New England's free agent signings mark the return of The Patriot Way

If there was ever any doubt, a new era has begun in New England. Or are we seeing a return to the old mythical Belichickian "Patriot Way?"

I say "mythical" because many, over the years, within the Patriots' organization viewed the term "Patriot Way" as a media creation. Those people claimed the term was never used within the confines of Gillette Stadium.

But the thought behind the term was that if you wanted to play for the Patriots, you needed to check your ego at the door. You needed to work hard, be a leader, and stay out of trouble off the field. The players that fit the Patriots' Way weren't necessarily the most talented, but they were cerebral, worked harder than anyone else, and put the team first.

As an unstated rule, the Patriot Way also included playing for a discount. High priced players need not apply. No divas were allowed here. Once players started demanding more money, they were shown the door.

Belichick had an affinity for veteran players, especially ones he had a history with. When free agency started, Belichick liked shopping in the clearance section. He walked right past the products in the store windows. He wanted to find older players – players who had already made enough money in their careers to make them happy, but now were desperately motivated to win a Super Bowl before they hung up their cleats for good.

That original batch of players – back in 2000 – included Antowain Smith, David Patten, Terrell Buckley, Bobby Hamilton, Anthony Pleasant, Roman Phifer, Otis Smith, and Bryan Cox.

Mike Vrabel, himself, was one of those players Belichick found in the clearance section. Vrabel was buried on the Pittsburgh Steelers' depth chart for four seasons before Belichick signed him as a free agent in 2001.

Tom Brady embodied the Patriot Way. Everyone knows Brady was drafted in the sixth round in 2000 with the 199th pick overall. Six quarterbacks were drafted before him.

Brady didn't come into the league with a big amount of fanfare like other quarterbacks of that time – Jeff George, Ryan Leaf, Akili Smith, Tim Couch, JaMarcus Russell, or Peyton Manning. He wasn't handed a starting job right away like several of those guys were. In fact, he started his rookie season as a fourth string quarterback behind Drew Bledsoe, John Friez, and Michael Bishop.

Now, Brady is considered the G.O.A.T. – the greatest player of all time. Yet, year after year, he would take a pay cut in order to help the team sign other players. At no point was he ever the highest paid player in the NFL even though he was more than deserving.

When Brady, finally, put his foot down and wanted to get paid towards the end of his career, he was allowed to walk and go to Tampa Bay. Even Tom Brady needed to fall in line or else.

Vrabel played for Belichick during those early years when the Patriot Way was in its infancy. Vrabel played for the Patriots and Bill Belichick from 2001-2008. The Patriots won three Super Bowls during that span and was part of an undefeated regular season in 2007.

Vrabel saw the dark side of The Patriot Way, also. He was traded after the 2008 season, despite all his accomplishments, to the Kansas City Chiefs. To add insult to injury, he was essentially a "sweetner" in a deal which centered around quarterback Matt Cassel who had a career year in 2008 replacing an injured Tom Brady. The return for the Patriots was a second round draft pick.

Vrabel was upset by the trade. He didn't talk to Belichick for two years after.

It was all part of The Patriot Way. The idea was to trade a player while they still had some value when you believed they were a year or two from their performance falling off the proverbial cliff.

Take all emotion out of the decision making process. What that player had done for you in the past didn't matter. It was, "What have you done for me lately?"

Or even more accurate, the question was always, "What can you do for me next year?"

As an aside, as I write this, news is breaking of the Patriots releasing center and team captain, David Andrews. It wasn't Andrews' choice. There has been no reports of him wanting to retire.

Andrews played ten seasons for the Patriots and was part of two Super Bowl winning teams. As recently as last year, he was considered the anchor of the offensive line until he suffered a season ending injury in Week 4. The release reminds me of the Lawyer Milloy release by Belichick prior to the 2003 season when Milloy. It is a bit of a head scratcher. Vrabel refused to answer any questions about the release at the introductory press conference of four of the Patriots' free agent signings on Thursday.

Now Vrabel is in his first year as head coach of the New England Patriots. Despite Eliot Wolf still having the title of executive vice president of player personnel, it is a near certainty that Vrabel is having final say on the construction of this roster.

This week is really the first test for Vrabel. He has already shown his hand as to the type of team he envisions. He wants a team that is built from the trenches out. He has often cited the champion Philadelphia Eagles as the team whose design model he wants to follow. The strength of the Eagles was their offensive and defensive lines.

He has also expressed a desire to galvanize the team. He wants leaders in the clubhouse who can patrol themselves and keep each other in line. He wants players who are hungry to win. He wants players who put the team before themselves. No divas allowed here.

Does that sound familiar? It is The Patriot Way reborn.

With that being said, it should come as no surprise the players the Patriots, and Mike Vrabel, targeted on Day One of free agency. It was always Belichick's philosophy to allow the first wave of free agents to pass. But this is not Bill Belichick's Patriots anymore.

While Vrabel will be efforting to bring back The Patriot Way of the early Belichick years, it is evident this week that Vrabel is not Bill Belichick when it comes to team building. He has shopped every floor of the department store and he has looked through every rack, including the pricey products in the window displays.

Here is my evaluation, observations, and rankings of New England's signings this week. When applicale, I will also try to compare each player to a player who exemplified The Patriot Way from their dynasty years.

1. Milton Williams, defensive tackle

Vrabel hopes the 25-year-old Milton Williams can be this new era's Richard Seymour. I would have said Vince Wilfork, but Williams is far more athletic than Wilfork in the middle.

The easiest way to model your defensive line after the Philadelphia Eagles is to get one of those Eagles' defensive lineman. That's what Vrabel did, but – to build on my metaphor of the department store shopping – he had to wrestle with an old lady carrying a cane who was trying to take Williams off the rack first.

For a large part of Monday, reports were Williams was signing with the Carolina Panthers. I believe Baltimore offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley was New England's number one target this offseason. When Stanley broke Patriots' fans' hearts by re-signing with Baltimore over the weekend, the Patriots had to adjust their approach... and fast. The Patriots needed to pivot. Vrabel even referenced "a Plan B" when praising the cooperative teamwork of the front office during the free agent process.

The Patriots needed to make a big splash on day one of free agency, and not just for PR purposes. The team needed an infusion of high-end talent. Williams might not be a household name and he doesn't play offense, but he will bring a disruptive force up the middle, a la Richard Seymour, especially if Christian Barmore is healthy and playing alongside him. Along with the next signing on this list, the Patriots should be primed for a top five defense this year.

2. Carlton Davis, cornerback

Christian Gonzalez is going to have a new running partner in Carlton Davis. The two, immediately, become one of the best cornerback duos in the NFL. Davis is a physical cornerback who excels at man-to-man defense and is not afraid to stick his nose (and jaw) in the running game. When I picture Gonzalez and Davis playing together, it is bringing back memories of Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner in 2014.

Carlton Davis won a Super Bowl with Tom Brady after Brady left New England. Maybe Brady had good things to say to him about New England. Or, more likely, it was the $60 million the Patriots offered him.

The biggest issue with Davis will be his durability. He is yet to play a full season in seven-year career. He also has a little bit of diva-ness to him which may be concerning.

3. Morgan Moses, offensive right tackle

The Patriots must have been disappointed that they couldn't land left tackle, Ronnie Stanley, but they got themselves a starting right tackle on day one of free agency in veteran Morgan Moses. As a bonus, they took him from a division rival, the New York Jets.

It is a recurring theme with these signings, but Moses is praised for his leadership and his work ethic. He has been as durable as they come. He did not miss a game from 2015-2022. He has missed two games each of the last two seasons, but rehabbed hard each time to get back in the lineup as quickly as possible.

I was very impressed by how articulate and inspiring Moses was during his introductory press conference. It is true of all the players the Patriots signed. Not one of them sounds or acts like Javon Baker.

4. Harold Landry, edge

Landry was the second draft pick in Vrabel's first year as Tennessee head coach. Landry was the first signing the Patriots made this offseason, with the news breaking on Sunday night. Landry led the Titans with nine sacks last year. Patriots' fans would have been excited if that was the big signing for the Patriots this offseason, but, fortunately, there was more... much more. He could be this team's Willie McGinest.

Much has been said about Landry only having a 4.8% pass rush win rate, according to Pro Football Focus, but he is an exceptional run defender. Being reunited with Vrabel might also light a fire under him. Some questioned his fire and desire in Tennessee last season, but former teammate and superstar defensive tackle, Jeffrey Simmons, wasn't too happy when the Titans cut his running mate.

5. Robert Spillane, linebacker

When Mike Vrabel looks at Robert Spillane he must feel like he is looking in the mirror. Spillane is a self-made player. He is a real life Rudy. He went undrafted out of college. Mike Vrabel saw something in Spillane early on and added him to the Titans' practice squad in 2018. He never saw the field for the Titans and was, eventually, cut. The next season he was again cut by the Steelers. It wasn't until 2023 when, due to injuries to other players, Spillane exploded onto the scene. The last two seasons Spillane totaled 148 and 158 total tackles. He has a high motor and has a knack for being around the ball. He was recruited out of high school as a running back so he has good hands, as evidenced by his five interceptions in the last two seasons, and he knows what to do with the ball after he gets it.

Spillane will become a quick fan favorite. He doesn't take playing in the NFL for granted. He understands the concept of team. He will be a playmaker, not just a dependable run-stuffer, stat sheet filler like a Ja'Whaun Bentley. That is no offense to Bentley. I like Bentley a lot, but he is not a sideline to sideline pursuer who can create turnovers.

If you liked Tedy Bruschi – and who didn't? – you will love Robert Spillane.

6. Mack Hollins, wide receiver

Mack Hollins isn't the WR1 everyone had been hoping for, but he shined in the bright lights and on the big stage of the AFC Championship Game last year when he played for Buffalo against the Chiefs. He had four catches for 73 yards, including a 34-yard touchdown catch. That counts for something.

It also counts for something when the highest paid player in NFL history laments the loss of Hollins to his team.

Josh Allen was quoted as saying, "Super sad to see Mack go. I know he was kind of a fan favorite as a favorite in the locker room. I'm very happy for him and what he got. Hate that he's a division rival now, but it's the game that we play."

Allen mentioned the traits that have been a recurring theme with these free agents – "fan favorite" and "favorite in the locker room." Hollins is quirky, to say the least, but it is that quirkiness that makes players like that impervious to big situations.

It's what made Julian Edelman so vital to the Patriot's second dynastic run. I am not silly enough to make Edelman my official comp to Hollins, but it is not unreasonable to compare him to a Chris Hogan or even, Danny Amendola.

7. Khyiris Tonga, defensive tackle

"Tonga! Tonga! Tonga!" Sorry, just felt like saying that. Another theme with the Patriots this offseason has been to get faster and more athletic on defense. Khyiris Tonga does not fit into that category, just like he may not fit into his jersey.

Tonga is listed as 6'4" and around 340 pounds. Belichick always liked having that mammoth nose tackle who takes up space and opens holes for athletic linebackers to make tackles. The very large presence of Tonga will open up gaps for Spillane and Bentley (if Bentley still figures into Vrabel's plans) to make tackles. He will also be a perfect wall for Milton Williams and Harold Landry to come around on stunts.

Former nose tackle and run-stuffer, Davon Godchaux, tried to act as a leader last year for the Patriots, but he was never accomplished enough or qualified for a leadership role. He held out the last two preseasons because of contract dispute He was also very critical of the team during the season. Those aren't traits you want in a leader, so Vrabel shipped Godchaux to New Orleans for a seventh-round pick.

8. Josh Dobbs, quarterback.

This one was a little confusing. The belief was that Joe Milton sealed the backup spot for the 2025 season with his performance in the season finale against Buffalo. Dobbs signed for 2 years and $8 million. That is not a third string quarterback contract. Dobbs is a legit veteran backup. He is no Trace McSorley. It will be interesting to see how the quarterback situation shakes out. Will the Patriots carry three quarterbacks and use Milton as the emergency quarterback all year? Did they sign Dobbs as insurance if they find a deal for Milton? I hope not – unless the Steelers want to trade DK Metcalf for him straight up.

There is still work to be done for the Patriots. To say they have strengthened their defense is an understatement. As I finish up this article, news is breaking that the Patriots have signed former first-round pick and edge rusher, K'Lavon Chaisson. Chaisson has been a bit of a bust since being drafted by the Jaguars in 2020, but he came on strong down the stretch for the Raiders last year – recording five sacks in the final ten games. It is a great signing by the Patriots as he may be coming into his own.

The Patriots still need to help Drake Maye on offense, though. They missed out on DK Metcalf and Tee Higgins. They also missed out on Chris Godwin. There was speculation they might be in on Cooper Kupp, but reports today are the Patriots have dropped out.

They also need to address the rest of the line outside of Onwenu and Moses. They missed out on Stanley and the belief is that they are interested in Cam Robinson, but are waiting for his price to come down. I think it is almost a certainty, at this point, that they will draft Will Campbell. There are questions about his arm length and if he can play tackle in the NFL. If he can't play tackle at the next level, critics say it is dumb to take a guard that high in the draft. My counter to that is – would you take John Hannah at fourth overall if you knew he would become what he became? I say "yes."

I am also getting more and more intrigued by drafting running back, Ashton Jeanty, with New England's first pick. The Patriots shouldn't risk trading down below Las Vegas or Dallas if that becomes their intent. Jeanty could be the Patriots' next Curtis Martin. There is no Patriots' running back I enjoyed watching more than Curtis Martin – and it's not even close.