The New England Patriots are in the middle of a fresh start this offseason. And the vibe around the team feels different. A big reason? New HC Mike Vrabel. He’s bringing a no-nonsense, winning mentality that’s already making waves. Players are buying in, changes are happening, and there’s a real sense that this team is ready to turn the page. But it’s not just about the big names—it’s about who’s stepping up.

After two straight 4-13 seasons, and Robert Kraft finally putting his foot down, Vrabel is not wasting any time. He cleared out five of last year’s six captains, spent big in free agency, and nailed the draft. No more half-measures. No more projects. Just proven players who fit what he wants to do.

As the head coach had stated during a press conference in early June, the roster is always going to be his No. 1 priority. “Trying to always continually make the roster more competitive and trying to find everybody that can continually help us from now until the end of the season. I think that just has to go on. That has to happen. Whether that does or not, I don’t know. It’s not going to keep us from looking, trying to bring up ideas or players, or how we acquire players between now and the end of the season,” he had said before adding, “I’m all for trying to make the roster better any chance that we can.” Well, he’s back with that message yet again.

In Episode 2 of Forged in Foxborough, Vrabel laid it out plainly, “We’re in this business to win and to help players improve. I think they embraced the change.” And Vrabel’s not wrong.

Per third-year slot receiver DeMario Douglas after an OTA practice in May, “The culture’s different here. I love it. Vrabel’s a players’ coach, and he’s on the field with us. We’ve got a head coach that’s on the field with us, man. It’s different. You can tell he’s very in tune to what we’re doing and wants us to be better. We love when the head coach is on the field and he knows both sides,” Douglas said. “He knows what’s going on on offense and what’s going on on defense, and what needs to be done. That’s how I know he’s in tune with us. He’s making sure that we’re all on one accord and we’re all doing what we need to do.”

Clearly this isn’t the same ol’ Patriots. Compare last year’s disaster of an offseason to this one—it’s night and day. Vrabel’s running the show, and it shows. Most importantly? He’s got this team believing again. Not in some vague “rebuild,” but in winning now. Playoff talk doesn’t sound crazy anymore. Because for the first time in years, the Patriots have a leader who knows what he’s doing as per many.

And here’s where things get interesting. While the spotlight naturally follows the big-name additions, there’s an under-the-radar battle brewing that perfectly embodies Vrabel’s new Patriots.

How Mike Vrabel’s Patriots handle ‘good trouble’

Stefon Diggs was supposed to be the story. The star receiver, the big-name acquisition, the guy who’d instantly transform New England’s offense. But football doesn’t care about “supposed to”. And in Foxborough right now, an undrafted kid from Eastern Washington is making sure everyone remembers that.

Efton Chism III wasn’t on anyone’s radar this offseason—until he was everywhere on the field. ESPN’s Mike Reiss called him the Patriots’ biggest surprise, and for good reason. “Chis had like 50 catches in OTAs,” Drake Maye remarked, sounding more matter-of-fact than surprised. That’s the thing about Chism—he doesn’t flash. He just produces. Watch him work the slot: quick, crisp routes, hands like Velcro, and a knack for finding soft spots in coverage. When Kendrick Bourne sat out a practice, Chism didn’t just fill in—he led the team in catches that day.

Now the math gets interesting. The Patriots will likely keep six receivers. Diggs is a lock, but his ACL recovery complicates things. Meanwhile, Chism—all 5’10” of him—keeps stacking days where he looks necessary. “It’s going to be hard to keep him off the roster,” Greg Bedard admitted. That’s what happens when you break Cooper Kupp’s school records (120 catches, 1,311 yards in 2024) and then outwork every other rookie in camp.

Mike Vrabel’s message to the locker room? Earn it. Chism took that literally. And suddenly, the Patriots have something they haven’t had in years: Real competition at receiver. Not just for roster spots—for targets, for trust, for a role that could grow fast if a certain high-profile veteran isn’t quite ready. Diggs will get his touches. But in New England’s new world, nobody, not even a four-time Pro Bowler, gets a free pass. Chism’s making sure of that.