Return of Christian Barmore could turnaround Patriots deteriorating defense

The Patriots suffered a tough loss against the Titans after a miracle last-second TD pass by Drake Maye brought them even in regulation time. Regardless, there's a lot to be optimistic about, even with the team at 2-7 and essentially out of playoff contention.

Speaking of "contentions," good teams are built in the offseasons. The current state of the Patriots is a direct result of a deplorable 2024 offseason. They stumbled in free agency, and absent the drafting of Drake Maye, the draft was a flop. So, there you have it, a 2-7 record.

Yet, there is hope now that whoever made the faulty decision to sit Drake Maye all pre-season and more have come to their senses, and this team has a bright future. Drake Maye is a future Super Bowl-winning-level quarterback. You heard it here first. But until then, there is the current flawed team.

Yet, added to Maye are two positives on the defensive line who can take the Patriots' defense to a transcendent level. They are Christian Barmore, who's out for the time being with a health issue, and second-year phenom Keion White. Let's explore why their potential is off the charts.

Barmore's return will show the Patriots' bright future on the D-line

Reports are circulating that Christian Barmore's return to football may be on the way. It would be fantastic news. First, because the young man is healthy. Second, because he's such a talented football player.

While the Patriots' 2024 season is likely toast, playoffs-wise, the future looks bright. Besides Drake Maye, two bright lights on the defensive line are future stars. They are Barmore and his linemate, Keion White. Both are second-round picks by Bill Belichick that worked out. Both were stellar picks.

Barmore exploded onto the scene in 2023 in his third season and was the Patriots' Breakout Player of the Year. He notched 8.5 sacks along with 13 tackles for loss, 16 quarterback hits, and six passes defensed. If not officially, he was Pro-Bowl-level talent for certain.

While the big defensive tackle's return is unlikely to reverse the awful 2024 Patriots' fortunes, it will portend great things for the future. That is if the Patriots' "brain trust" actually learns just how effective he and White can be as a tandem inside on the D-line.

Patriots' Barmore alongside Keion White are potentially a defenive line dynamic duo

If/when Christian Barmore returns, if the Patriots finally '"get it" and deploy Keion White inside in a gap with Barmore on the nose, it spells big trouble for NFL defensive coordinators. They just won't have enough offensive linemen to block them. Both command double-teams. If not, your pocket is toast.

Like Belichick before him, Jerod Mayo uses White far too often on the edge. Granted, the Patriots have no other edge players, and White is their best (that's a whole different story altogether), but it doesn't alter the fact that his best position is inside in a gap.

Both Barmore and White are wrecking balls playing inside on the defensive line. Barmore on the nose is unblockable by one lineman. White in a gap is unblockable by one. Assuming the Patriots ultimately secure an edge player or two (a big assumption with the current personnel administration), it spells disaster for NFL offenses.

Correctly deployed, Barmore and White are a two-man wrecking crew. Pick your destructor! Block one with two O-linemen, and the other will collapse your pocket. Collapsed pockets cause bad things to happen for an offense. Barmore and White will be the cause.

That's some positive news outside of the fact that the Patriots finally have awakened, put Drake Maye in charge of the offense, and he's excelled. Unfortunately, it took too long and they are essentially out of playoff contention.

Regardless, there is hope, lots of it. Maye is a Pro-Bowler/All-Pro in the making, and more. Also, the dynamic duo of Christian Barmore and Keion White may even approach the level of perhaps the greatest interior D-line tandem in NFL history, Reggie White and Jerome Brown of the Philadelphia Eagles. It's a lofty aspiration, but who knows? That's why they play the games.

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