When you mention Jason Pierre-Paul's name around New England, it often comes with a scowl reserved for villains such as Derek Jeter or Magic Johnson. That's because Pierre-Paul was a key piece of the New York Giants' defense that bedeviled Tom Brady and company in Super Bowl XLVI, which the Giants won.
But could Pierre-Paul become a key piece of the Patriots' defense in 2025? While the veteran pass rusher is 36 years old and did not play last season, he has remained in game shape, according to CBS Sports' Will Backus.
While Pierre-Paul did tell Backus it would be "dope" to have a reunion with the Giants, New York is clearly far from being a contender, and a veteran of Pierre-Paul's caliber ought to be seeking a spot on a team that's closer to contending than the first overall pick.
Patriots should make a play for veteran pass rusher
The addition of a veteran pass rusher with Super Bowl rings would be a dream come true for Mike Vrabel, Terrell Williams, and the Patriots.
Pierre-Paul knows what it's like to be a key veteran piece on a team that won a Super Bowl, as was the case with the Buccaneers in 2020. Despite a fireworks accident damaging his hand in 2015, Pierre-Paul has consistently played at a high level.
He would also be a valuable locker room guy for the Patriots' defense that already looks good on paper. Given Pierre-Paul's age, he would likely be a situational player at this point in his career, but the combination of that and his voice would be essential factors for guys like Christian Gonzalez, Milton Williams, Keion White, and Christian Barmore.
It's hard to imagine the Patriots spending money on a 36-year-old pass rusher who hasn't played an NFL down since the 2023 season. However, the organization has made unorthodox moves like that before, and perhaps this one could be the final piece of the puzzle for a defense that is poised to be one of the league's best this season.