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Patriots say no contact with Mike Vrabel during Draft Day 3

sportsApr 25, 20261458

Eliot Wolf said the New England Patriots had no contact with head coach Mike Vrabel during Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft as Vrabel stepped away to seek counseling. Wolf said the team deliberately kept Vrabel out of draft deliberations, adding that staff handled selections without him other than brief "hope everything's going okay" text messages. That statement conflicts with another report that said Vrabel was in "constant" communication with the organization during the draft. The discrepancy matters because coaching involvement can directly shape late-round roster choices and Vrabel's absence raises immediate questions about Patriots leadership and roster strategy during a critical talent-acquisition window.

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