Expectations for the New England Patriots have grown throughout the offseason, and it’s not hard to detect why. The franchise has experienced an immediate culture shift under head coach Mike Vrabel, and the anticipation for quarterback Drake Maye’s first full season as the starter has been palpable in Foxboro and beyond.
The preseason chatter around the team has centered on the coach, quarterback, and offense as a whole. From the return of Josh McDaniels as coordinator and play caller, to the addition of a true No. 1 wide receiver in Stefon Diggs, to key rookie draft picks like LT Will Campbell, RB TreVeyon Henderson, WR Kyle Williams, and LG Jared Wilson, the Patriots suddenly feel like a team that should be taken seriously in the AFC pecking order.
There’s no doubt that the team’s biggest question marks reside on defense. Using the Patriots’ unofficial depth chart as a guide, the team will open the year with nine new starters. One of the returners, cornerback Christian Gonzalez, hasn’t practiced with the team since July due to a hamstring injury. Defensive back Marcus Jones will likely be the lone Patriots player to start Week 1 in both the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
Maye’s development in Year 2 will obviously take center stage, but New England’s defense is the wild-card that could make or break this highly anticipated season.
New England Patriots DT Milton Williams expresses optimism on defense that fans need to hear
One of the boldest roster moves of the Vrabel era to date was the team’s decision to go all-in on defensive tackle Milton Williams in free agency.
The allure of Williams was easy to see. The chance to add a young, ascending interior pass rusher fresh off a Super Bowl title is rare in the NFL. Still, it was an aggressive move by the Patriots to commit over $100 million to a player who has yet to play more than 500 snaps in the regular season, per Pro Football Focus.
Williams is among the key additions to New England’s defense, along with EDGE Harold Landry, CB Carlton Davis, and LB Robert Spillane. The Patriots should have a good mix of hardened, veteran talent on the field in Sunday’s season opener against the Las Vegas Raiders, along with some young talent, like rookie safety Craig Woodson.
It’s been tough to gauge where the Patriots are on defense throughout the preseason, especially with Gonzalez sidelined. Williams provided some hope, recently telling Dan Roche of NBC Sports Boston that he sees a group capable of surprising some people in 2025.
"I think we have a chance to do something special on defense, for sure. With the guys they brought in, with the coaching staff, all throughout training camp we've been building chemistry every single day, challenging each other. We don't have too many big egos in our room or our defensive front. We're all building that camaraderie, the chemistry together. When it's time to unleash it, it's going to be a sight to see."
Williams’ opinion is worth taking seriously, as he played on the No. 1 defense in football last year as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. New England’s group was in need of a roster shakeup after struggling on third downs, in the red zone, and finishing dead last in the NFL in sacks last season.
The Patriots should be significantly improved on offense this year, but it will take complementary football on both sides to make their dreams of a playoff push become a reality. Here’s hoping Vrabel’s influence — and Williams’ optimism — can get them there.