While all the national attention settled upon head coach Mike Vrabel and MVP-level quarterback Drake Maye, the New England Patriots wouldn’t have reached Super Bowl LX without a noticeable uptick in play from their defense.
That uptick started about as soon as star defensive tackle Milton Williams returned to the lineup.
Williams missed five late regular-season games with an ankle injury, and New England felt his presence after he returned for a Week 18 tuneup. He led all Patriots defenders in total QB pressures (23) and hurries (18) in the playoffs, per Pro Football Focus, which is saying something when you consider how disruptive edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson was down the stretch.
New England’s ability to create organic interior pressure with Williams, Christian Barmore, Cory Durden, and Khyiris Tonga set the tone for a defense that surrendered less than 14 points per game during the postseason. Williams is clearly the straw that stirs the drink, but New England’s depth at that position was something the team leaned on heavily from January on.
That depth could also be the reason why a Patriots fan favorite gets shipped out this offseason.
Christian Barmore may have played his last snap for the New England Patriots
New England’s pair of defensive bash brothers, Williams and Barmore, generated a ton of attention and fanfare during the playoffs. The harsh reality, though, is that Barmore was far less dominant in those four games than most fans care to admit.
He struggled to make any kind of impact in the Super Bowl, finishing with a blank sheet in pressures, hurries and QB hits against Sam Darnold. In the four playoff games, he managed just eight pressures and one sack in 177 defensive snaps, per PFF.
Barmore’s obviously a good young player who’s put some health issues behind him and is entering his prime. He’s about to enter his age-27 season and Year 2 of the four-year extension he signed with the Jerod Mayo regime in 2024.
But there’s an out in Barmore’s deal that’s impossible to ignore entering the new league year, and with $10 million in additional guarantees set to trigger on March 14, his contract could be under the microscope as the team looks to not only add offensive talent around Maye, but lock-up star cornerback Christian Gonzalez with a monster extension.
Barmore’s inconsistent play, especially when Williams was on injured reserve, likely did him no favors with Vrabel and company. There’s also a major elephant in the room: a March 9 arraignment following an alleged domestic assault.
That’s likely not sitting well with Robert and Jonathan Kraft, and per Nicole Yang of the Boston Globe, the Patriots could look to take advantage of some 2026 salary cap relief by making a move.
“If the Patriots cut Barmore after June 1, they would free up $11.5 million in cap space while creating $5.6 million in dead money. If they trade him, they would free up $13.5 million while creating $3.6 million in dead money.”
A trade — like for Maxx Crosby, anyone? — would probably be most palatable for the Patriots, as they’d create cap space while also fetching a return for a good player who earned a second contract. A release would be less ideal, but the off-field issues put everything on the table.
With Williams locked up long-term, and some cheaper options behind him like Durden and Tonga who got better throughout the season, the Patriots have all the leverage they need to float Barmore in trade talks and move on this offseason.