New England Patriots
“[Vrabel is] able to roll. He ain’t modified one bit.”
FOXBOROUGH — The Patriots began to put the groundwork for the 2026 season on Wednesday, with Mike Vrabel, Drake Maye, and most of New England’s roster returning to the apply fields behind Gillette Stadium for the staff’s first organized staff actions (OTA) apply of the yr.
OTAs are a four-week voluntary program within the late spring the place 11-on-11, 7-on-7, and 9-on-7 drills are permitted.
Whereas OTAs are non-contact and never obligatory, they may give coaches an early take a look at looming roster battles and ascending (or struggling) gamers earlier than the work begins to ramp up in July and August throughout coaching camp.
Media is allowed to attend one OTA session per week, together with Wednesday’s apply in Foxborough.
Listed here are 5 takeaways from Wednesday’s session:
Stable, unspectacular begin for Drake Maye, Patriots offense
As is the case with each OTA and training-camp apply, it’s a harmful sport with regards to making any declarative statements or sweeping conclusions about what transpires on the fields behind Gillette Stadium.
Always remember final yr’s first OTA apply, when the collective Patriots fanbase signaled DEFCON 1 after Maye was knocked for four interceptions. Seems, the second-year QB nonetheless had a reasonably good yr, to place it evenly.
On Wednesday, Maye and the Patriots offense had been strong. The MVP runner-up accomplished 13-of-22 throws with one interception.
Rookie nook Karon Prunty picked off Maye’s throw supposed for Kyle Williams, with the 2026 sixth-round choose leaping on an underthrown out route and working it again for a pick-six.
“I simply left the out route inside,” Maye acknowledged after apply. “You possibly can’t do this on this league, it’s so simple as that. So, I feel it’s a part of throwing the out path to the sphere and never being outdoors with the soccer. These gamers on this league are going to take it the opposite manner, so I feel that’s about it.”
With a number of veteran wideouts not participating in Wednesday’s apply, DeMario Douglas made probably the most of his added reps — snagging 4 catches on 5 whole targets. Douglas’ burst and slicing skill had been as soon as once more placed on show on the apply subject. Free-agent pickup Romeo Doubs additionally had a number of catches on slant routes throughout Wednesday’s session.
It wasn’t precisely a bombastic day for New England’s offense. However, Maye feels way more comfy in Josh McDaniels’ offense, particularly when in comparison with the daunting job of studying the intricate playbook final spring.
“I feel it’s naturally going to be extra comfy being within the huddle, seeing the play calls, understanding why we’re working performs. Attempting to take it to the subsequent stage with the small print, and particulars inside every play,” Maye mentioned. “It’s enjoyable having new guys within the offense, and me making an attempt to show them what I learn about it, and what I feel is greatest for us to execute. That’s what’s enjoyable.”
Gonzalez, Boutte not in attendance
Vrabel confirmed on Wednesday forward of apply that Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis III, Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins, rookie Gabe Jacas, Harold Landry III, and Kyle Dixon weren’t in attendance.
Whereas a few of these absences could possibly be injury-related, Gonzalez and Boutte’s participation (or lack thereof) is price noting.
New England exercised Gonzalez’s fifth-year option for the 2027 season — maintaining him with the Patriots for no less than two extra years and securing him a large $18.1 million payout throughout that closing yr beneath contract.
However, Gonzalez can also be eligible to signal a long-term extension — one that may seemingly make him one of many highest — if not the very best — paid cornerbacks within the league. Whereas Vrabel and Patriots exec Eliot Wolf have echoed the will to signal Gonzalez for the lengthy haul, these talks haven’t resulted in a hefty new deal.
Vrabel was requested if Gonzalez’s contract negotiations have any bearing on his attendance throughout OTAs.
“These are private decisions for gamers,” Vrabel mentioned. “I might say that I worth the communication that I’ve had personally. I do know that our defensive coaches have had conversations with Christian. Once more, I want that they had been all right here in order that we will coach them.
“However the ones which might be right here, that’s the place our focus can be, and we’ll pour every little thing that we have now into these gamers. I do know that his professionalism and being able to go, or no matter private selection some guys have throughout the spring, I’m assured that they’ll all be prepared.”
Boutte, who has been working towards on his personal over the previous couple of weeks, has also been the subject of several trade rumors — whereas his spot on the roster could possibly be threatened if New England trades for A.J. Brown within the coming weeks.
“I’ve a large amount of respect for Kayshon, and watching him mature and develop via your complete time that we spent collectively, that’s a credit score to Kayshon, that’s a credit score to [receivers coach] Todd Downing,” Vrabel mentioned. “And simply the communication is, “Hey, how are you doing? One, you’re working onerous?”
“And he mentioned, “Yeah, I like the place I’m understanding at.” “Okay. We’ll be right here prepared to teach you if you’re right here.” That’s been very constructive, and I might think about that he would choose up the place he left off and develop on the season that he had final yr.”
Taking inventory of the offensive line
Unearthing one of the best five-man beginning unit on the offensive line stood as one of many prime preseason storylines for the Patriots final yr.
They’re hoping that isn’t the case once more this yr, with New England’s projected five-man unit of left deal with Will Campbell, left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, heart Jared Wilson, proper guard Mike Onwenu, and proper deal with Morgan Moses all accounted for on Wednesday.
It must be price noting that when full staff drills started, backup Andrew Rupcich changed Vera-Tucker at left guard. Given Vera-Tucker’s lengthy injury history and his continued work again from a torn triceps damage, it doesn’t come as a lot of a shock that New England isn’t trying to push the 26-year-old guard at this stage of the offseason.
As for 2026 first-round choose Caleb Lomu, the offensive deal with slotted in for Moses at proper deal with throughout Wednesday’s drills. Whereas Lomu performed a majority of his reps at left deal with throughout his closing seasons at Utah, it appears as if the plan for the 6-foot-6 offensive lineman in New England is to get him able to ultimately exchange the 35-year-old Moses at proper deal with in 2027 and past.
“[He’s] studying the professional sport, studying our system,” Vrabel mentioned of Lomu. “A number of the issues that you simply see in school will not be that they’ll’t do it; it’s simply that they’re not being coached to do it. And there’s lots of other ways to teach soccer and what you imagine. A number of the methods are completely different, and I feel he’s actually embraced these. He’s been an unbelievably coachable participant. He’s younger, he’s massive, he’s athletic and he’s keen to study. He’s enthusiastic about studying.
“So, the place he performs, we need to find yourself with the 5 greatest linemen. I feel he’s going to have the power to play each side. I can report that he’ll be on the correct as we speak. He may get some snaps on the left. However you guys know the way this goes.”
Defensive deal with depth steps up
New England should not have any scarcity of playmakers on the defensive position this season, headlined by Milton Williams and Christian Barmore. However, it stays to be seen who will step into higher roles behind that duo — particularly with nostril deal with Khyiris Tonga leaving in free company.
Nonetheless, Vrabel believes that backup Cory Durden and a number of other different gamers additional down within the lineup are poised for extra accountability (and manufacturing) in 2026.
“I feel he proved that,” Vrabel mentioned of Durden stepping up. “And once more, no one was happier for Tonga than me personally, in what he was capable of do for us. And that’s the fantastic thing about skilled sports activities. He got here right here, we wished him again, he obtained a greater provide, and that’s what he needed to do. That’s what he ought to have accomplished. So, I’m going to help him and his household.
“However we are also excited. Leonard Taylor [III], labored with us. Eric Gregory labored with us. These guys are proving that they need to be there. Josh Farmer is again wholesome. However Cory, I feel, in all probability popping out of final yr, could be that on paper. Once more, there’ll be a contest in coaching camp. However I feel that’s a great group.”
Durden played his best football down the stretch for New England throughout the postseason in January and February, and changed Tonga because the staff’s beginning nostril deal with throughout Wednesday’s apply.
Leonard Taylor — a former apply squad participant who blocked a potential game-tying field goal in the AFC title game against Denver — was significantly spectacular on Wednesday when it got here to moving into the backfield and placing backup QB Tommy DeVito beneath duress.
It was additionally a strong afternoon from a number of different backups throughout New England’s depth chart. Past Prunty’s choose, cornerback Charles Woods had a pair of move breakups, whereas linebacker Okay.J. Britt clamped down on rookie tight finish Eli Raridon and knocked down a move from DeVito.
Vrabel vocal as ever
A majority of the Patriots’ offseason storylines have revolved round Vrabel and his reported years-long relationship with former The Athletic NFL reporter Dianna Russini.
Amid that fallout, Vrabel was absent for Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft so as to be along with his household. He acknowledged on Wednesday that he wouldn’t rule out lacking different staff occasions if different sudden conditions arose.
“I can solely inform you I’m going to be there as we speak,” Vrabel said. “I can’t inform you something apart from I’m going to be on the market in full drive. I imply that. Who is aware of what’s going to come back up? Something can occur.”
However, regardless of repeatedly sprouting up in headlines over the spring, it was enterprise as common for Vrabel out on the apply subject Wednesday — with the previous Patriots linebacker standing as an energetic participant in staff drills whereas routinely barking out orders and jeers over the course of the 90-minute session.
For Milton Williams, there was little change in his head coach’s demeanor or method on Wednesday.
“Yeah, similar man,” Williams mentioned of Vrabel. “Speaking ([expletive], you understand? [He’s] able to roll. He ain’t modified one bit.”
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