Patriots 2025-26 Offseason Discussion

[SparzWizard]

2026 is the season to circle. I smell a Dan Campbell type revival. The Patriots need to come back from the deads and start making Foxboro a scary place to play in again. In Mike Vrabel I trust.

[Vermont Green]

David Andrews commented that he expects to play next season:

Andrews (shoulder) said Monday (January 6, 2025) that his surgery went well and he hopes to be the Patriots' starting center next season, Chris Mason of The Springfield Republican reports.

Andrews has been out of action since October due to a torn right rotator cuff. The Georgia product still has one year left on his contract, so unless he is released, he should have the opportunity to be New England's center next season.

NFL contracts/salaries are totally convoluted but I think his salary/cap hit next season would be $6.7M.  I would not expect that they would cut him.  If he can play next season, that would be a big upgrade for our OL:

C:     Andrews
RG:   Onwenu
LG:   Strange
RT:    Wallace or Lowe
LT:    FA Signing (?)

Wallace is still a question mark but I am optimistic he can be a serviceable RT.  If not, maybe Lowe can play there.  We still need a vet for LT.  I don't think we need the best tackle in the world, just a solid starter would be a big improvement.  We would have some depth too with Sow (G), Robinson (G), a draft pick likely at OT.  Strange is now our back up at C.  This is where the rubber meets the road.  We need to sign a vet at LT and probably draft a tackle for depth.  So much falls into place with just that one addition along with Strange, Andrews, and Wallace all coming back from injury.

I see filling this position (LT) as the most important, the most potential impact, far more than WR or anything else.  We could very realistically go from the worst OL in the league to an above average OL.  Andrews is a very good center (if he can hold up) and Strange is a solid guard.  That would be two big improvements.  Our LTs were horrible all season.  We may have to overpay some but we should be able to bring in a LT.  Again, it doesn't have to be first team all pro, just a solid, reliable, NFL starter.

[Goldstar88]

2026 is the season to circle. I smell a Dan Campbell type revival. The Patriots need to come back from the deads and start making Foxboro a scary place to play in again. In Mike Vrabel I trust.

Are you expecting the Pats to add talents similar to Gibbs, St. Brown, LaPorta, J-Williams this offseason? 

[SparzWizard]

2026 is the season to circle. I smell a Dan Campbell type revival. The Patriots need to come back from the deads and start making Foxboro a scary place to play in again. In Mike Vrabel I trust.

Are you expecting the Pats to add talents similar to Gibbs, St. Brown, LaPorta, J-Williams this offseason? 

Gotta overpay at some point! Get Maye a solid line, get a WR1 and shore up the D and we back in business. The receivers we currently have may not be stellar but they are mostly WR2s and WR3s.

[Phantom255x]

David Andrews commented that he expects to play next season:

Andrews (shoulder) said Monday (January 6, 2025) that his surgery went well and he hopes to be the Patriots' starting center next season, Chris Mason of The Springfield Republican reports.

Andrews has been out of action since October due to a torn right rotator cuff. The Georgia product still has one year left on his contract, so unless he is released, he should have the opportunity to be New England's center next season.

NFL contracts/salaries are totally convoluted but I think his salary/cap hit next season would be $6.7M.  I would not expect that they would cut him.  If he can play next season, that would be a big upgrade for our OL:

C:     Andrews
RG:   Onwenu
LG:   Strange
RT:    Wallace or Lowe
LT:    FA Signing (?)

Wallace is still a question mark but I am optimistic he can be a serviceable RT.  If not, maybe Lowe can play there.  We still need a vet for LT.  I don't think we need the best tackle in the world, just a solid starter would be a big improvement.  We would have some depth too with Sow (G), Robinson (G), a draft pick likely at OT.  Strange is now our back up at C.  This is where the rubber meets the road.  We need to sign a vet at LT and probably draft a tackle for depth.  So much falls into place with just that one addition along with Strange, Andrews, and Wallace all coming back from injury.

I see filling this position (LT) as the most important, the most potential impact, far more than WR or anything else.  We could very realistically go from the worst OL in the league to an above average OL.  Andrews is a very good center (if he can hold up) and Strange is a solid guard.  That would be two big improvements.  Our LTs were horrible all season.  We may have to overpay some but we should be able to bring in a LT.  Again, it doesn't have to be first team all pro, just a solid, reliable, NFL starter.

My ideal scenario would be you take Abdul Carter at #4, sign a LT in FA like Staley or Robinson, and then trade your 2nd round pick and a future 2nd for someone like DK Metcalf.

And yeah, I say Metcalf because tbh I'm not sure Higgins is leaving Cincy, so you're probably better off trading for someone like AJ Brown or Metcalf and the latter is more realistic.

Doing those 3 moves though and then filling out the rest of the roster would do wonders for this team, especially if you're banking on a few others like Barmore, Bentley, White, Polk, Wallace, etc. to return healthy and/or show some growth/improvement. Yes I haven't fully given up on Polk, he's not gonna be an elite receiver but idk, maybe he can still emerge as a decent 4th receiver in the slot?

[Goldstar88]

2026 is the season to circle. I smell a Dan Campbell type revival. The Patriots need to come back from the deads and start making Foxboro a scary place to play in again. In Mike Vrabel I trust.

Are you expecting the Pats to add talents similar to Gibbs, St. Brown, LaPorta, J-Williams this offseason? 

Gotta overpay at some point! Get Maye a solid line, get a WR1 and shore up the D and we back in business. The receivers we currently have may not be stellar but they are mostly WR2s and WR3s.

Yeah, that?s not really Krafts style. Question, what do the players above all have in common?






*Answer: They were all drafted by the Lions.

[Donoghus]

FWIW,

Kirk Minihane

@kirkmin
Sources: Josh McDaniels will be named offensive coordinator of the Patriots. Announcement is imminent.

[Phantom255x]

FWIW,

Kirk Minihane

@kirkmin
Sources: Josh McDaniels will be named offensive coordinator of the Patriots. Announcement is imminent.

I believe it. He's nailed the Robyn Glaser news and other things. He has inside sources. Even the other beat reporters like Breer, etc. keep downplaying whatever he says and then when he's right, they say nothing nor do they credit Minihane.

Also in the last 30 mins a bunch of people have reported McDaniels interviewed with Vrabel and the Pats for the OC gig. Curious timing.

[Goldstar88]

Kirk Minihane is now an NFL Insider. 

Seems like just yesterday he was on WEEI with Dennis and Callahan. Ripping on Sausage every chance  that he got.

[Neurotic Guy]

FWIW,

Kirk Minihane

@kirkmin
Sources: Josh McDaniels will be named offensive coordinator of the Patriots. Announcement is imminent.

I believe it. He's nailed the Robyn Glaser news and other things. He has inside sources. Even the other beat reporters like Breer, etc. keep downplaying whatever he says and then when he's right, they say nothing nor do they credit Minihane.

Also in the last 30 mins a bunch of people have reported McDaniels interviewed with Vrabel and the Pats for the OC gig. Curious timing.

It seems to have legs. I couldn?t care less if Minihane is right or wrong. These guys have legit information sometimes, and sometimes they speculate. It doesn?t matter - the truth comes out eventually.  I didn?t care much for his persona when he worked with Callahan but he had some rough times and I hope he?s better.  If he becomes a serious reporter, good for him.

[Donoghus]

Seeing Terrell Williams being floated out there as potential defensive coordinator.  Currently D line coach with the Lions.  Worked with Vrabel in Tenn.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

FWIW,

Kirk Minihane

@kirkmin
Sources: Josh McDaniels will be named offensive coordinator of the Patriots. Announcement is imminent.

Meh. I always felt that McDaniels was good between the 20s but then often got too cute in the red zone.

[Phantom255x]

FWIW,

Kirk Minihane

@kirkmin
Sources: Josh McDaniels will be named offensive coordinator of the Patriots. Announcement is imminent.

Meh. I always felt that McDaniels was good between the 20s but then often got too cute in the red zone.

Yeah but for me, at least he's competent compared to others we've had in the recent past and has real experience calling plays. It'd be a risk just hiring a brand new OC (first time in the role) and hoping they deliver. McDaniels also did make Mac Jones look really good in 2021, something no one has been able to do since. Guys like Bourne and Stevenson also seemed to flourish when he was there, and have sort of gone downhill or aren't really factors anymore.

Another thing to look at is, he's no flight risk to leave for another HC gig because I think at this point he's done in that regard. Doubt there'll be a third team going after him after his Broncos and Raiders' stints.

[green_bballers13]

Is there a more qualified OC than Josh McDaniels available? I think it is a great signing.

[Phantom255x]

Is there a more qualified OC than Josh McDaniels available? I think it is a great signing.

I don't think so. Off the top of my head, I guess the other best options were Klint Kubiak (son of Gary Kubiak) and the Rams' coaches (Caley and LaFleur). Maybe also McCown from Minny.

I would have probably wanted one of the Rams' guys but I don't hate bringing McDaniels back. I also think part of the logic is, they've tried and failed with a bunch of new people in the past who were in their roles for the first time (Mayo, Patricia/Judge on offense, Van Pelt as a playcaller, etc.) so Vrabel and McDaniels are more "sure things" in their roles with a ton of experience.