The Patriots are sitting at 2-7 following their demoralizing loss to the Washington Commanders. Head coach Bill Belichick’s tenure appears to be at a crossroads with the organization. There have been reports of the Washington franchise trading for the iconic coach to bolster their retooling under new ownership. Obviously, the Patriots will need a new head coach if Belichick departs, and some reports indicate that Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel might be the man for the job.
Could Mike Vrabel Be the New England Patriots Next Coach?
Where to, Brutus? A Homecoming
If the Patriots and Belichick decide to end a long and successful marriage that resulted in innumerable moments of grandeur, Super Bowls, and wins, they will need an heir to the throne. Enter Mike Vrabel of the rebuilding Titans. Tennessee is in a weird place where they want to contend but don’t have the roster to do it with. Vrabel predates GM Ran Carthon by a few years and presumably has job security, barring a complete collapse.
Ben Volin of the Boston Globe writes that Belichick’s seat is getting toasty and could be in some danger of not finishing out the season if things fall a certain way. The palatial intrigue that defined some Roman emperors wouldn’t hold a candle to the amount coming to the Commonwealth. Volin lists Tennessee’s head coach among the favorites to get the job should it be vacated with this quote below.
Two sources close to the Patriots have independently said the same thing: They believe Vrabel, currently the Titans’ coach, is the Krafts’ “home run” choice to succeed Belichick.
The Patriots would have to give up some draft capital in exchange for Mike Vrabel as he’s a sitting head coach with a contract that has a term left on it. Vrabel would bring instant cache as a player-turned-coach who has had success on his CV.
There was rampant speculation about what nefarious conversations Vrabel and the Krafts could’ve had when the former was spotted at the latter’s suite during his Patriots HOF induction. Heedless speculation as agents do most of the talking and Vrabel is considered a core member of the Patriots’ dynasty. The Krafts likely wanted to honor him on his weekend.
Which Team Is the Better Situation?
Both teams have an opportunity to reshape their roster in the short and long term with ample amounts of cap space in 2024. According to Spotrac, Tennessee is projected to have the second most cap space in the league with $87.3 million. New England is third in that regard with $77.5 million. However, the quarterback situation in Tennessee certainly looks rosier than New England. The Patriots have endured the Mac Jones saga while the Titans look to have a bright future with Will Levis showing positive signs early. Tennessee’s roster is certainly worse but it can change rapidly with that much cap space to work with. Also, the path to an AFC South title is likely easier than the one in the AFC East.
The Impact on Tennessee
Should the Titans even think about a potential offer from the Patriots? The potential of Levis having to sort through another system while he’s trying to prosper in the current one is a risk. Offensive coordinator Tim Kelly and quarterbacks coach Charles London have been working diligently with Levis to get up him to speed. He looks to have a bright future within the framework. While the sample size is too small to determine an outcome, the very early returns are promising. The question is if the draft pick compensation is worth compromising that.
Tennessee, while overflowing with unused cap space (for now), is somewhat bereft of high-end 2024 draft picks and contains a lot of roster holes. They do not own a third-round selection as of this writing, which could be easily worked around with some trading. Do they see themselves as a medium-term rebuilder or a microwavable quick fix? That’s the million-dollar question Ran Carthon has to answer. Vrabel’s defense has shown an alarming amount of weakness that offenses could exploit, especially in the run game. The press conferences have been more snippy than usual from the team’s perspective. Nashville’s local media is notorious for throwing more soft tosses than the timeless Jamie Moyer. As the saying goes, when the beat writers turn on a coach, it’s the beginning of the end.
How Mike Vrabel Could End Up With the Patriots
In the end, if the Patriots want Mike Vrabel, they’ll need to give up at least one first-round pick. He’s a good coach with some ability to identify coaching talent (minus the maddening loyalty to below-average staff). If the Patriots could finagle some draft compensation from any team seeking Bill Belichick’s services, they could reroute some of that package to Nashville. The Titans will likely give Vrabel a couple more years to turn things around before even considering a potential change.
Main Photo: Christopher Hannewinc – USA Today Sports
