Labor Day pushed “Patriots Monday” to Tuesday, as Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel joined The Greg Hill Show in-studio at Gillette Stadium for his weekly appearance on WEEI.
This was Vrabel’s first appearance on the show since All-World edge linebacker Micah Parsons was traded to the Packers, with Green Bay sending their next two first-round draft picks to Dallas along with three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark.
The genesis of Parsons being available was a contract dispute between him and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, so it was no surprise to see the 26-year-old receive a record-breaking four-year, $188 million contract from the Packers, which includes $120 million fully guaranteed at signing and $136 million in total guarantees, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
With the Patriots still holding the most cap space in the NFL along with a standing need for talent at every level across the roster, New England fans had been under the assumption that the decision makers at 1 Patriot Place were engaged in Parsons trade talks, especially after Vrabel told The Greg Hill Show during his last appearance that the team would be willing to deal a first-rounder for a disgruntled star.
But when asked on Tuesday if the Patriots were real players for Parsons, it appears the asking price was too rich for Vrabel’s blood.
“He’s a dynamic player, great player, but we weren’t - that wasn’t something that we really invested a lot of time or resources in,” said Vrabel. “I think when you just try to look at what we feel like is best for us right now, that wasn’t entertaining that specific transaction.”
“But my guy [Chris] Scheim would say ‘generational player that you get at a bargain price,’” WEEI’s Greg Hill followed up.
“Yeah, I don’t know,” said Vrabel. “Maybe ‘bargain price,’ it just - I think we just have to be very smart on building this thing. And I hope that everybody else sees it the same way outside of here. And we want to bring in players that feel like give us the best chance.
“But also, we have to build some depth there to this roster, and you do that from the draft. And just it hasn't been - we'll call what it is, it hasn't been real great. The depth of the roster has not been through our draft the last handful of years. And that has to change. We all know that, so we'll focus on that when we get there in April.
“Right now, it's putting guys in roles that have some versatility, and building the gameday roster and all these different things. But I think the best teams in the league draft well, they develop their players, they re-sign them, and then they carefully choose the players that they want to add in free agency.”
“Would you say that the drafts being bad the last several years precluded you from trading first round picks, because you need those?” WEEI’s Chris Curtis asked in a follow-up.
“No,” said Vrabel. “I’m just saying that when we build this thing, and moving forward, we want to build it and make sure that we're building through the draft. And then again - like I said, retaining the players that we feel like have developed and have earned contracts. And while Micah Parsons is a great player, just probably wasn't the best fit or the right time, I think, for us.”
In just four years as a pro, Parsons is a three-time All-Pro and a four-time Pro Bowl selection. He was the 2021 Defensive Rookie of the Year and is constantly in the discussion for Defensive Player of the Year.
While Parsons brings that incredible early-career resume and skillset to Title Town, this is what New England will be sporting in their front seven to open the 2025 season:
DT: Milton Williams, Christian Barmore, Khyiris Tonga, Jeremiah Pharms, Joshua Farmer
EDGE: Harold Landry, K’Lavon Chaisson, Elijah Ponder, Keion White, Anfernee Jennings
LB: Robert Spillane, Christian Elliss, Jack Gibbens, Marte Mapu
Their Week 1 task - contain Raiders rookie Ashton Jeanty, who comes to Gillette Stadium with as much buzz as a first-year running back possibly can, seen by many in the football as already being among the three-to-five best players in the league at his position without playing a single meaningful snap of pro football.
As of publishing, FanDuel has the Patriots as a 2.5-point favorite for Sunday, sitting at -144 on the moneyline. You can get the Raiders at +122, and the total is set at 43.5.