Patriots owner Robert Kraft promises ‘fun’ season

“The last two years were the worst years of my 31 years of ownership,” said the Patriots owner. “We have to change that. We have a new coach in Mike Vrabel who is really connected with the players, who is doing great work. We have a young quarterback and a lot of great veterans — free agent veterans who came in. A great draft class. We’re gonna have fun this year, I promise.”

These are likely the most grounded expectations Kraft can place on the Patriots going into the fall. Given how deep and competitive the AFC is, it would be unrealistic to count on the 2025 Patriots making a meaningful postseason run.

Robert Kraft and the Patriots next season

Still, it’s reasonable to expect New England to be more competitive in the 2025 NFL season. They could even play spoiler, delivering key losses to playoff hopefuls down the stretch.

The Patriots began the offseason with the league’s largest cap space and made the most of it in free agency. They brought in core players on offense and defense, locking in several to multi-year deals.

Offensively, the biggest move was signing Stefon Diggs to a three-year, $69 million deal, establishing him as the team’s top wide receiver. The Patriots also bolstered their offensive line with the additions of Morgan Moses, Garrett Bradbury, and Wes Schweitzer.

On defense, the Patriots made major investments by signing Carlton Davis III, Harold Landry III, and former Eagles standout Milton Williams. They also brought in Robert Spillane and several other players to strengthen the depth of their defensive unit.

The AFC is loaded with powerhouse teams, so the Patriots might need more time to climb back to the top. Still, stacking more wins and watching Drake Maye continue to grow would give New England fans plenty to feel good about as the Vrabel era kicks off.