped usher fellow linebacker Frankie Luvu to a career year, where Luvu posted 99 tackles, eight sacks and one interception.

If the Patriots are to replicate that kind of success, they will need players like Wagner; leaders, culture drivers and veterans who have played under Vrabel. Basically, true professionals who know what to do without being told and can bring young talent along with them. Last year, the Patriots’ roster was virtually devoid of players like that, and their culture suffered.

Additionally, the Pats would be wise to ink players and deals like those Washington signed last year. Buying low and/or targeting mid-level veterans allows the team to build depth and minimize risk in the event of injury or poor performance on a case-by-case basis.

For example, running back Austin Ekeler signed a two-year deal worth up to $11.43 million. Ekeler, statistically, has underwhelmed this season, but because his contract isn’t bloated, the Commanders can cut him next year at virtually no cost and haven’t taken a real financial hit in the meantime.

On the other hand, 34-year-old tight end Zach Ertz has enjoyed a career rejuvenation playing on a cheap, one-year contract. Ertz caught 66 passes for 654 yards and seven touchdowns during the regular season. His presence has given Daniels a trusted go-to target in key situations and bolstered locker-room leadership.

Because Ertz signed an inexpensive, short-term deal, there was no risk involved if he bottomed out. Since he instead enjoyed a post-prime breakout, the Commanders have more cap room than usual while employing a player of his caliber, who otherwise would have cost far more. Relatedly, Washington traded for Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore in November and in doing so absorbed cap hits of $18 million and $18.5 million the next two seasons with his contract.

That said, the Commanders started last season with more blue-chip players than the Patriots have now. The Pats would be wise to surround their tent-pole talents, Drake Maye and Christian Gonzalez, with some of the best wide receivers (Tee Higgins and Chris Godwin) and offensive tackles (Ronnie Stanley Jr.) in free agency, then look at the B-listers on the market.

Enough of those veterans, plus a few successful draft picks and a leap from Maye, could be enough for them to surprise as a Wild Card team in 2025. Vrabel proved he can win with a middling roster in Tennessee, where he never fielded an elite quarterback. He won often as an underdog.

Player development should improve under Vrabel’s staff, which is guaranteed to be more experienced and credible than Jerod Mayo’s crew. Even if the Pats are projected to win between six and seven games next season, that’s exactly where Washington sat last year.

And the rest was up to them.

Mayo firing expected?

Almost two weeks after Mayo was fired as the Patriots’ head coach, one of the team’s most respected veterans spoke publicly about his departure.

On an episode of the Pats Interference podcast, Pats cornerback Jonathan Jones revealed some teammates expected the move while others were “shocked.”

“Everybody kind of views it their own way. You have some people shocked, some of ’em say, ‘Hey, I expected that,’ and a little bit of everything in between,” Jones said. “It’s just one of those things you try to tell guys it is the business. That is what this league is, and it’s what it always will be. So (I) just try to tell guys to do the best you can do for yourself individually moving forward, and for the guys who are under contract, get in shape, get ready for next year.

“And when you get an opportunity to meet the new coaches, be able to meet their demands and what their expectations are.”

Jones, 31, is the team’s longest-tenured defender. He is set to hit free agency this March, but hopes to return to the only franchise he’s ever played for. The Patriots originally signed Jones as an undrafted free agent in 2016, after which he helped the team win two Super Bowls in the next three years.

Jones said Vrabel’s hiring has not changed his desire to return to New England, assuming the two sides are able to reach an agreement this spring. The Patriots’ other top free agents include quarterback Jacoby Brissett, defensive lineman Deatrich Wise, tight end Austin Hooper and kicker Joey Slye.

Brady sticking at FOX

Tom Brady will conclude his first season as FOX’s lead NFL game analyst by broadcasting Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9.

Before then, Brady will call the NFC Championship Game for FOX and continue to guide the Raiders’ ongoing searches for a new head coach and GM as a minority owner in Las Vegas. His dual roles have inspired some speculation Brady will leave FOX to focus full time on his responsibilities with the Raiders, particularly after the league imposed restrictions on him as a broadcaster before approving his minority ownership stake last October.

However, his longtime agent, Don Yee, told the Sports Business Journal this week Brady intends to fulfill the 10-year, $375 million he signed with the network in 2022.

“Tom has had a tremendous amount of fun working with FOX this year, and he’s really excited about the future with FOX and his growth on their team,” Yee said. “And this year was the first year of a long relationship.”

Earlier this week, ex-teammate Vince Wilfork gave a less than enthusiastic endorsement of Brady’s work as a broadcaster when asked for his thoughts during an interview on New York radio station WFAN.

“I don’t know,” Wilfork said.

Pressed about his response, which included a long stare at the co-host, Wilfork replied: “I mean, he’s very knowledgeable (about) the game. Like that’s what it is. But I would rather him be my quarterback than on TV doing what he’s doing now. I (would) love him for my quarterback.”

Kim leaving staff

Patriots director of skill development Joe Kim will not return for the 2025 season, according to ESPN.