The New England Patriots are still stinging from their Super Bowl shortfall in February. Mike Vrabel and co. will be aiming to make the final leap next season, but their recent draft strategies may not have moved the needle. Even though nine new names were added, the management seemingly felt that most of those picks lacked real promise.

“I would say there are mixed reviews about the draft,” said Boston Sports Journal’s Greg Bedard on his podcast recently. “Some of it is the guys inside the building fielding questions from their colleagues outside the building; I know there are. I know more than a few I have communicated with that look at some of these picks: Jacas, Raridon, and even Lomu. I don’t think people were crazy about the Patriots, who basically got the last tackle and the last edge. I don’t think people were thrilled about that.”

Utah’s offensive tackle, Caleb Lomu, was the first-round pick (28th overall) by the six-time Super Bowl champions. Edge rusher Gabe Jacas followed him in the second round, and the Notre Dame tight end Eli Raridon in the third round. The other six players were picked between the fifth and seventh rounds on Day 3 of the draft.

Several analysts noted that the franchise added depth to the squad, but none of the nine picks is likely to be a starter in the 2026 campaign. For instance, their first-round pick is an OT, but they already have starters like Will Campbell and Morgan Moses in that position, so Lomu’s rookie-season opportunity may remain on hold.

Likewise, Harold Landry II is the starting linebacker for Mike Vrabel, whereas veteran Dre’Mont Jones is a new addition to the squad from free agency. With that, second-round pick edge rusher Gabe Jacas has to be patient until his turn.

The Patriots’ Executive Vice President Eliot Wolf prioritized depth over upside this year, as he was willing to acquire “rotational pieces” to add significant depth to the roster. Take the quarterback Behren Morton, for example. The Texas Tech player was added in the seventh round following the exit of Joshua Dobbs. Now, he will be the third signal-caller behind Drake Maye and Tommy DiVito.

The team’s groundwork is already in place, leaving them with a talented and young roster, bearing the fruits of the rebuilding phase for the past couple of seasons. In 2024, they secured the new franchise quarterback, Drake Maye, while adding Stefon Diggs, Carlton Davis, Robert Spillane, and Will Campbell to build the core team, which helped them win the AFC East and reach Super Bowl LX. Hence, a fairly ordinary draft this year is not expected to hurt the bigger picture.

While Mike Vrabel was actively involved in the draft process for the first two days, he surprisingly skipped the last day.

Mike Vrabel missed Day 3 of the NFL Draft due to a counselling session

The Patriots picked a total of six players on Day 3 of the NFL Draft this year, but their coach, Mike Vrabel, wasn’t present in the draft room to make those decisions. On April 25, 2025, he surprisingly skipped the event.

“I promised my family, this organization, and this team that I was going to give them the best version of me that I can possibly give them,” Vrabel said before the first day of the draft. “In order to do so, I have committed to seeking counseling, starting this weekend.”

The decision was followed by the recent controversy surrounding him and the NFL reporter, Diana Russini, as their pictures together from the Arizona Resort went viral in the football community. While the initial report suggested he might communicate and give his opinions while being away from the draft room, the Patriots eventually allowed him to spend his time away from the sport, focusing on his personal life.

In his absence, the draft room of the Patriots was led by the Executive Vice President, Elliott Wolf. His absence was for a brief period, as he officially returned to the Patriots facility and the coaching duties on April 27, 2026. The team’s OTA offseason workouts are scheduled to start at the end of May, while the mandatory minicamp is set for June 15 to June 17. Amid this busy offseason schedule, the Patriots management will be expecting nothing but full commitment from the 50-year-old.