Mike Vrabel Gets Candid on Why Patriots Didn’t Pursue Micah Parsons After Cowboys Fallout

The New England Patriots, led by former linebacker Mike Vrabel are looking to bounce back from a heart-wrenching 4-13 in 2024.

Mike Vrabel Gets Candid on Why Patriots Didn’t Pursue Micah Parsons After Cowboys Fallout

Micah Parsons (inset), Mike Vrabel (Images via ESPN/Getty Images)

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The New England Patriots had quite a lot of space and requirements for the former Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons. Nevertheless, the AFC East team opted against trading for Parsons, a decision that has drawn criticism from fans on various media platforms.

Mike Vrabel, the Patriots’ new coach, addressed the question when he detailed why the Patriots refrained from making a trade. According to online reactions, the key reason behind their decision was the inability to shell out a few draft picks.

Vrabel, speaking on “The Greg Hill Show” in Boston on Tuesday, claimed that Parsons was not the player they wanted to invest a lot of resources.

Great player but that wasn’t something that we really invested a lot of time or resources in. I think when you just try to look at what we feel like is best for us right now, that wasn’t entertaining that specific transaction…We want to build it and make sure that we’re building through the draft…While Micah Parsons is a great player, it probably wasn’t the best fit or the right time, I think, for us.

Vrabel’s future plans in New England include building depth in the roster through the draft. The Patriots, currently comprised mainly of free agents, have had quite the problem with their draft selections for the last few seasons. Even considering the 2024 draft, only two from their eight picks, Drake Maye and Caedan Wallace, made the 53-man roster this year.

Mike Vrabel hasn’t had the best of hands on the defensive side

In an article for The Ringer, Sheil Kapadia ranked the projections for every defensive side in the coming season. The Seattle Seahawks were surprisingly the top-ranked defense heading into the new season, followed by the Houston Texans and the Philadelphia Eagles.

Mike Vrabel (2)
Mike Vrabel (Image via AP)

The Patriots were 12th, but not necessarily in the worst spot in the rankings. However, Kapadia pointed out the fact that Vrabel had produced an above-average defense in one of the six seasons before he was suspended from the head coach position in Nashville.

Vrabel had a rocky start to his coaching career as well. In his first season as the linebackers coach for the Houston Texans, the Texans were ranked dead last in most points allowed in the season, allowing 436 points in the regular season. For someone who’s marketed as a defensive mastermind, his track record on that side of the ball isn’t an ideal situation.

The Patriots know better than most that appointing a former linebacker and expecting instant defensive brilliance can backfire. Jerod Mayo’s debut campaign following Bill Belichick’s exit was proof. However, amidst the fog of doubts over Mayo, there’s still hope for the Pats.

In the new season, Vrabel will be assisted by Terrell Williams, who is coming from a successful season with the Detroit Lions. Williams, known for his way of leaning into the player’s aggressiveness and channeling it into his player’s mindset, could switch things up a bit for Vrabel. Additionally, the Patriots camp has also made some strong offseason moves as well.

Vrabel has amped up the Patriots’ defense by reshaping it into a tougher, deeper, and more competitive unit. The front office invested heavily, handing out big-money deals to Milton Williams ($104 million), Carlton Davis III ($54 million), and a few others.

The head coach has raised the standard by making even promising talents like Keion White fight for snaps against proven veterans and trusted favorites. They also added versatile pass-rusher K’Lavon Chaisson to have more flexibility up front. The held-back stance on Parsons cemented the idea that there’s no excuses and they are supposed to deliver.

Also Read: Micah Parsons’ Highly-Anticipated Packers Debut Likely to Be Delayed Following Back Injury Concerns