Some thoughts while the Patriots’ free-agent podium gets a lot bigger, and there’s more to do …
• The first offseason of the Mike Vrabel era was all about building a foundation. Years of personnel failures, especially in the draft, had left the team with tons of holes when the new regime arrived. On the first day of free agency last year, the Patriots attacked those holes — linebacker (Robert Spillane), cornerback (Carlton Davis), right tackle (Morgan Moses), pass-rushing defensive tackle (Milton Williams), run-stuffing defensive tackle (Khyiris Tonga), and Swiss Army Knife physical receiver (Mack Hollins) — quickly and efficiently. More help and more contributors would arrive in the coming days, and via the draft. That gave the Patriots at least a foundation to be competitive in the first season. Obviously, it went a lot better than that.
This year, Vrabel and Eliot Wolf talked, not of rebuilding, but continuing to build. Translation: getting better while rounding out the depth issues.
The Patriots have again backed up their words. After two days of free agency, the Patriots have added a powerful player to the pass rush (Dre’Mont Jones), upgraded at left guard (Alijah Vera-Tucker), brought some teeth to the running game and red zone offense (Reggie Gilliam), and replaced Stefon Diggs with Romeo Doubs. Vrabel talked about getting “better, younger, cheaper.” Doubs is a lot younger and a little cheaper than Diggs. Will he be better? That remains to be seen.
• Doubs is a good player and, in theory, should
