Mike Vrabel explains how he plans to help Drake Maye develop in his second season with the Patriots
Robert Kraft has said time and again over the past year, “You can’t win in this league if you don’t have it right at coach and quarterback.” (Or some variation of that.)
It’s not a groundbreaking opinion. But nobody is more uniquely suited to appreciate the truth of it than Kraft, who owned through an unprecedented stretch of Coach-QB excellence in New England that will never be matched.
Given the swiftness of the Patriots' move from Jerod Mayo to Mike Vrabel, it’s clear Kraft is jonesing to get that feeling back.
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Now that the Patriots have the 2021 AP Coach of the Year (Vrabel) and their quarterback of the future (Drake Maye) in place, how do they stack up to the rest of the league?
I love when people do tiers. So I’m doing tiers.
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Chef's kiss
- Kansas City Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes-Andy Reid
If it wasn't for KC...
- Baltimore Ravens: Lamar Jackson-John Harbaugh
- Buffalo Bills: Josh Allen-Sean McDermott
Highly capable
- Detroit Lions: Jared Goff-Dan Campbell
- Houston Texans: C.J. Stroud-DeMeco Ryans
- Denver Broncos: Bo Nix-Sean Payton
- Los Angeles Rams: Matthew Stafford-Sean McVay
- Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels-Dan Quinn
Starting to wonder
- Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow-Zac Taylor
- Los Angeles Chargers: Justin Herbert-Jim Harbaugh
- Green Bay Packers: Jordan Love-Matt LaFleur
- Philadelphia Eagles: Jalen Hurts-Nick Sirianni
Rising
- New England Patriots: Drake Maye-Mike Vrabel
- Minnesota Vikings: J.J. McCarthy-Kevin O’Connell
I just like 'em
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Baker Mayfield-Todd Bowles
Sliding
- Miami Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa-Mike McDaniel
- San Francisco 49ers: Brock Purdy-Kyle Shanahan
In the weeds a little
- Pittsburgh Steelers: Russell Wilson-Mike Tomlin
- Cleveland Browns: TBD-Kevin Stefanski
Pay no mind
- Atlanta Falcons: Michael Penix-Raheem Morris
- Indianapolis Colts: Anthony Richardson-Shane Steichen
- Arizona Cardinals: Kyler Murray-Jonathan Gannon
- Carolina Panthers: Bryce Young-Dave Canales
- Seattle Seahawks: Geno Smith-Mike Macdonald
- Tennessee Titans: Will Levis-Brian Callahan
In the weeds a lot
- Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence-TBD
- Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams-TBD
- Dallas Cowboys: Dak Prescott-Jerry Jones
The sad cafe
- New York Giants: TBD-Brian Daboll
- New York Jets: Aaron Rodgers-Next Victim
- New Orleans Saints: (Shrug)
- Las Vegas Raiders: Guy they overdraft-Guy Brady hires
Am I caught up in the afterglow of the Vrabel hiring? Am I ignoring the fact Maye is tethered to a bad roster and threw enough last-drive picks as a rookie to at least make you wonder, “Is this gonna be a thing with him?”
Am I pretending that free agency and the draft are going to make this team appreciably better when NOBODY GETS THAT MUCH BETTER IN FREE AGENCY ANYMORE BECAUSE THE BEST PLAYERS GET RE-SIGNED!!!!
I just might be.
But I think the Patriots' opponents are going to have way, way more things to worry about when they play this team than they’ve had at any time this decade, because of Maye (as opposed to end-of-the road Cam Newton, Mac Jones, Bailey Zappe or Jacoby Brissett), and the fact that Vrabel is an excellent in-game coach who isn’t disgusted by the sight of his quarterback.
