Patriots Earn ‘Most Improved’ Label After Busy Offseason

The New England Patriots were not content with their ugly 2024 campaign, and it led to a busy offseason. The Patriots made changes to their coaching staff and in all three phases in an effort to improve in 2025.

The work started when Jerod Mayo was fired as the team’s head coach shortly after the team’s Week 18 victory over the Buffalo Bills. Mike Vrabel was quickly hired as his replacement, ushering in a new era of football in Foxboro, Mass.

Armed with the most cap space in the league, the Patriots were busy in free agency. Among the notable signings were Milton Williams, Stefon Diggs, Harold Landry III, Carlton Davis III, as the front office worked on immediately raising the talent level of the roster.

After focusing more on defense in free agency, the team attacked the offensive side of the ball in the draft. Their first four picks (Will Campbell, TreVeyon Henderson, Kyle Williams, and Jared Wilson) all play offense, and all could immediately fill big roles as rookies.

New England is still young, and they still have some holes on their team, but the work that has been done over the past few months has not gone unnoticed. As a result, Nick Shook of “Around the NFL” labeled the Pats as one of the “most improved” teams in the league heading into 2025.

“The Patriots had an absurd amount of cap space entering the 2025 offseason, which was a good problem to have, because in 2024, they were one of the worst teams in the NFL, finishing 31st in yards per game (292) and 28th in point differential (-128),” Shook wrote.

“They had needs everywhere except at quarterback and spent like it … Plenty of changes — including at head coach, where Mike Vrabel takes over — should give Patriots fans reason to feel optimistic”

With a talented quarterback in Drake Maye under center, New England worked hard in an effort to make his life easier this offseason. On paper, they have done just that.

Of course, games aren’t won on paper, and the Patriots will need time to adjust to all the changes that have taken place this offseason. If they can successfully do that, though, they could end up making a major leap after their woeful 2024 season.