Four Takeaways From Mike Vrabel Comments At NFL Scouting Combine

It was a busy day for Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel.

Vrabel spoke at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine with national and local reporters, as well as other one-off interviews with various media outlets in Indianapolis. It marked his second press conference since being introduced as the Patriots head coach last month.

Here are four takeaways after Vrabel’s round of media appearances:

Vrabel expects Patriots will be ‘aggressive’ in free agency
“Aggressive” surely caught everyone’s attention, but there was more to Vrabel’s free agency comments than just that.

He believes the Patriots are in position to attract free agents since they have the most cap room in the NFL and because of the opportunity they’ll offer players. Any free agent that comes to New England has a strong chance be a key contributor.

Vrabel also did not sound like someone who will be against overspending on a top free agent, should the lack of supply drive up the demand. Vrabel compared it to paying more for a car if there was only one car available. That surely sat well with Patriots fans.

New England also intends to address its biggest needs in free agency so it has more more freedom in the NFL draft, Vrabel told SiriusXM Radio. That’s a smart way to operate.

Keeping all draft doors open
Speaking of the NFL draft, Vrabel told local reporters the Patriots are open to everything before April’s event.

“We will always listen, and we would want to entertain any offer that somebody had that we felt could strengthen our football (team),” Vrabel told reporters, per the Patriots. “To say what that’s going to be right now, I don’t think we would have a great idea of what that would be.”

New England holds the fourth overall pick in the draft and many believe the best option would be to trade back and acquire more picks.

Vrabel weighs in on scouting combine storyline
LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell will have the attention of Patriots coaches, media members and fans Sunday.

Campbell, the top tackle prospect, will have his arm length measured and revealed after months of the storyline gaining attention. Vrabel didn’t appear to rule out the short-armed lineman when the topic was brought up.

“I think arm length is good only up until the point to where you use it, right?” Vrabel said, per the Patriots. “The most important thing is how you use whatever length you have.”

Should Campbell’s arms exceed 33 inches, there’s a better chance New England drafts him at No. 4.

How Patriots intend to support Drake Maye
New England’s biggest goal this offseason should be to complement Maye, who’s coming off an impressive rookie season.

An obvious way to do that is to dedicate resources to offensive linemen. Vrabel pointed to the line of scrimmage being a deciding factor in Super Bowl LIX. But that’s not the only way to support Maye.

“You have to be able to have some guys that can help him on the edges and be able to make contested catches, and that you don’t have to be perfect, right?” Vrabel said. “(So) you don’t have to have perfect ball placement.”

While discussing ways in which the Patriots could add a No. 1 wideout, Vrabel confirmed they’re typically found in the NFL draft but indicated New England will turn over every leaf in free agency and the trade market.

For more coverage of the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, including Eliot Wolf’s press conference Wednesday afternoon, be sure to check out NESN.com.