After consecutive four-win seasons in 2023 and 2024, optimism surrounds the Patriots entering the fall. Drake Maye is expected to develop in his second year, and the hiring of Mike Vrabel with an experienced staff raises hopes for a roster rebound. New England invested in veterans such as Milton Williams, Stefon Diggs, Robert Spillane, and Harold Landry to boost the lineup. Multiple recent shaky drafts have left the roster thin beyond the starters, increasing injury vulnerability and the likelihood of inexperienced players being forced into key roles. True contention may require more than one offseason to rebuild depth.
But, even after New England shelled out plenty of money this fall to add players like Milton Williams, Stefon Diggs, Robert Spillane, and Harold Landry to the depth chart, any hopes of the Patriots punching their ticket to the postseason this winter might be ill-advised - or at the very least, extremely optimistic. ESPN's Mike Reiss acknowledged in his latest Sunday notebook that New England still has plenty of work to do if it wants to re-establish itself as a true contender.
Despite the promise showcased by Maye as a rookie, the second-year QB could be in trouble if a proven wideout like Diggs is hampered by injury. As of right now, Vrabel might be calling on 2025 seven-round pick Marcus Bryant to slot into the starting lineup if New England's starting tackles in rookie Will Campbell and 34-year-old Morgan Moses struggle or are sidelined.
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