Greetings from Patriots Camp: The O-Line Is Set, and Javon Baker Says 'Not So Fast'

Greetings from Patriots camp, where the offensive line looks settled for the first time in years—and wideout Javon Baker is making sure the roster locks at WR aren’t so locked after all. A hands-on Vrabel and a focused team are setting a new tone in Foxborough.

Greetings from Patriots Camp: The O-Line Is Set, and Javon Baker Says 'Not So Fast'
Drake Maye (#10) signs autographs for fans after practice on Tuesday, August 5, 2025.

This week I got my first chance to see the 2025 New England Patriots in person. Monday's practice was a long, two-hour-plus padded session, with a focus on red zone offense. Tuesday’s practice, by contrast, was a walk-through—players wore bucket hats and baseball caps, and there were no pads.

I only attended one practice open to the public last year: the joint session with the Philadelphia Eagles. It was enough for me to declare the honeymoon phase with head coach Jerod Mayo officially over.

Prior to that day, I had optimism about the post-Belichick era. But that one disastrous practice changed my opinion entirely about the direction of the team and its coaching staff. Unfortunately, my observations proved to be correct.

With that in mind, here are my biggest takeaways from two days of watching Vrabel’s Patriots:

✅ The Offensive Line Is Set

Last year, Jerod Mayo had no clear plan for the offensive line. It was musical chairs throughout camp and even into the regular season. Players were constantly being shuffled:

  • Caedan Wallace (drafted in Round 3 to play right tackle) bounced between left and right tackle.
  • Michael Onwenu, given tackle money, was still being moved between guard and tackle.
  • Chukwuma Okorafor was signed to play left tackle, but was moved to right, and then quit the team.
  • Layden Robinson, Nick Leverett, and others saw time all over the interior line.

The result? Disaster. That joint practice with the Eagles featured a third of all plays ending in what would have been sacks.

This year, two weeks into camp, the offensive line is already set and working on chemistry:

  • LT: Will Campbell (1st-round pick)
  • LG: Jared Wilson (rookie drafted to play center but has emerged at guard)
  • C: Garrett Bradbury (back from injury)
  • RG: Mike Onwenu (finally settled at his natural position)
  • RT: Morgan Moses (11-year veteran brought in for stability and leadership)

👏 The Key: Jared Wilson

The Patriots expected Wilson to eventually replace Bradbury at center, but instead, he’s earned the left guard job outright. Cole Strange, once presumed to have the inside track, is now fighting for a roster spot. Wilson’s play has reshaped the line—and the offense.

📈 Javon Baker Is Surging, Ja'Lynn Polk Is Slipping

The biggest surprise of camp? Javon Baker.

I gave him a 6% chance of making the roster back in early May. I gave Ja’Lynn Polk (based almost entirely on Polk being a second round draft pick just last year) a 92% chance. Based on what I saw this week, I might flip those numbers.

Polk was buried on the second field, working with third-stringers and undrafted rookies. Meanwhile, Baker was catching passes from Drake Maye alongside Stefon Diggs and Kayshon Boutte. Baker looks like he belongs.

An additional development that is helping Baker's chances of making the roster – Kendrick Bourne (I gave a 9% chance in May of making the roster) has missed practice this week and the veteran may be in jeopardy of not making the team.

Javon Baker signs autographs for fans after practice.

🧩 The Offense Looks… Conservative

In two days, I didn’t see Drake Maye attempt a pass over 20 yards.

That might not mean much—Vrabel has emphasized ball security and efficient decision-making—but it’s worth monitoring. If the short game is the plan, we could be looking at a dink-and-dunk system until Maye earns Vrabel's trust.

🚀 TreVeyon Henderson Will Be a Weapon

Henderson had a huge day Monday, consistently beating linebackers and flashing elite hands. On wheel routes, swing passes, or screens—he’s dangerous.

Before this week, I assumed Rhamondre Stevenson would get the majority of the snaps on offense. Now? I’m not so sure.

🏃 The Patriots Will Have a Top-10 Rushing Attack

The offensive line’s run blocking is already elite—especially rookie Will Campbell, whose physicality and second-level blocking are being described as already All-Pro caliber.

Vrabel seems committed to a conservative, old school offense, and that plays to the strengths of:

  • Stevenson, who has slimmed down and looks quicker
  • Henderson, whose explosiveness is obvious
  • Maye, who could easily add 500 yards on the ground himself

💪 Christian Barmore Is Healthy—and That Changes Everything

Barmore being a full participant may not sound like a big deal, but it’s huge. When healthy, he elevates the entire defense—from Christian Gonzalez in coverage to Milton Williams alongside him on the line.

He’s the linchpin that could elevate an above-average defense to elite level.

Christian Gonzalez signs autographs for fans after practice.

📋 Practices Are More Structured Under Vrabel

Comparing Mayo to Vrabel is almost unfair—Vrabel has six years of head coaching experience and four former head coaches on staff. But the difference is striking:

  • Vrabel wears a practice jersey and lines up on defense to get a bird's eye view of the action.
  • Last year, I often had to look around just to find where Mayo even was.
  • There’s now far more hands-on coaching, fewer players standing around wondering what they should be doing.

Keion White summed up the difference in coaching approaches best with these two quotes, only six months apart:

“Something’s gotta change.” (December 2024)
“Now I feel like I have a coach.” (June 2025)

🧊 Still Too Soft? Not Enough Hitting

There’s been very little contact so far. With the first preseason game just days away, I’m concerned about injuries due to a lack of physical acclimation.

Vrabel has been easing in veterans like Diggs, Moses, and Davis. While that’s understandable, I’m not a fan of the “pitch count” approach. You can’t simulate NFL game speed from doing walk-throughs.

Even Greg Bedard said:

“I haven’t seen this easy of a camp in my 24 years covering the NFL.”

🏁 Final Thoughts

It’s early—but this team looks more focused, better coached, more cohesive, and more prepared than it did at any point last summer.

The offensive line is set, Henderson is dynamic, Baker may not be a bust, and Vrabel has a clear vison for the team. The Patriots haven't played a preseason game yet, but they've already answered a lot of questions and there is a lot of reason for optimism.


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I spent two days at Patriots training camp—and the difference under Mike Vrabel is real. The offensive line looks set, and Javon Baker might be the surprise of the summer.

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