The NFL Draft is in the books, but the preparation for the 2026 season continues.
On Monday, the New England Patriots will kick off the second phase of their offseason workout program. Despite the sessions again being voluntary, the expectation is that attendance will again be strong.
Phase 2 will see the full coaching staff including head coach Mike Vrabel get involved for the first time this spring. Over a three-week period, it will oversee on-field workouts as well as individual and group instruction.
This includes drills and play simulation with offensive players lining up opposite other offensive players, and defensive players lining up opposite their fellow defenders. In accordance with the NFL-NFLPA Collective Bargaining Agreement, those drills are only allowed to happen at a walkthrough pace and without any live contact or full-team work.
They nonetheless represent a welcome increase in intensity coming off Phase 1, which focuses exclusively on strength and conditioning work.
“We’ll be back in cleats on the field,” said linebacker and team captain Robert Spillane. “Just very excited about that.”
After the current three-week period, the Patriots will transition to the third and final phase of offseason workouts on May 27. It will include eight organized team activities as well as a three-day mandatory minicamp on June 15-17.
The full offseason workout schedule was announced by the Patriots in early April.
