“I want them to work with me. Like, we’re in this together.” That’s been Mike Vrabel’s whole thing since taking over in New England—preaching teamwork like he’s building something big. And so far, he’s backing it up. The Patriots’ defense is already stacked—Carlton Davis III locking down receivers, Milton Williams clogging up the trenches, and Robert Spillane bringing the heat. The D-line? Solid. But the O-line? Well, that’s a different story.

Oh, that’s the messy part, especially their wide receiver corp. Let’s just say Drake Maye might be throwing to the extras instead of A-listers. The reason? Well, Vrabel and Co. added just Mack Hollins to their roster, probably trying to add depth in their WR corp. But let’s be real—with Javon Baker, Ja’Lynn Polk and Kendrick Bourne, their receiving unit is still lacking one difference maker.

And let’s not kid ourselves—Vrabel and his crew had a decent option to sign either DK Metcalf when he was open for a trade or Devante Adams when he was still looking for a new home. But nope, they had their sight on Chris Godwin, who eventually stayed put in Tampa Bay. Now’s the big question—why they didn’t sign Metcalf or Adams when they had a chance?

That’s where the Patriots insider, Tom E. Curran, knocks on the window. You see, on Monday, Curran broke down the state of the Patriots’ offense after the first week of the free agency. According to him, the Pats were curious about how a demanding veteran wideout could affect the second-year QB, Drake Maye. And folks, we’re talking about the negative impact here.

See it like this: the team feared that bringing a seasoned and big personality wideout like Metcalf or Adams might put too much pressure on Maye. It sounds a bit wild, but that’s the truth. Why? Simple: Metcalf and Adams are known for their competitive and demanding nature. No wonder the veterans would have expected precision from their QB—that could lead to a rushed decision-making from Maye. And, of course, Mike Vrabel and Co. are not ready for that.

But did it solve their WR problems? Absolutely not. The team’s still expecting big from their second-year WRs Javon Baker and Ja’Lynn Polk after a horrific rookie season from both parties.

On the flip side, Kendrick Bourne carries eight years of experience in the pros, but his injury issues could knock him down anytime—at least, that’s what his last couple of seasons taught us. A major red flag for the Pats. And Hollins?

Well, the guy’s 6’4”, weighs 221 pounds, and had a fair share of highs and lows in his career, he definitely stands apart from the rest of the wide receivers. But the thing is—just like Jon Snow won’t win you the Battle of the Bastards alone, Hollins won’t fix the Pats’ WR woes by himself either. I mean, the guy needs support, just like Maye’s getting from his backup QBs.

Mike Vrabel stuck in the QB3 confusion

Picture this: a team has a 6’5”, 246-pound QB with a rocket launcher for an arm, but not at the starting position. We’re talking about the Patriots’ Joe Milton III. The reason? Oh, that’s the interesting part. See, the guy was a sixth-round pick, which basically means that the Pats saw him as a project rather than a guaranteed star. You must be thinking, why’s hype around him right about now, then, right?

It’s simple: after benching throughout the season, Milton got a call to show his potential on the gridiron. And guess what? The guy didn’t just show up—he delivered. During the final game of the regular season, Milton completed 22-of-29 for 241 yards, 1 TD, and not to forget that celebratory backflip. Now, if you’re thinking that the teams are lining up to sign him right about now—give yourselves a second guess.

According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, the trade market is pretty cold for Milton. “I don’t think anybody saw enough of Joe Milton last year. And he looked impressive in the last game to say, Yeah, like, we would bring him in to be our starting quarterback,” he said. Well, he’s not wrong, though. I mean, one game isn’t enough to earn you a QB 1 role, right? But the big question: will Mike Vrabel keep Joe Milton?

Let’s just say that once the Patriots legend and now the newly appointed head coach doesn’t have second thoughts for Milton. His thoughts on Milton’s trade? “I think it’s a little early to have that conversation…we’d have to entertain [trades] within reason,” he said. Translation? Milton isn’t going anywhere—at least for now. But don’t think it’s because of his week 18 cameo. Oh no! There are other reasons as well.

See, Drake Maye’s the chosen one, expected to kickstart a new era in New England. Joshua Dobbs? The ultimate wise mentor, guiding him through the ropes. And Milton? He’s the wildcard—the guy waiting in the wings, ready to step in if chaos hits the Patriots’ locker room. That said, Mike Vrabel’s certain for Milton’s future as of now but don’t be shocked if the Pats show their QB3 an exit door anytime in the future.