Image courtesy of @ShrineBowl (X)

Two years ago, Troy Brown led West team as the head coach in the East-West Shrine Bowl while the rest of the other Patriots staff was also on hand and got to know prospects up close and personal with Bill Belichick sort of watching over everything.

One Patriots assistant who is (for now) still on staff, Drew Wilkins, will be serving as the East team’s defensive coordinator in a few weeks.

Wilkins was hired by Jerod Mayo in 2024 to serve as the Pats’ outside linebackers coach. For two years before that, Wilkins was the OLB coach for the New York Giants. From 2010 when he began as an intern all the way up until 2021, Wilkins was a defensive assistant on the Baltimore Ravens’ staff, serving as a ‘defensive coaching assistant,’ defensive line coach and outside linebackers coach. Wilkins won the 2012 Super Bowl during that time. Prior to his time in the NFL, Wilkins was a student assistant for the Maryland Terrapins from 2006-2009. He graduated from Maryland in 2010.

This is a great opportunity for Vrabel to see how Wilkins evaluates players, comes up with a scheme and then implements it in a short amount of time.

Basically, it feels like a tryout to see if Wilkins is worth keeping on staff. His resume certainly builds a strong case, but until Vrabel sees it in action and then discusses his process and player evaluations with Wilkins, Eliot Wolf and Ryan Cowden, he – like the rest of the staff – is still to be determined.

Wilkins has clearly paid his dues and could be in line to take the next step as a coordinator. This little trial run could go a long way in making Vrabel’s decision that much easier.