As the 2025 NFL trade deadline approached, a new report surfaced suggesting that issues between Mike Vrabel and his former team, the Tennessee Titans, were still affecting his job, despite having been fired in 2023 and starting his new role with the New England Patriots.
There were many players rumored to be on the Patriots' radar ahead of the deadline, a few of whom Vrabel was familiar with from his previous days as a head coach. Given that reporters suggested they would be interested in running backs and pass rushers, it made sense that two players on their radar were RB Tony Pollard and EDGE Arden Key.