The Patriots have a punter situation and an edge rusher crisis, and only one of them is getting solved today. Mike Vrabel's roster has a thin, inexperienced group at outside linebacker heading into the regular season. That's the kind of weakness that gets exposed in Week 1, and it needs addressing before the 1 p.m. ET waiver deadline passes.
Let's be clear: this isn't a depth chart inconvenience. Edge rush is foundational. It impacts scheme flexibility, run defense, and how many times you can send linebackers on a blitz without getting picked apart. A young, unproven group at OLB means Vrabel has to be conservative—or he risks getting burned by better-built offenses. The Patriots can't afford either approach right now.
The waiver wire moves should reflect desperation here. There are established pass rushers available after final cuts. The Patriots need to be aggressive, not hopeful. Some teams will leave talent on the table. Eliot Wolf should have orders to pounce on anyone who fits the scheme, regardless of draft pedigree or contract year. This is fixable if they act now.
The punter situation is easier to manage. Bryce Baringer will return to health eventually. Until then, the team needs a reliable leg—someone who pins teams inside the 20 and doesn't flip field position on boom-or-bust attempts. Matt Haack and Mitch Wishnowsky are legitimate options for a placeholder role. Neither is flashy, but both understand situational football. That can be solved during practice-squad signings once the waiver period closes.
Tuesday's practice will tell us a lot about which way Vrabel leans. If the edge group looks any sharper, maybe the concern is overblown. But if it's still thin and spotty, expect aggressive moves this week. The window to build a competitive roster closes fast in the NFL. The Patriots have until 1 p.m. today to prove they're not wasting it.