When the New England Patriots signed Christian Barmore to a four-year, $84 million contract extension two offseasons ago, most expected the star defensive tackle to build on a breakout 2023 campaign that included 64 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 16 quarterback hits, and 13.5 tackles for loss.
Unfortunately for both parties, those plans got quickly derailed when Barmore's 2024 season ended after just four games due to blood clots.
Although the talented defender suited up for all 17 regular-season games last year, he didn't make nearly the same impact, recording just 29 tackles and 5.5 sacks.
Of course, numbers don't always tell the whole story, especially for interior defensive linemen. However, considering Barmore carries a cool $17.1 million cap charge (fourth-highest on the team), it's safe to say the sixth-year pro needs a sizable step up in production to justify that figure.
And it's also safe to say Barmore has caught his boss's attention during the most pivotal offseason of his career.
Zak Kuhr has a keen eye on Christian Barmore
Zak Kuhr's rise from position coach to defensive coordinator was one of the most impressive and overlooked storylines of the 2025 NFL season. After officially earning the title from Mike Vrabel this spring, the 38-year-old faces sky-high expectations to lead a unit that finished fourth in points allowed a year ago.
While the Patriots have a pair of established stars in cornerback Christian Gonzalez and defensive tackle Milton Williams, they need Barmore to put himself in that conversation if they want to become a truly elite defense.
Clearly, the highly paid defensive tackle understands what's at stake as he enters something of a make-or-break year given the team's return on investment so far.
After all, Kuhr has seen a different version of Barmore during this critical time period.
"I think he's come in this [year] with a great attitude to improve and want to get better. He's been a lot more active in the meetings. He's been really locked in. I believe some team success maybe ignited that, but also, I think he truly wants to see how far he can go because he's extremely talented," New England's defensive coordinator said, according to ESPN.
That should be welcome news to Patriots fans (and coaches) who have watched the former Alabama star go from a playmaking menace to potentially having his career ended by blood clots. Coming off a nondescript season based on the standard he set before signing his extension, Barmore should have a chip on his shoulder heading into training camp.
A locked-in version of the 6-foot-5, 315-pounder is exactly what the Patriots need and should expect given what they're paying for his services. At an average annual value of $21 million, Barmore only falls behind A.J. Brown and his running mate, Williams, in the financial pecking order.
That's a hefty chunk of change for one player at any position, but it's especially eye-opening for someone who doesn't rack up a ton of counting stats.
Can the Patriots' dynamic defensive tackle duo deliver in 2026?
When you think about it, the Patriots are paying top dollar for two defensive tackles, and you could argue that both Christian Barmore and Milton Williams have to produce at a much higher level in 2026.
You can certainly give Williams credit for battling back from an injury, but he was closer to good than great in his first year in New England, totaling just 29 tackles and 3.5 sacks in 12 regular-season games.
Ultimately, the investments the Patriots made to keep Barmore around and to convince Williams to leave Philly for Foxboro show they believe in their individual and collective potential. The physical, rugged former Crimson Tide star can be a dominant force when healthy and motivated.
Meanwhile, the ex-Eagles Super Bowl hero is a well-respected leader who boasts big-time playmaking ability thanks to his elite quickness and non-stop motor.
#Patriots DTs Milton Williams and Christian Barmore left it all out on the field.
— Carlos A. Lopez (@LosTalksPats) February 12, 2026
Barmore: “It wasn’t us, bro. It wasn’t us, man. It wasn’t us, twin. It wasn’t us, bro. It wasn’t us, twin.”
Williams: “Now we just gotta build on it… Keep getting better and better.”
(🎥 @NFL) pic.twitter.com/J6o0pTivsp
But will a tandem that looks good on paper actually deliver on the stat sheet (and by extension, the scoreboard?
That's a key question heading into Zak Kuhr's first official season as the team's defensive coordinator.
If the Patriots plan on avenging their Super Bowl loss, the answer will have to be a resounding yes.
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