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When the second round started, the debate in the Patriots war room began.
Should they draft a starting caliber left guard to pair with Will Campbell for the foreseeable future? In that scenario, the left side of the Patriots offensive line would be set to protect Drake Maye with two high-upside prospects.
Or do they draft an electric playmaker at the running back position? The Patriots have talked about weaponizing the offense over the last two offseasons.
In the end, we know how it played out for Mike Vrabel’s team.
After the conclusion of Round 3, Eliot Wolf told the story of how the Patriots were debating between two players with their pick approaching. In the end, it didn’t matter. According to a source, the player being debated was Arizona guard Jonah Savaiinaea. The Miami Dolphins traded above the Patriots at pick 37 to draft the lineman.
That’s when the Patriots drafted running back TreVeyon Henderson with the next pick. Although we don’t know how the situation would’ve unfolded if both players were available, the Patriots brass were collectively happy with how it all worked out – including the spirited debate.
“In all honesty, there were some really good conversations before our first pick with Coach Vrabel, Ryan [Cowden], Cam [Williams], Matt [Groh] and Alonzo [Highsmith],” Wolf said. “Just there was a little bit of a debate about who we were going to pick, and ultimately, one of the players we were talking about got drafted, so it didn’t end up mattering, but I think it was a really good step in the right direction just for us working together in our relationship as co-workers because we have to have productive disagreements for this to work.
“We can’t just agree on everything; we can’t just acquiesce to each other on something, so I think it was really productive from that standpoint.”
The debate between picking Savaiinaea or Henderson is interesting. Drafting a guard or running back high in Round 2 signals that the Patriots believed either player would make an immediate impact. Drafting a guard that high means you think he’s a legit starter with Pro Bowl potential. Drafting a running back high in Round 2 means the same.
A big question for the Patriots entering this offseason was how the returning front office would blend with Vrabel and his people (Cowden and John Streicher). Throughout this pre-draft process, however, sources told MassLive that Vrabel’s ability to communicate made it an easier transition.
The Patriots coach held a pre-draft meeting in February, before the Combine, where he laid how his vision and what he looked for in a prospect at each position. Scouts also had a chance to step up in this meeting and go to bat for their favorite fits. Multiple sources in the room told MassLive that Vrabel left a good impression.
This spring, the Patriots felt like they were more organized compared to a year ago under Jerod Mayo. The first-time head coach lacked experience when it came to the draft. Sources told MassLive that the Patriots felt like they ultimately drafted for need as opposed to the best player available – and that hurt them in the end.
After the conclusion of the 2025 NFL Draft, Wolf spoke about how Vrabel, Cowden, and Streicher made things easier for the team this time around.
“I just think the whole vision for the team was really good. Not that we didn’t have that last year, or with Bill [Belichick] previously, but there was a lot of clear communication between Vrabel and our staff,” Wolf said. “He was around a lot in our meetings. It was just a really good process. I would say, as the guys are still working on it right now, hopefully, they’re closing some of these undrafted free-agent deals out, and this is on me from last year. We just didn’t have an organized enough process, and Ryan Cowden and Coach Vrabel, and Stretch really came in and helped me organize this. I think we’re going to have a productive group.”
Part of the process came with healthy debates about each pick. Vrabel doesn’t want ‘yes men,’ in his scouting department or front office. The Patriots coach wants people who will speak their minds and have a willingness to listen to other opinions.
At the NFL Owners Meetings last month, Patriots owner Robert Kraft was asked why he was confident that Wolf and Vrabel could get the draft right this year after swinging and missing in 2024.
He pointed to the ability to have healthy discussions and disagree with people. That played out for the Patriots in last week’s draft.
“I’ve learned in every organization, it’s the culture that matters, and people have to be comfortable speaking up and saying I don’t agree,” Kraft said in West Palm. “And sometimes you can be in a business environment where people are afraid to do that. I think the culture now is an open culture where people are free to express opinions. There are a lot of different points of view, and it’s healthy. In life, it’s important to know what you don’t know and then get the best people around you.
“I think having the infusion of the new people, and having a plan and being able to connect the dots and put it all together, I see it happening, and I’m probably too excited. But I am. The truth is I’m very excited about this coming year, and I can’t wait for the games to begin.”
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Should they draft a starting caliber left guard to pair with Will Campbell for the foreseeable future? In that scenario, the left side of the Patriots offensive line would be set to protect Drake Maye with two high-upside prospects.
Or do they draft an electric playmaker at the running back position? The Patriots have talked about weaponizing the offense over the last two offseasons.
In the end, we know how it played out for Mike Vrabel’s team.
After the conclusion of Round 3, Eliot Wolf told the story of how the Patriots were debating between two players with their pick approaching. In the end, it didn’t matter. According to a source, the player being debated was Arizona guard Jonah Savaiinaea. The Miami Dolphins traded above the Patriots at pick 37 to draft the lineman.
That’s when the Patriots drafted running back TreVeyon Henderson with the next pick. Although we don’t know how the situation would’ve unfolded if both players were available, the Patriots brass were collectively happy with how it all worked out – including the spirited debate.
“In all honesty, there were some really good conversations before our first pick with Coach Vrabel, Ryan [Cowden], Cam [Williams], Matt [Groh] and Alonzo [Highsmith],” Wolf said. “Just there was a little bit of a debate about who we were going to pick, and ultimately, one of the players we were talking about got drafted, so it didn’t end up mattering, but I think it was a really good step in the right direction just for us working together in our relationship as co-workers because we have to have productive disagreements for this to work.
“We can’t just agree on everything; we can’t just acquiesce to each other on something, so I think it was really productive from that standpoint.”
The debate between picking Savaiinaea or Henderson is interesting. Drafting a guard or running back high in Round 2 signals that the Patriots believed either player would make an immediate impact. Drafting a guard that high means you think he’s a legit starter with Pro Bowl potential. Drafting a running back high in Round 2 means the same.
A big question for the Patriots entering this offseason was how the returning front office would blend with Vrabel and his people (Cowden and John Streicher). Throughout this pre-draft process, however, sources told MassLive that Vrabel’s ability to communicate made it an easier transition.
The Patriots coach held a pre-draft meeting in February, before the Combine, where he laid how his vision and what he looked for in a prospect at each position. Scouts also had a chance to step up in this meeting and go to bat for their favorite fits. Multiple sources in the room told MassLive that Vrabel left a good impression.
This spring, the Patriots felt like they were more organized compared to a year ago under Jerod Mayo. The first-time head coach lacked experience when it came to the draft. Sources told MassLive that the Patriots felt like they ultimately drafted for need as opposed to the best player available – and that hurt them in the end.
After the conclusion of the 2025 NFL Draft, Wolf spoke about how Vrabel, Cowden, and Streicher made things easier for the team this time around.
“I just think the whole vision for the team was really good. Not that we didn’t have that last year, or with Bill [Belichick] previously, but there was a lot of clear communication between Vrabel and our staff,” Wolf said. “He was around a lot in our meetings. It was just a really good process. I would say, as the guys are still working on it right now, hopefully, they’re closing some of these undrafted free-agent deals out, and this is on me from last year. We just didn’t have an organized enough process, and Ryan Cowden and Coach Vrabel, and Stretch really came in and helped me organize this. I think we’re going to have a productive group.”
Part of the process came with healthy debates about each pick. Vrabel doesn’t want ‘yes men,’ in his scouting department or front office. The Patriots coach wants people who will speak their minds and have a willingness to listen to other opinions.
At the NFL Owners Meetings last month, Patriots owner Robert Kraft was asked why he was confident that Wolf and Vrabel could get the draft right this year after swinging and missing in 2024.
He pointed to the ability to have healthy discussions and disagree with people. That played out for the Patriots in last week’s draft.
“I’ve learned in every organization, it’s the culture that matters, and people have to be comfortable speaking up and saying I don’t agree,” Kraft said in West Palm. “And sometimes you can be in a business environment where people are afraid to do that. I think the culture now is an open culture where people are free to express opinions. There are a lot of different points of view, and it’s healthy. In life, it’s important to know what you don’t know and then get the best people around you.
“I think having the infusion of the new people, and having a plan and being able to connect the dots and put it all together, I see it happening, and I’m probably too excited. But I am. The truth is I’m very excited about this coming year, and I can’t wait for the games to begin.”
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