Now that the Super Bowl is over for the New England Patriots, speculation about the offseason is already rife. The defense, led by free agent star defensive tackle Milton Williams, has been impactful, especially in the playoffs. Yet one position that needs great improvement is edge, and Pro Football Focus (PFF) suggests signing free agent Jaelan Phillips of the Eagles.
Edge is clearly one of, if not the most critical need to fill by Mike Vrabel in the 2025 offseason, especially if K'Lavon Chaisson leaves as an unrestricted free agent. Vrabel needs to add one or two top edge players to increase the team's sack production.
The other side of the sack coin that also needs addressing is the offensive line. The current revamped O-line has been an improvement over the dismal 2024 version, but they still surrendered 47 sacks in the regular season and another monstrous 15 in three playoff games thus far.
Vrabel needs to add better pass-protectors, especially, and superior run blockers wouldn't hurt either.
The Patriots pass rush needs top sack artists if they want to compete in 2026
Having identified the edge as the Patriots' biggest offseason need, Pro Football Focus thinks the team should target Jaelen Phillips of the Eagles in free agency. He had 73 quarterback pressures but only five sacks and a forced fumble and recovery in 2025. Free agent to be Chaisson had 7.5 sacks in the regular season, and he's added three in the playoffs. Retaining him may be the better option.
"K'Lavon Chaisson has served as the Patriots' top pass rusher, pacing the team with 58 pressures in the regular season and leading the way with 18 playoff pressures ... Despite Chaisson’s breakout season, the Patriots rank 18th in team PFF pass-rush grade (68.9) and 21st in sack rate (5.8%). Chaisson will test free agency.
Jaelan Phillips is a splash possibility for a team with a win-now mentality and the necessary cap space. Phillips enjoyed a strong 2025 season between Miami and Philadelphia, generating 73 pressures and ranking 22nd out of 110 qualifying edge defenders with a 76.2 PFF pass-rush grade...He would immediately boost Mike Vrabel’s defense."
Pressures, as PFF points out, are fine, but they're not the whole story. Pressures and hits can make an impact, but the most impactful pass-rushing stat is sacks. There is no substitute for sacks, and neither pressures nor hits are as vital.
The Patriots need to add sackmen in the offseason
PFF's emphasis on pressures is a classic example of overestimating the importance of an ancillary statistic. They get more attention than they deserve. Both pressures and hits are disruptive to a quarterback and a play, but they lack definitiveness. A quarterback who can scramble or deliver a ball under duress can and will overcome them. They are overinflated statistics that are useful but not critical.
Sacks are a horse of a different color. They are definitive play-enders that always create down-and-distance issues for the team that surrenders them. In some cases, they can be drive-crushers or even drive-finishers if they occur on third down.
PFF's suggestion to sign Phillips may or may not be a great one. Chaisson was a low-cost option who delivered more than anticipated, though he seemed on the verge of a breakout late in 2024. Phillips may be the same and worthy of an investment if it's not too substantial.
But Chaisson still has to be an option.
If Mike Vrabel is to address his top two objectives, preventing and generating sacks, he needs to sign, draft, or trade both for offensive linemen who don't allow sacks and defensive players who deliver them. Focusing on players who don't deliver the most relevant statistics does not maximize the use of valuable, always limited resources.