Overhauling the Defensive Interior: Milton Williams the big-ticket item, Davon Godchaux Traded
The defensive interior was very poor for the Patriots last season. While a big piece of that was the medical issues with Christian Barmore, there’s no doubt it needed addressing, and that’s exactly what the team did. They handed one of the top players in the class in Milton Williams a massive deal to make him the highest paid player in team history, already a significant move that likely means a move to a 4-2-5 base defense. Additionally, they moved veteran Davon Godchaux for a late round pick and re-signed Jeremiah Pharms Jr., who led the room in pressures last season and will look to replace the departed Daniel Ekuale. 28-year-old Khyiris Tonga will make his fifth stop on the NFL and compete for a depth role. This group needed changing, and changing it got.
Overall Grade: B+
Offensive Line: Addressed?
After a season in which the team allowed the joint sixth most sacks in the league, the line needed addressing. They added some names, but how much better off will the team be? Morgan Moses is a massive upgrade at right tackle despite the three-year deal for the 34-year-old being a bit lengthy. Long time center and future Patriot Hall of Famer David Andrews was released, will seemingly retire and has been replaced by Garrett Bradbury. The former first round pick struggled in 2024 but has starting experience and should return to better form with New England. The team also added the Jets interior lineman Wes Schweitzer, who’s played in 90 games and started 62 through his eight seasons. Left tackle remains unchanged, but it seems like that will be a need addressed in the first two rounds of the draft. I would like to see them add at least one more serviceable depth piece across the unit to fortify Drake Maye’s protection.
Overall Grade: B-
Carlton Davis reunited with DC Terrell Williams
With Jonathan Jones’s departure to Washington, the Pats opted to add a higher level CB2. Davis has never played a full season, which is a scary headline, but as a CB2 behind Christian Gonzalez, availability will hopefully matter less. While I think that Davis was probably the third best option on the market behind Colt Charvarius Ward and Lion D.J. Reed, I understand the connection to former Lions staffer and DC Terrell Williams. A trio of Gonzalez, Davis and Marcus Jones in the slot is a very solid unit, and I would expect they add another name at some point in the draft.
Overall Grade: B+
Linebacker Upgrades: Spillane signed on Day One
While I thought the linebacker group last year was okay, there’s no doubt they could have used an addition or two. An addition or two was made, as we saw Robert Spillane sign a three-year deal worth more than $12 million a season on the first day of free agency. Spillane will join Ja’Whaun Bentley and Jahlani Tavai as hard-hitting run stoppers in the group, but I’d argue the team needs more pass coverage at the position. Nonetheless, Spillane is a hard hitter that should be a very fun watch in 2025 and beyond. The team brought back Christian Elliss after a career year in which he recorded 80 total tackles, his previous best was 23. Former Titan Jake Gibbens, who recorded 14 total tackles and a half sack against New England this season also joined the team on a one-year deal. Bentley or Tavai could be released, but given the plethora of cap space the team still has, I’d guess both are safe until camp.
Overall Grade: B
Mack Hollins.
Full disclosure, I actually like Mack Hollins as a player. He’s a hard worker and has found a way to stick in the league as a special teamer and deep threat, and had some okay weeks last year with Buffalo. He’s nothing to scoff at, but as the only addition to a group who’s top three receivers combined for 1,500 yards, he isn’t taking them over the top. They made an effort to sign Chris Godwin but were unwilling to give Cooper Kupp $15 million a season or make a move for D.K. Metcalf. It isn’t impossible that they add Stefon Diggs or can swing a trade for a Brandon Aiyuk, but the former doesn’t move the needle enough for me, and the latter seems unlikely however many times it’s mentioned. I like the Hollins signing, the lack of quality additions at the position, I don’t.
Overall Grade: F
Quarterback Competition?
The team brought in Josh Dobbs on a two-year deal to backup Drake Maye and compete with Joe Milton. Do I see this as an omen for Milton’s departure? No. I personally feel that any trade for him would yield a minimal return, and while Dobbs would facilitate a trade, I’m not sure who a trade partner would be at this point: does someone come calling during or after the draft? Regardless, I don’t think there’s much to investigate here, a very run of the mill signing – not good or bad.
Overall Grade: C
Bringing in another pair of Raiders: Epps and Chaisson
Aside from Spillane signing with New England and Elliss on his way to Vegas, the Patriots also made two more moves involving Raiders, signing Marcus Epps and K’Lavon Chaisson. Epps’s one-year deal will likely see him compete for the third safety role with the re-signed Jaylinn Hawkins. His experience playing as a deeper safety is a nice stylistic change compared to Jabrill Peppers and Kyle Dugger, who both play closer to the line and missed time last season. Chaisson was a piece to the great Joe Burrow who led 2019 LSU team, but never figured it out with the Jaguars, recording just five sacks in four seasons. He matched that total last season under Antonio Pierce and will likely be in a Josh Uche style role under Vrabel. I like both players a lot as depth options.
Overall Grade: A-
Bringing ‘Em Back: Austin Hooper and Jaylinn Hawkins
Hooper and Hawkins each played bigger roles than most people expected last season, but both were solid when given opportunities. Hooper ranked third in receptions and fourth on the team in yards, while Hawkins’s 613 snaps prove he played a sizable role. Hooper seems set to be the TE2 again, but Hawkins will need to work hard to beat out Epps to be the third safety despite getting a slight pay raise. I like bringing back cheap depth pieces, and this is a good example of exactly that.
Overall Grade: A-