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Patriots Enter Camp with Real Expectations After That Super Bowl Run

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Mike Vrabel’s first year in New England was supposed to be about progress. The Patriots had a new head coach who knew the building and a young quarterback still finding his footing. A .500 season with some competitive games would have counted as a win. Instead they went 13-4, won the AFC East and came within one game of a championship.

The run to the Super Bowl was real. They handled the Chargers and Texans at home, then went into Denver and beat the Broncos in the AFC title game — something Tom Brady and Bill Belichick never did together. The loss to Seattle in the Super Bowl stung, but it also reset expectations across the league. Nobody is sleeping on this team anymore.

Vrabel has dealt with some personal stuff this offseason and the schedule opens with a rematch in Seattle. The Patriots know they won’t sneak up on anyone now.

Here’s how the roster looks heading into camp.

Quarterback

Drake Maye went from promising rookie to legitimate MVP candidate last season. The numbers are undeniable. 4,394 yards with a 31-to-8 touchdown to interception ratio. He has the arm and the athleticism to make any throw or extend any play. The Super Bowl was rough though. Seattle’s defense overloaded him and he never found a rhythm. That game will probably fuel him all offseason. Backup Tommy DeVito is a capable No. 2 with some swagger but the drop-off would be significant if Maye misses time.

Grade: 8.5

Running Backs

Rhamondre Stevenson isn’t flashy but he’s reliable. He ground out 911 yards and 9 touchdowns last season and he rarely puts the ball on the ground. TreVeyon Henderson showed flashes as a rookie with 611 yards and 7 touchdowns out of Ohio State. Expect his workload to grow this year.

Grade: 7.5

Wide Receivers

The Patriots made a big move in the offseason, bringing in A.J. Brown from Philadelphia to be the No. 1 wideout. Brown has cleared 1,000 yards in six of seven seasons and he simply does not drop the ball — one credited drop over the last two seasons. That’s absurd. Romeo Doubs also arrived from Green Bay to add depth. Tight end Hunter Henry had a strong year with 60 catches for 768 yards and 7 scores, but backup Austin Hooper left in free agency.

Grade: 8

Offensive Line

Will Campbell had a tough postseason at left tackle but he has the tools to be elite. Right tackle Morgan Moses is steady and gave up only one sack last year. The interior is a question mark. Jared Wilson moves from left guard to center and that switch isn’t easy. Alijah Vera-Tucker has struggled with injuries dating back to his Jets days. Mike Onwenu is the veteran anchor at right guard.

Grade: 6

Defensive Line

Milton Williams was the engine of this defense. His stats — 29 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 8 tackles for loss — don’t fully capture his impact. He took on double teams and freed up Christian Barmore to do damage. The big question is whether Cory Durden can replace Khyiris Tonga at nose tackle after Tonga left for Kansas City.

Grade: 7

Linebackers

No superstars here but a solid group. Robert Spillane led the team with 97 tackles and chipped in 2 interceptions. Christian Elliss made his name on special teams but logged 76 tackles as a linebacker. Harold Landry had 8.5 sacks before undergoing knee surgery. Dre’Mont Jones was brought in from Baltimore to generate pressure.

Grade: 6.5

Secondary

This is the strength of the defense. Christian Gonzalez is already a Pro Bowl cornerback and he might get better. Carlton Davis III and Marcus Jones give the Patriots three starting-caliber corners. Kevin Byard signed in the offseason after leading the league with 7 interceptions for Chicago last year. He played for Vrabel in Tennessee, so the familiarity is there. Byard will pair with second-year strong safety Craig Woodson, who finished the season strong with 79 tackles.