Mike Vrabel maps out how the Patriots plan to build roster around Drake Maye

"But you have to look at the lines of scrimmage, and you look no further than the Super Bowl game where that game was clearly won at the line of scrimmage.”

Drake Maye needs a better offensive line in front of him. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

February 25, 2025

2 minutes to read

The Patriots might have one of the top young quarterbacks in the NFL in Drake Maye.

But the ceiling on New England’s offense will remain limited if Eliot Wolf and the Patriots’ top brass don’t surround their QB with some talent this offseason.

While the flashiest additions this spring revolve around pass-catching talent, Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel stressed on Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine that New England needs to focus on the trenches if it hopes to take steps forward in 2025.

Well, there’s a lot,” Vrabel told MassLive’s Mark Daniels and other reporters in Indianapolis about how the team can help Maye. “Again, you always talk about being able to protect him, you have to be able to have some guys that can help him on the edges and be able to make contested catches. And you don’t have to be perfect, right? You don’t have to have perfect ball placement, and those are all things that we talk about trying to support Drake, believing that he is the future of our franchise at quarterback.

“I’ve been able to meet with him and talk with him and just get to know him as a person. But you have to look at the lines of scrimmage, and you look no further than the Super Bowl game where that game was clearly won at the line of scrimmage.”

The Eagles dominated the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX by dominating the line of scrimmage. Not only did Philadelphia’s offensive line protect Jalen Hurts and open up running lanes for him, the Eagles’ defensive line regularly put Patrick Mahomes under duress — with the star QB sacked six times in a game where the Eagles rarely dialed up blitzes.

Even if the 2025 NFL Draft class may not be as stacked as last year’s when it comes to high-end offensive talent, Vrabel stressed that there is plenty of depth available up front — especially when it comes to protecting the quarterback.

“I think there’s some depth at offensive line,” Vrabel said. “As we head in this process of the draft meetings with the college scouts, which I enjoyed watching through those players and seeing some of the conversions they had and some of the affinity that they had for players on the offensive line as well.”

While a blue-chip defensive prospect like Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter offers plenty of appeal, both players could be off the board by the time New England lands on the clock.

The highlight tape of an offensive tackle like LSU’s Will Campbell won’t be as engaging and exciting as a player like Hunter or Carter.

But if New England can identify and add a franchise left tackle in this draft (while also adding value on the O-line with other picks/signings), it should give the Patriots a solid foundation as they try to build up their offense moving forward.