FOXBOROUGH, MA – November 15, 2025 – The New England Patriots’ developmental rookie has yet to take a single offensive snap in the 2025 NFL season through ten weeks — and now head coach Mike Vrabel has explained why.

Despite arriving in New England as an intriguing long-term project, the rookie offensive tackle has been stuck on the sideline, as a disciplinary decision from the coaching staff continues to keep him buried on the depth chart on game day.

“He’s got talent, no doubt,” Vrabel said during Friday’s press conference. “But in New England, discipline defines who gets on the field. He missed reads, skipped assignments, and didn’t prepare the way we demand. Around here, you don’t play because you’re gifted — you play because you’re ready to be a Patriot.”

The rookie in question is Marcus Bryant, a 6-foot-7, 320-pound offensive tackle out of SMU and Missouri, drafted by the Patriots in the seventh round (220th overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Bryant signed his four-year rookie contract over the summer after an offseason in which many evaluators labeled him a potential late-round steal thanks to his length, experience, and pass-protection chops. By the time training camp opened, he was viewed as a candidate to develop behind veteran right tackle Morgan Moses and first-round pick Will Campbell while competing for situational snaps in heavy packages.

However, according to team insiders, the Patriots’ coaching staff gradually lost patience with Bryant’s lack of attention to detail. Reports indicate he blew protections in practice, struggled to consistently grasp New England’s terminology up front, and failed to show the level of mental sharpness Vrabel and offensive line coach Doug Marrone demand from anybody trusted to protect franchise quarterback Drake Maye.

Since taking over in Foxborough, Vrabel has been adamant that his vision for the Patriots is built on accountability and preparation — not just potential. That message has been echoed repeatedly inside a locker room determined to reestablish the franchise’s old standard.

“We’re establishing a standard here,” he added. “If you’re not locked in, if you’re not giving full effort in practice, then you’re not ready to represent this team on Sundays.”

For now, Bryant remains active but effectively on the outside looking in on game day, focusing instead on tightening his discipline and mastering the playbook under Marrone and assistant offensive line coach Jason Houghtaling. Coaches still believe his frame and traits give him a chance to become a contributor, but they’ve made it clear that trust will have to be rebuilt step by step.

Bryant’s combination of size, length, and experience in pass-heavy college systems still makes him an intriguing developmental piece for New England’s future. Yet in a locker room being reshaped under Vrabel’s leadership, every player — from late-round rookies to established veterans — must prove they live up to the “Patriot standard.”

As Vrabel summed it up bluntly: “Talent gets you drafted. But discipline — that’s what earns you the right to play for the New England Patriots.”