The New England Patriots have the 10th most effective cap space of any team in the entire NFL. While improving the offense will likely be the priority, continuing to bolster the defense shouldn't be something that's overlooked, particularly in the front seven.
The Patriots were 22nd in sacks per game this season. While Milton Williams and Christian Barmore are one of the league's best interior duos, the edge lacked elite playmaking ability.
Harold Landry's lack of production down the stretch was likely in large part due to injury, but K'Lavon Chaisson is still set to be a free agent. Anfernee Jennings and Elijah Ponder were sound depth pieces, but the former doens't offer much in the way of pass rush.
In a recent article from Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox, the Patriots are mentioned as a potential landing spot for several top free agents. One of the more interesting names on the list, however, is a former New York Jet turned Denver Bronco: John Franklin-Myers.
John Franklin-Myers is named a free agent fit for the Patriots
The Broncos' defensive line is one of the best in the league. Nik Bonitto and Jonathan Cooper are one of the league's premier edge duos, while Zach Allen is a stout run defender and interior presence in the middle.
D.J. Jones and Malcolm Roach both recently received extensions, while Sai'vion Jones, a third-round pick out of LSU in 2025, will return in '26 after playing just 33 snaps last season due to injury.
With all this being said, Sean Payton and company allowing Franklin-Myers to walk wouldn't be all that surprising, despite their near $29 million in cap space. While the defensive line isn't a major issue for New England, adding Franklin-Myers may be a matter of the rich getting richer.
Knox mentions the Bears, along with New England, as a potential suitor, saying that while Franklin-Myers isn't a pure QB hunter, he is disruptive, versatile, and has been a contributor in every place he's played.
Franklin-Myers entered the league as a fourth-round pick in 2018 out of Stephen F. Austin. Drafted by the Rams with the 135th pick, he strip-sacked Tom Brady in Super Bowl LIII, though New England recovered. He was somewhat surprisingly waived after his rookie year and claimed by the Jets, where he had 17.5 sacks in four seasons.
He was traded to Denver for a 6th-round pick before the 2024 season, and would go on to have his two best years in terms of sacks to date: 7.0 and 7.5. The Patriots need to generate more pressure on opposing QBs, and if Vrabel and company believe the best way to do that is through Franklin-Myers, it would be hard to argue against them.
Would John Franklin-Myers be the best option?
While Franklin-Myers may not have the pass-rushing acumen of Trey Hendrickson or Maxx Crosby, he's a phenomenal run defender and clearly a disruptive pass rusher. As for price, Knox predicts a three-year deal worth $44 million, or about $14.7 million per year.
While stylistically different, he could be a more reliable option than K'Lavon Chaisson for that price, given his longer sustained success in the league.
If New England isn't looking to break the bank on an edge defender, Franklin-Myers isn't a bad option. However, he isn't in the same echelon as Crosby, Hendrickson, or other top edge rushers. The Patriots' priority should be landing one of the league's best edge defenders to bolster their pass rush, but Franklin-Myers would be an excellent consolation prize.