The Patriots just re-signed fullback Jack Westover, a move that barely registered on the national radar. But it tells you everything about how Mike Vrabel and Eliot Wolf are thinking about this draft class. They're not swinging for fences on Day 1 and hoping depth sorts itself out later. They're building layers.
Westover's return means the Patriots keep continuity in an often-overlooked position. Fullbacks don't win games, but they win yards on third-and-one. They set the edge in power schemes. They're the kind of guy who makes Vrabel's offense actually work. By keeping him around instead of letting him walk and chasing a shiny free agent name, the front office is signaling: we know what we have, and we're comfortable working with it.
That philosophy shows up in Evan Lazar's final mock draft too. Cashius Howell from Texas A&M at 31 isn't a flashy pick. The edge rusher isn't a generational talent or a household name heading into draft night. But he's the kind of player who fits scheme, adds depth to a defensive line already featuring Milton Williams and Dre'Mont Jones, and gives Vrabel another body who can rotate and stay fresh. In a league where depth wins playoff games, that's not boring—that's smart.
The Patriots are walking a deliberate line here. They've got their quarterback in Drake Maye. They've got their veteran anchors across both lines. Now they're filling in the puzzle pieces methodically. Westover. Potential day-two contributors. Scheme fits over star power. It won't make SportsCenter highlights in May, but come September, when injuries hit and rotations get tested, this approach could look awfully prescient.
Based on reporting from Pats Pulpit.