The New England Patriots' 2025 defense performed well after adding some key free agents. The best was defensive tackle Milton Williams. Other significant additions were inside linebacker and captain Robert Spillane and cornerback Carlton Davis III.
In securing those players, Mike Vrabel upgraded all three levels of his defense. There are big pluses, yet questions remain, and Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport has outlined his "best and worst case scenarios" for each NFL defense.
The Patriots' edge situation and pass rush are not in great shape. Their presumptive starters are free agent signee Dre'Mont Jones and last year's addition, Harold Landry III. Jones is fine, but Landry had knee issues in 2025, and his status is unsettled.
The team has second-year player Elijah Ponder in waiting. But they also drafted an edge rusher with great pass-rushing potential in the second round after a trade-up, Gabe Jacas of Illinois. Yet, he remains unsigned, and his health situation is unclear.
Depth issues could wreck the Patriots' 2026 defense
At present, the defense is in decent shape on the interior of the defensive line with Milton Williams and Christian Barmore as starters. They're one of the best tandems in the NFL. Yet, behind them are many question marks.
Joshua Farmer, Jeremiah Pharms Jr., Eric Gregory, and Corey Durden are the backups but they don't inspire great confidence. An injury to one of the starters, now that Khyiris Tonga was inadvisably allowed to leave in free agency, leaves the interior D-line precariously thin.
The secondary is a strength, with Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis III at corner and Marcus Jones in the slot. Not many NFL teams can boast a better trio. And at safety, free-agent signee and first-team All-Pro ball-hawking free safety Kevin Byard III was among the team's best offseason acquisitions.
He'll team with second-year safety Craig Woodson to round out one of the NFL's best defensive backfields.
Davenport has painted a picture of each NFL team's best- and worst-case scenarios on defense and has commented on the Patriots' strengths and weaknesses. He centers on the addition of Byard as a huge plus for a defense that had only 19 takeaways last year, while Byard had seven interceptions himself for the Bears.
The negative, as mentioned, is the team's poor sack production, which he rightly points out remains a major dilemma that doesn't look like it'll be remedied any time soon.
"This isn't to say there aren't questions on the defense in New England. New England managed just 35 sacks in 2025, and the pass-rush isn't visibly better this year than last. The secondary is a deep and talented group on paper, but multiple members of that defensive backfield have injury histories.
The Patriots also had just 19 takeaways last season, and that lack of big-play punch could come back to haunt the team."
Mike Vrabel and his front office still have time to add to the edge position before the season starts. Two solid free agent veterans are still available. They are Joey Bosa and Jadeveon Clowney. Both are over 30 but still productive.
Vrabel should make a move now to sign one or both. Money shouldn't impede a Patriots team with cap space. The 2026 defense is imperiled once again by the lack of a pass rush. A failure to act would be tantamount to personnel negligence.
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