Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - Reality Check: New England Patriots Owner Robert Kraft Tempers Expectations

Episode Date: March 30, 2026

New England Patriots shift gears as owner Robert Kraft tempers post-Super Bowl expectations for the 2026 NFL season. Can Head Coach Mike Vrabel’s grounded vision keep the Patriots on track for another playoff run, or are tougher days ahead? With a challenging schedule looming, Kraft’s measured goals spark debate: is realism the new formula for Foxborough’s success? Host Nick Cattles breaks down Kraft’s candid remarks and the franchise’s biggest contract decisions involving Drake Maye and Christian Gonzalez. Key topics include Vrabel's hands-on Pro Day visit at Arizona State for potential draft target Max Iheanachor, the Patriots’ evolving roster strategy, and salary cap realities shaping upcoming negotiations. As the front office and coaching staff align with Kraft’s cautious optimism, the discussion touches on free agency moves, trade deadlines, and the path forward in a competitive AFC landscape. Will the Patriots overachieve once again, or is a modest playoff push their ceiling for 2026? Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms 🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-patriots/ Locked On NFL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft, & More 🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/leagues/nfl/ #patriots #newenglandpatriots  Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Robinhood You’re no longer just a spectator. Play by play. You decide. Trade Every Play with Robinhood. Now available across the U.S. Download the Robinhood app now to begin. Futures and cleared swaps trading involves significant risk and is not appropriate for everyone. Event contracts are offered by Robinhood Derivatives, LLC., a registered futures commission merchant and swap firm. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. During the tournament FanDuel is offering $300 back in Bonus Bets every day for ten days. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started — Play Your Game. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Robert Kraft pumps the breaks on the expectations for the 2026 season, and we actually dig it. This is Lockdown Patriots. You are Locked on Patriots, your daily New England Patriots podcast, part of the Locked on Podcasts Network, your team every day. What's happening? I'm your host, Nick Cattels. Mike Rable makes a very telling pro-day visit in Arizona before heading to the owner's meetings. In the second segment, Robert Kraft discusses the futures of Drake May and Christian Gonzalez. But first, Krafted all he could to temper post Super Bowl expectations for his franchise this upcoming season. Robert Kraft had his annual scrum with reporters out at the owner's meetings in Arizona on Monday.

And most of the conversation was off the record. So we don't know what most of what Kraft had to say about his team this past season. the team moving forward, this off season, most of it off the record. But he did answer a few questions on the record. And every single year, Robert Kraft usually pumps the tires for the upcoming season. He's usually telling you why we need to believe that this Patriots team is going to be better what a lot of other people are saying that they're going to be. So his role usually as the owner at these owners meetings is pumping the tires.

He did that. He pumped the tires in 2024. He pumped the tires in 2025. But in 2026, interestingly enough, instead of pumping the tires, Kraft is pumping the brakes. Now, let's go back to 2024. Of course, not many of us want to remember much of that year, the Gerard Mayo experiment that went horribly wrong. But in 2024, when Kraft met with reporters at the owners meetings, after a four-win season, and hiring slash promoting a rookie head coach.

Here's what Kraft said to reporters. Quote, my hope and expectations are to make the playoffs. He said this in 2024. That's something realistically that he stopped. A lot can happen. We might struggle more than I want. But the good news when you're running any business is you're trying to figure out what the key variables are

and then try to put people in place that you think can react and adapt to what has to. to happen. I really feel we have a good young team. I just hope we don't struggle, unquote. So it was a little back and forth, a little wishy-washy in 24. But Kraft is sitting there telling us my expectations are to make the playoffs. And, you know, I hope we don't struggle, but I think we have the people in place. That's my expectation. So even though he did admit they might struggle more than he wanted, the expectation was still set by the owner.

Playoffs in 2024. They ended up with four wins. Then last year, Kraft with the media. 2025 expectations after back-to-back four-win seasons. Quote, ever since I've owned the team, the objectives were for the team to make the playoffs. I know I don't want to get ahead of myself,

but after my family, this team is the most important thing in my life. The bottom line is winning games. I really think we're on that path now. I'll get chastised for saying it, but I think we're ahead of a rebuild. I think we have some real talent in the locker room. I think we're privileged now to have a head coach that is learning curve experience and has really come in and created a great atmosphere, unquote. Now, Kraft ends up being a soothsayer with what he had to say in 2025, right?

When he told reporters, I think we're ahead of this rebuild thing. I think we're on the path right now, pretty much telling us, I think we're going to win more than people think we're going to win. And Kraft ended up being right. But I just want you to think back to the preseason of last year. What were people saying? Eight wins, nine wins, ten wins. I had the Patriots at nine wins.

They're sealing 11 wins. The vast majority of the football world did not have the Patriots being ahead of the rebuild, did not have them making the playoffs, and certainly did not have them making it to the Super Bowl. But again, 2024, 2025, Robert Crabb. voiced optimism. He pushed the idea that the team was going to be better than you thought than I thought. And just seeing the Patriots go to the Super Bowl this past year,

you would think that Kraft would be talking about getting back to the AFC championship game or getting back to the Super Bowl. But Kraft was very measured in what he said to the media on Monday. And not only about 2026, but Kraft was also in. incredibly realistic when discussing 2025. About 2025, Kraft said, quote, I think actually the team way overachieved what any of us thought would happen. And it was wonderful. So he says 2025, the team overachieved.

I agree with that. I think at least some of you agree with that. But Kraft saying that is different than us believing it. And going back to our preseason predictions from 2025. Mark Daniels posted. asked about what makes a successful season in 2026. Robert Kraft noted the tough schedule and said it's the goal to make the playoffs. Again, very interesting, pumping the brakes.

24, talking playoffs. 25, I know I might get chastised for this, but I think we're way ahead. 26, after going to the Super Bowl in 2025, he mentions the tough schedule and says it's the goal to make the playoffs. So no grand proclamations. And I don't mind this. This is your owner being realistic. He's not trying to overpromise. The overpromising part of ownership can irritate you,

maybe even infuriate you. Look at what the Red Sox have done the past few years, right? They have consistently overpromised, whether it's what they're going to do in a season, who they're going to bring in during the off season, and overpromising, whether it's Tom Warner with the full throttle or it's Sam Kennedy saying a bunch of things that just make you shake your head, that consistent overpromising from the Red Sox has really crippled them from a public relation standpoint and hurt them with the fan base significantly. So don't overpromise. Be realistic.

So I actually like the realistic craft over the craft that goes out there. says with the pom-poms, we're making the playoffs, we're ahead of schedule, we're ahead of this rebuild, watch out. And of course, I'm paraphrasing some of that. But the idea is the same. Being realistic versus over-promising. I like it. Be level with the fans. Set reasonable expectations for this football team, for this program. And if you over-deliver, awesome. If Kraft says the goal is to make the playoffs, we all have to acknowledge and appreciate the tough schedule that's coming up in 26 and the Patriots end up going on another deep run in 2026, then it's going to look great for Robert Kraft. I don't know if it looks as good as, you know, what he said before 2025,

when you actually get to the Super Bowl, when not many people would agree with the owner in that moment in real time. But if you over deliver, there's nothing wrong with over delivering. When you over promise and you under deliver, that's when the problems come in. And I just think it makes a lot of sense for the owner to come out and say, the goal is the playoffs. We overachieved in 2025. It was awesome that we got to the Super Bowl, but we all have to understand where we are. And I just have to wonder, is this Mike Vrable?

Is this Mike Vrable having conversations with the owner keeping him grounded? Does Vrable have the ear of craft? It would feel that way. I would imagine that is the case. And we know this organization, this front office, the coaching staff, they have been echoing a lot of the same things that Kraft said on Monday, which tells me someone is telling the owner the truth, which is good. You don't want to tell the owner, oh, we're way ahead, sir.

We are way ahead, Robert. Yeah, we got the Super Bowl this past year. People thought we overachieved. We didn't. We're going back to that baby. Now, of course, we all want them to. get back. But be honest with your owner. Tell him where you are. Tell him the plan. Have a vision for this program. And it just feels like the Patriots have had a vision of what they

want to be since day one. And that has been led by Mike Vrable. And the organization is in lockstep. They handled a 2025 trade deadline like a team that knew they weren't a piece or two away. They handled the free agency in 2026 like a team that knew they were not one or two pieces away. They want to keep on building. They want to be focused on draft and development. They don't want to get too far ahead. The owner, the head coach, the front office, they're all saying the same thing, which is precisely what you want from your franchise.

You want consistency. You want reality. You want a plan. Check, check, check. So I'm glad Kraft wasn't out there throwing a parade. Good. Let's keep it real. Coming up, Robert Kraft addresses the two most important contract negotiations on the horizon for his franchise.

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Don't forget to comment. How do you feel about Robert Kraft being realistic about expectations, tempering the expectations a little bit, right? Saying, hey, let's not get too far ahead. You can be honest and also temper the expectations. Both of those can happen at the same time. Don't forget to subscribe. So like, comment, and subscribe.

next goal is 10,000 subscribers. We're over 9,270. Let's keep pushing. The two biggest contract negotiations in the next 16 months, we're talking Christian Gonzalez and Drake May and Robert Kraft, meeting with the media on Monday in Arizona at the owner's meetings. He discussed the situation with both Drake May and Christian Gonzalez. This is from Mark Daniels of Mass Live transcribing Kraft.

Quote, well, we always try as far as getting deals done with both guys, we always try. We have a salary cap, so we have a limit. So we have to think about what's best for the team in terms of timing of the signing. And of course, the earlier you do it, it's believed it's more economically satisfactory. But we leave that to Mike Vrable, Elliot Wolf and our people making contract decisions. We're lucky to have those two players. And I hope and believe they'll be with us for the long term, unquote. It is interesting that he mentions, Kraft mentions Mike Vrable before Elliott Wolf, which should tell you the pecking order. As I've been saying since Mike Vrable was hired in January of last year,

Mike Vrable's the guy. He's the ultimate decision maker. So when it comes to contract negotiations and what would be economically satisfactory, the first name that gets brought up by the owner is not Elliott Wolf. It's Mike Vrable. It's Mike Vrable. It's Elliot Wulf. And then people making contract decisions, which means everybody else in the room.

Ryan Cowden, John Stretch Stryker, you get the point. but I do think it's telling that Vrable's the first name brought up by the owner. Now, I would love a stronger commitment from the owner verbally other than, you know, well, we have a limit. There's a salary cap. We have to think what's best for the team in terms of timing. And, you know, it's more economically satisfactory if you get the contract done earlier. But I'll leave that to Mike Vrable and everybody.

I would love a stronger commitment from the owner. I would have loved to hear Kraft say Drake May is the future of this organization. He is going nowhere. I would love to hear Robert Kraft say Christian Gonzalez. I love Christian Gonzalez. Get me some more Christian Gonzalez. Are you kidding me? He is going to be stapled to Foxborough for the next decade.

I would love a stronger commitment. I don't know if there would have been a stronger commitment if the question was just about Drake May. maybe including Christian Gonzalez, which you have to because he's the first guy who's due to the extension. He's the first guy who's eligible to sign that contract extension. So you have to include Gonzalez in this question. But maybe that left the door open for Kraft to not go all in on both guys with a super, super strong commitment of some kind of statement. I also think Kraft is very mindful of stepping on toes, which is why he mentioned Vrable and Wolf. and the people making contract decisions.

I also think Kraft likes to separate himself from that part of the business optically, just in case something goes wrong. The owner will not necessarily be blamed, or at least that's his thinking. No matter what, I still think the owner gets blamed if you fail to sign a top player like Christian Gonzalez to an extension or you fail to sign your franchise quarterback to an extension out of his rookie deal. I still feel like that would fall on Kraft.

but in Kraft's mind, maybe he thinks the way he answered this question allows him some leeway to kind of, whoop, wasn't really my decision. I leave that stuff up to Mike and Elliot. And lots of owners do that. And lots of owners also immediately think about the negotiation.

When you're asked a contract question, you don't want to show a super duper, Uber strong commitment and say they're going nowhere because maybe that hurts your negotiating tactics, right? Now, I don't believe that. I think if you want both those guys there for the long term, you come out, you say it with your chest, walk down the hallway, proud as a peacock. Yes, we want Christian Gonzalez and Drake May to be long term answers for this organization at two premier positions. Of course we do. But a lot of owners, and this goes in every walk of life, every business, you know, a lot of people when you're in the middle of a contract negotiation or you know a

big contract negotiation is coming up on the horizon, you're not going to go all in with your comments because you don't want to lose any positioning. That's how some people think. So maybe it's that. Maybe that's why Kraft didn't come out with a stronger commitment to Gonzalez and May. I thought what he said was somewhat of a commitment. I thought it was worthwhile that he answered the question. It was certainly worthwhile him saying, you know, we're lucky to have Gonzalez in May and that he hopes and believes they'll be with them long term. I'm not so wrapped up with the hope word. Again, hope, hope, hope. I hope I wake up tomorrow morning and at my front door, there's $5 million.

But if you're an owner and you say you believe that those players will be with you the long term, that does add a little bit more weight. But I don't think it was a super strong commitment. And I think going back to the Vrabel idea, the wolf idea, and, you know, the timing of all of it took away some of the strength of that of that comment from Robert Kraft. Now, May is a no-brainer. I don't think any of us expect Drake may to not be a Patriot for the next 10 to 15 years. I think it would take a disastrous 2026. Like that's the only scenario that I think that, you know, the Patriots might not.

go right in and extend their quarterback. Like, and I mean truly disastrous. And even if it's a disastrous, I don't think they're going to give up on May. Don't get it twisted. But in regards of talking to him about a contract extension and getting him paid big money, $65 million annually, $70 million annually,

which it's likely going to cost you, the only thing that would slow that momentum down to me is, again, just a truly wretched 2026, where he looks like a duck out of water, and you wonder how on the world that guy completed a pass in 2025. Outside of that, again, I think it's a no-brainer. I'd be stunned. Now, Gonzalez's a little bit different.

I wouldn't be stunned if they did not keep Gonzalez. I'd be surprised. I certainly would keep him. I want them to keep him. And there's an interesting note from Bert Breer of SI. That could make the Gonzalez situation a little bit tougher. And Bert's been talking about this, but he mentions it in his column on Sunday at SI about the Jackson Smith and Jigma contract,

which we talked about right after it was done. And Breer wrote, I'd say the general feeling among NFL decision makers is that there are five real premium positions. Quarterback, left tackle, wide receiver, pass rusher, usually an edge, but sometimes defensive tackles, and corner. New Ram, Trent McDuffie is quote unquote, only making 31 million per year. saw Scardner, Derek Stingley, the only two other guys joining him in the 30s. So if you say,

hey, Christian Gonzalez, wants that new deal. If you're Gonzalez, are you asking for $32 million to get past Trent McDuffie, or are you asking for a leap that gets the position closer to the other top non-quarterbacks,

which is around $40 million? So, you know, you look at Daniel Hunt down in Houston, he's getting $40 million on that nice little extension. He signed that one year bump, $40 million to be a pass rusher. So does Gonzalez look at the Neil Hunters of the world and say, I want to make that $40 million a year? Or is he and his team looking at the cornerback position and say, I'll be fine with $32 million a year or $33 million a year? And as Bert Breer points out, a lot of this, of course, is going to come down to what players are

really looking for. Some understandably are willing to give a little to get to the payday. But if there's a Dorel Revis and Revis was a genius businessman, much like Kirk Cousins, some of these could get messy. So that's something to keep in mind. I do not think the Patriots would pay Gonzalez 40 million a year. I think the Patriots would say, we think you're one of the best cornerbacks in football. Let's look at 31, 32, 33 million. We're not talking at 40 million. Now, I envision this getting done at some point, and I envision it'll be about 32, 33 million average per year. But maybe I'm wrong. Maybe the Gonzalez stuff at the Celtics game with the money signs.

Maybe he's going to push for the $40 million a year. And then it could get messy. And frankly, it should get messy. I'm not paying a cornerback $8 million more per season than the top cornerback makes on the market. That's an insane overpay. Not doing it. So we'll see. Mike Vrable makes an eyebrow raising appearance at a pro day.

That's next. This is Lockdown Patriots, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe as you watch this episode on YouTube. We appreciate each and every one of you. It is Pro Day season. It is top 30 visit season. And there are tons of leaks coming out every single day about who's getting a top 30 visit and where is Mike Vrable and Elliot Wolf?

It's like, where in the world is Carmen San Diego back in the day? Just dated myself. But there's a lot. There's a lot going on, right? There's a lot being reported. And Mike Vrable over the past few days, we found out he was at the Arizona State Pro Day, which is noteworthy because there are two guys at Arizona State who could be targets for the Patriots, wide receiver Jordan Tyson, and offensive tackle Max Ahanashore,

who we've talked about a number of times on this podcast. And then we got even more information about Vrable's visit. Easton Stockford from the Arizona State University Cronkite School of Journalism. Student there posted that Vrable was getting his hands on during offensive line drills at Pro Day. The Patriots head coach running drills with a hannichor, who has been one of the draft's biggest risers in the last several months. More from Stockford. After the group reps were over, Vrable continued to work one-on-one with a hannichor.

The Patriots hold the 31st pick. Elliot Wolf was on the Up and Adam show, and he discussed Vrable working out with a Hanna Chor. He said, quote, he's checking his core strength and seeing if he can replace his hands. Part of this, too, is seeing if he can take the coaching. Vrable loves this stuff. He hana chore with the media after working with Mike Vrable on the field. According to Blake Neiman, who was a Fox 10 and Phoenix anchor,

Neiman posted, quote, and this is transcribing a hannichore, it's a blessing for me to be able to learn from him, talking about Vrable, and Vrable being hands on, telling me what I need to work on. I went in for a visit with them, very familiar with that coaching staff and everybody. This 100% matters to me. And I do think we should look at this pro day at Arizona State with Mike Vrable showing up personally and then working with Maxi Hannah Chor after the pro day was over, I do think we should look at that and highlight it.

I think it matters. I don't think Vrable is going to waste his time. I don't think he's going to waste his time with a prospect unless he is genuinely interested in that prospect. Mike Vrable has a lot of other things he could be doing other than going to Arizona State's pro day and working on hand placement. with Max Nihanna Chor. Now, let's not forget. We don't have to go too far back in history to understand this matters because let's go back to 2025 when we all know the story by now.

Vrable went and met with Will Campbell and Will Campbell put Mike Vrable on his Tuk-took during one workout. And that along with like a three-hour barbecue that they had really won. Vrable over with Will Campbell. So you can look back just to last year and say the Will Campbell process could be very similar to the Max Ahenachor process in 2026. Ahenichore is a top three target at tackle for the Patriots. I would have to imagine. We've talked about the need. We all get it.

They need tackle help, especially, especially for the long term. and when you're looking at the Pats being towards the end of the first round, a hana chore is a guy that's right around that area of the draft. Now, some people have Maxi Hanna Chor going in the 20s, the mid-20s. Some people have a Hanna Chor dropping to the 30s. Some have him dropping to the second round at the top of the second round. But given the fact that it is a need, given the fact that he will likely be, a hannature will likely be,

right around 31 in the draft, and then you look at Frable taking such an interest in this guy, I think it matters. I think it tells us that the Patriots are absolutely looking at Maxi Hennichor as a possibility at 31. That's what I would say. And this all happened after the top 30 visit, which is another piece of information.

A hannachore told the media, I had a visit with the Patriots. So, you know, the Patriots, they see what happens with the hannah chore at the combine, and then a hana chore ends up taking a visit to New England. And then after that visit, Vrable personally, yes, he was going out to Arizona for the owner's meetings anyway, so it made it easier.

But Vrable personally goes to Arizona State's pro day, has long conversations with the coaching staff. Then he gets on the field and works out with a hana chore and works on some technique stuff, has a conversation with a hana chore as well. A hana chor says after the on-field workout or technique session with vrabel, yeah, I met those guys. I took a visit. So that tells me that Vrable was interested initially.

The top 30 visit happens and Vrable is as interested or even more. more interested in a hannichore after that top 30 and he says i'm going out to Arizona state a couple days early i want to go to that pro day i want to pull him off to the side and i want to work with him very similar to will campbell would anybody be surprised if the patriots picks max a hennichore would you be surprised that the pat's sitting there at 31 and the hana chore's there would you be surprised i would not be surprised i would not be surprised in the least. I'm not guaranteeing it. But if there's a list of three or four guys, the Patriots have, given the actions of the head coach,

feels like Maxi Hanachor would absolutely be on that list of three or four guys at 31. Get ready. Buckle up because the next three weeks, we're going to get pounded over the head with rumors. But pay attention closely to the actions. That wraps up this edition of Lockdown Patriots. Thank you for making us your first listen and for being an Everydayer. Reach out to me on Twitter at Nick C Radio. Don't forget to throw a comment in on the YouTube channel, hit that like button and subscribe.

And if you never miss an episode, the Everydayer Club is built for you. Get Lockdown Patriots ad-free plus members-only discord access and more. Head to LockdownPatriots.com or check the link in the show notes to learn more. Have a fantastic day and we will see you next time.