5 Patriots offseason fixes: No. 3 — Revive the pass rush
It’s a new era in New England — again.
Under new coach Mike Vrabel, the Pats are again overhauling their football operations after a 4-13 season. Vrabel’s vision is now the franchise’s vision as they continue to rebuild, though the Patriots retained executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf to lead their personnel department. This offseason, the Patriots are projected to hold a league-leading $120 million in cap space, and four draft picks in the top 80, starting at No. 4 overall.
To put the Patriots back on track, the Herald is publishing a daily series with five offseason fixes that cover the draft, free agency and coaching.
No. 1: Sign Tee Higgins or Chris Godwin
No. 2: Draft and sign new offensive tackles
No. 3: Rebuild the pass rush
One of the safest places for NFL quarterbacks to be this season was across from the Patriots’ defensive line.
The Pats finished last in the league with 28 sacks.
They managed the third-fewest QB knockdowns.
Their pass rush ranked fourth-worst by pressure rate and Pro Football Focus grades.
Judging by Vrabel’s comments in his opening press conference, reviving that pass rush will be high on his to-do list this offseason.
“When you look at statistically what wins in the National Football League,” Vrabel began last week, “our ability to affect the other team’s quarterback and our ability to provide for an efficient quarterback and passing game is a high contributor to success.”
In-house, Keion White is the only player under contract who recorded three or more sacks this season. White, however, tailed off down the stretch and managed just one sack after mid-September. With Christian Barmore’s future uncertain as he deals with blood clots, White is the only potential foundational piece the Patriots can count on moving forward.
Yet even he might be a question mark.
If the Patriots intend to restock their shelves in free agency, plenty of intriguing options will be available. Eagles defensive end Josh Sweat will hit the market after averaging more than eight sacks per year since 2020. He piled up 54 pressures this season, according to PFF, and fits the Patriots’ traditional prototype at the position, standing at 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds. He turns 28 this March.
Raiders edge defender Malcolm Koonce offers sleeper potential, coming off a season-ending knee injury that kept him from seeing the field in 2024 after a breakout 2023 campaign. Koonce also fits the Pats’ physical benchmarks on the edge at 6-foot-3 and 250 pounds. Two seasons ago, he posted eight sacks and 17 QB hits over just 11 starts.
Two more candidates on the edge: Cardinals edge rusher Baron Browning and former No. 2 overall pick Chase Young. Neither wowed with their sack production last year, though underlying numbers, like PFF’s pass-rush win rate, showed they generated more pressure than box-score stats would indicate. Both cleared a 14% win rate, and could offer three-down potential on the edge.
The Patriots could use help at defensive tackle. Eagles defensive lineman Milton Williams timed his career year perfectly, hitting career highs in sacks and pressures this season. Philadelphia may re-sign him in the coming months, but if not, this 25-year-old rusher will take one of the most valuable skills in football — generating interior pressure — to the open market. He’s still just 25.
Bengals defensive tackle B.J. Hill and Seahawks defensive lineman Jarran Reed are also expected to become free agents. Both profile as more steady than spectacular, though the Patriots could use all the depth they can get.
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In the draft, there’s one obvious name at the top: Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter. He earned All-American honors last year, tallying 68 tackles, 12 sacks and 24 tackles for loss. Carter represents one of the rare blue-chip talents atop this draft class who plays a premium position. Even if the Patriots have bigger needs after free agency, Carter should be in consideration for the simple reason he could be the best player available.
Other names to know early in the draft process: Georgia’s Mykel Williams (6-5, 265) and Jalon Walker (6-2, 245), Ohio State’s Jack Sawyer (6-5, 260) and J.T. Tuimoloau (6-5, 269), Arkansas’s Landon Jackson and Texas A&M’s Nic Scourton (6-4, 280).
If the front office strikes out on pass rushers, Eliot Wolf and Co. could pivot toward more of a coverage approach. The Patriots could use another strong man-to-man cornerback opposite Christian Gonzalez. If Gonzalez and his new running mate can give the defensive line more time, the Pats could generate pressure with better play going back to front.
5 Patriots offseason fixes: No. 3 — Revive the pass rush
It’s a new era in New England — again.
Under new coach Mike Vrabel, the Pats are again overhauling their football operations after a 4-13 season. Vrabel’s vision is now the franchise’s vision as they continue to rebuild, though the Patriots retained executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf to lead their personnel department. This offseason, the Patriots are projected to hold a league-leading $120 million in cap space, and four draft picks in the top 80, starting at No. 4 overall.
To put the Patriots back on track, the Herald is publishing a daily series with five offseason fixes that cover the draft, free agency and coaching.
No. 1: Sign Tee Higgins or Chris Godwin
No. 2: Draft and sign new offensive tackles
No. 3: Rebuild the pass rush
One of the safest places for NFL quarterbacks to be this season was across from the Patriots’ defensive line.
The Pats finished last in the league with 28 sacks.
They managed the third-fewest QB knockdowns.
Their pass rush ranked fourth-worst by pressure rate and Pro Football Focus grades.
Judging by Vrabel’s comments in his opening press conference, reviving that pass rush will be high on his to-do list this offseason.
“When you look at statistically what wins in the National Football League,” Vrabel began last week, “our ability to affect the other team’s quarterback and our ability to provide for an efficient quarterback and passing game is a high contributor to success.”
In-house, Keion White is the only player under contract who recorded three or more sacks this season. White, however, tailed off down the stretch and managed just one sack after mid-September. With Christian Barmore’s future uncertain as he deals with blood clots, White is the only potential foundational piece the Patriots can count on moving forward.
Yet even he might be a question mark.
If the Patriots intend to restock their shelves in free agency, plenty of intriguing options will be available. Eagles defensive end Josh Sweat will hit the market after averaging more than eight sacks per year since 2020. He piled up 54 pressures this season, according to PFF, and fits the Patriots’ traditional prototype at the position, standing at 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds. He turns 28 this March.
Raiders edge defender Malcolm Koonce offers sleeper potential, coming off a season-ending knee injury that kept him from seeing the field in 2024 after a breakout 2023 campaign. Koonce also fits the Pats’ physical benchmarks on the edge at 6-foot-3 and 250 pounds. Two seasons ago, he posted eight sacks and 17 QB hits over just 11 starts.
Two more candidates on the edge: Cardinals edge rusher Baron Browning and former No. 2 overall pick Chase Young. Neither wowed with their sack production last year, though underlying numbers, like PFF’s pass-rush win rate, showed they generated more pressure than box-score stats would indicate. Both cleared a 14% win rate, and could offer three-down potential on the edge.
The Patriots could use help at defensive tackle. Eagles defensive lineman Milton Williams timed his career year perfectly, hitting career highs in sacks and pressures this season. Philadelphia may re-sign him in the coming months, but if not, this 25-year-old rusher will take one of the most valuable skills in football — generating interior pressure — to the open market. He’s still just 25.
Bengals defensive tackle B.J. Hill and Seahawks defensive lineman Jarran Reed are also expected to become free agents. Both profile as more steady than spectacular, though the Patriots could use all the depth they can get.
Related Articles
Sources: Patriots expecting to hire Josh McDaniels as new offensive coordinator
5 Patriots offseason fixes: No. 2 — Draft and sign new offensive tackles
Patriots reportedly request Dolphins assistant for defensive coordinator job
Two Patriots offensive coaches leave for another AFC team
Source: Mike Vrabel retaining Patriots special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer
In the draft, there’s one obvious name at the top: Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter. He earned All-American honors last year, tallying 68 tackles, 12 sacks and 24 tackles for loss. Carter represents one of the rare blue-chip talents atop this draft class who plays a premium position. Even if the Patriots have bigger needs after free agency, Carter should be in consideration for the simple reason he could be the best player available.
Other names to know early in the draft process: Georgia’s Mykel Williams (6-5, 265) and Jalon Walker (6-2, 245), Ohio State’s Jack Sawyer (6-5, 260) and J.T. Tuimoloau (6-5, 269), Arkansas’s Landon Jackson and Texas A&M’s Nic Scourton (6-4, 280).
If the front office strikes out on pass rushers, Eliot Wolf and Co. could pivot toward more of a coverage approach. The Patriots could use another strong man-to-man cornerback opposite Christian Gonzalez. If Gonzalez and his new running mate can give the defensive line more time, the Pats could generate pressure with better play going back to front.
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