Mike Vrabel Hints At Answer To Biggest Question Facing Patriots Front Office

It’s somewhat unclear who will have final say on personnel decisions for the New England Patriots this offseason after the coaching staff and front office underwent major changes.

But Mike Vrabel provided some clarity on the matter Tuesday from the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

Vrabel didn’t come right out and say it, but he surely hinted that when it comes time to make a football decision regarding the Patriots, he will have the all-important deciding vote.

“I wouldn’t be here, and I wouldn’t have wanted to be the head coach here if I wasn’t comfortable in my impact on the roster,” Vrabel told reporters, per NBC Sports Boston’s Phil Perry. “We want to continue to have great conversations with the personnel staff, with me, with (vice president of football operations and strategy John Streicher), with coaching. We’re all just trying to find the ways to bring the right players in here.

“Whether that’s the first part of free agency, middle of free agency… the draft, there’s gonna be players who get released we’ll have to pivot to and have options. We need to strengthen the roster. We understand that and have some really good conversations about how we get there.”

It was a year ago at the Combine that executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf revealed he had final say on personnel decisions when Jerod Mayo was at the helm.

But while Wolf remains part of the front office mix — he’ll speak with reporters Wednesday — it wouldn’t be a surprise at all if Vrabel’s confidants supplant him as the weeks go on. Vrabel poached Ryan Cowden, who is New England’s vice president of player personnel and worked alongside Vrabel with the Tennessee Titans, from the New York Giants this offseason and also brought along his right-hand man in Streicher.

It’s likely that Vrabel will publicly preach a collaborative approach as New England’s front office is tasked with the monumental assignment of rebuilding a talent-depleted roster.

But make no mistake, all signs point to Vrabel and his crew running the show with the Patriots.