Patriots' Kraft: 'I hope that we're never drafting 4th again'

Team owner Robert Kraft is looking to the future rather than the past as the New England Patriots continue their rebuild.

"The last two years have been really difficult, the worst two years of our ownership," Kraft told reporters, including the MMQB's Albert Breer. "I hope that we're never drafting fourth again, but today it's a good opportunity."

After winning six Super Bowls between 2002 and 2019, the Patriots have struggled to be playoff contenders. The club parted ways with future Hall of Fame coach Bill Belichick in 2024 after 24 seasons and dismissed Belichick's successor, Jerod Mayo, in January following a 4-13 campaign.

The Patriots tapped head coach Mike Vrabel to help turn around the club's fortunes after three consecutive losing seasons. The 49-year-old was a linebacker in New England from 2001 to 2008. He also guided the Tennessee Titans to a 54-45 record in six campaigns as their sideline boss before he was fired in 2024.

Kraft also succinctly described what would make New England's 2025 campaign successful.

"If we make the playoffs," the executive said, according to the Boston Herald's Doug Kyed.

New England has taken an aggressive approach to improve the team's roster, inking free agents Milton Williams, Stefon Diggs, and Harold Landry to lucrative deals. While the club has splurged on veterans this offseason, Kraft pushed back on the notion that the Patriots have been frugal in the past.

"Let me correct something, there's never been a case in 31 years when people have come to us wanting to spend and we said no," Kraft said, per Breer. "Not once."