What is the story about?
TEAM
TALK
- Patriots updated Free Agency Tracker and Mock Draft Tracker.
- Evan Lazar gives us six takeaways from Mike Vrabel’s media availability at the league meetings. 3) Vrabel says star CB Christian Gonzalez has earned long-term extension; More.
- Alexandra Francisco reports Drake Maye got a buzz cut at the annual Saving by Shaving charity event.
- Press Conference: Mike Vrabel (33 min. video)
- Patriots Unfiltered: NFL Owners meetings, one-on-one with Mike Vrabel, team/league news. (2 hrs)
LOCAL LINKS
- Mark Morse attempts to decode the Patriots’ draft strategy: Targets, needs, and pre-draft smokescreens.
- Keagan Stiefel identifies 5 Wide Receivers the Pats are most likely to take in the draft.
- Ethan Hurwitz’ Patriots Draft Preview: Lots of ways to acquire WRs.
- Keagan Stiefel finds Mike Vrabel has his eyes on tight end ahead of the draft. “I love ‘em … Bring me as many tight ends as we can get.”
- Doug Kyed tells us 9 things we learned about the Patriots from Mike Vrabel from the NFL owners meetings. “We want to make sure we draft extremely well and then we identify the guys we want to keep with us, and have earned long-term extensions with us,” /Sounds like a plan. A vague plan, but still...
- Karen Guregian shares 5 takeaways from Mike Vrabel’s presser. 5) Patriots approach on 31st overall pick.
- Andrew Callahan relays Mike Vrabel on what he wants from Drake Maye in the 2026 season.
- Karen Guregian highlights Mike Vrabel on the Patriots’ current receivers room.
- Daniel Fisher thinks the Pats should consider bringing in another veteran pass rusher before the draft at the end of April, and explains why Derek Barnett could be a great fit.
- Jake Seymour mentions how Mike Vrabel pushed back on Robert Kraft tempering expectations for the Pats this season.
- Mike Reiss has the video of Drake Maye getting a buzz cut at a charity event for Boston Children’s Hospital.
- Phil Perry’s NFL Mock Draft 4.0: Patriots trade down, bolster key positions of need. plus New England’s selections with its Day 2 picks. Pats pick Illinois Edge Gabe Jacas at 34; More.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Charean Williams (ProFootballTalk) Patriots will exercise Christian Gonzalez’s fifth-year option but working for a long-term deal.
- Albert Breer (SI) NFL Notes: 18-game schedule looms large at owners meetings; Plus, updates on player movement and the budding referee situation.
- NFL Nation (ESPN) 2026 NFL annual league meeting: Latest buzz from Phoenix. Patriots included.
- Mike Kadlick (SI) Explaining the NFL’s five new rule changes ahead of the 2026 season.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Roger Goodell: NFL sees “no evidence” of tanking. ‘The first rule of Tank Club is you do not talk about Tank Club.’
- Matt Verderame (SI) Why joint practices are all the NFL rage, and here to stay.
- Nicholas Selby (SI) Ranking the best and worst divisions after free agency. No. 4 AFC East.
- Jeffri Chadiha (NFL.com) Five NFL QBs who are ready to reinvent their careers. Mac Jones included.
- Ben Solak (ESPN) 2026 NFL draft All-Film team: 11 prospects with upside.
- Josh Edwards (CBS Sports) 2026 NFL Draft: From the Broncos to the Jets, ranking every NFL team by the value of their picks. Patriots 24th. /Curse of making the Super Bowl.
- Tony Pauline (EssentiallySports) NFL Draft: Tight end prospects slide after choosing not to run at Pro Day
- Jason La Canfora (SportsBoom) NFL execs see two Tight Ends going in the first round of the 2026 Draft.
- Tony Pauline (EssentiallySports) Pro Day Takeaways: KC Concepcion’s 6-team visit tour, Tyler Onyedim & Heinrich Haarberg’s breakout.
- Tony Pauline (EssentiallySports) Pro Day key takeaways: Linebackers shine at TCU, Seydou Traore makes his case after Combine snub and More.
- Gilberto Manzano (SI) NFL Mock Draft 2026: Don’t expect teams to wait around on selecting wide receivers or the best player in the first round. Pats pick Clemson Edge T.J. Parker at 31.
- Lance Zierlein (NFL.com) 2026 NFL mock draft 3.0. Pats pick Utah OT Caleb Lomu at 31.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Netflix will have two games on Christmas, and Fox will have the other.
- Myles Simmons (ProFootballTalk) Roger Goodell: Our No. 1 objective is to improve officiating. /…yawn…
- Report (AP) NFL approves 1-year rule allowing replay center to correct mistakes by potential replacement refs. /Woof.
- Report (AP) Former NFL female official sues league for discrimination, harassment.
