Mike Vrabel on why the Patriots didn’t pursue Micah Parsons trade

Regardless of current statements from a Patriots govt there have been seemingly on the contrary, Mike Vrabel is taking the lengthy view of rebuilding New England’s roster.

Whereas chatting with WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show” on Tuesday, Vrabel was requested in regards to the current Packers-Cowboys Micah Parsons commerce. The blockbuster deal despatched the gifted go rusher to Inexperienced Bay from Dallas in trade for 2 first-round picks and defensive lineman Kenny Clark.

The commerce comes only some weeks after Patriots Government Vice President of Participant Personnel Eliot Wolf mentioned at a coaching camp press convention that the group “would consider” buying and selling first or second-round draft picks to accumulate prime expertise. However as aggressive as Wolf sounded in his earlier remark, Vrabel appeared extra measured on Tuesday.

“We proceed to have conversations about all gamers which might be out there,” Vrabel defined. He then pivoted right into a humorous trade with former Patriots teammate (and WEEI co-host) Jermaine Wiggins.

“I believe you like saying Micah Pahhsons,” Vrabel joked with Wiggins, an East Boston native. He ultimately made his means again to the subject of Parsons.

“Dynamic participant, nice participant, however simply…that wasn’t one thing that we actually invested loads of time or sources in,” he admitted. “I believe once you simply attempt to have a look at what we really feel like is finest for us proper now, that wasn’t entertaining that particular transaction.”

Vrabel was then queried on whether or not or not pursuing Parsons’s availability would’ve been value testing to a higher diploma contemplating he was a possible “discount” deal.

“Possibly [a] discount worth,” Vrabel provided. “I believe we simply should be very good on how we construct this factor, and I hope that everyone else sees it the identical means exterior of right here. We need to usher in gamers that we really feel like give us the very best likelihood, but additionally we now have to construct some depth right here to this roster, and to try this from the draft.

The Patriots’ coach spoke of his intent to construct the group over greater than only one offseason. To try this, he underlined the necessary of preserving picks. He additionally candidly acknowledged the struggles the Patriots’ entrance workplace has had in making good draft seleections lately.

“We’ll name it what’s is: It hasn’t been actual nice, the depth of the roster has not been by our draft the final handful of years, and that has to alter,” he mentioned. “Everyone knows that, so we’ll deal with that after we get there in April. Proper now it’s placing guys in roles which have some versatility, and constructing a game-day roster and all these various things. However I believe the very best groups within the league, they draft effectively, they develop their gamers, they re-sign them, after which they rigorously select the gamers that they need to add in free company.”

A follow-up query was put to Vrabel: Did unhealthy drafts preclude the group from buying and selling first-round picks?

“No,” he mentioned in response. “I’m simply saying that after we construct this factor, and shifting ahead, we need to construct it and make it possible for we’re constructing by the draft. After which once more, like I mentioned, retaining the gamers that we really feel like have developed and have earned contracts. And whereas Micah Parsons is a superb participant, simply most likely wasn’t the very best match or the proper time, I believe, for us.”