Publisher’s note: With the start of the NFL Libre agency looming on March 12, our initiate of the Patriots Tom E. Curran resets each position of the patriots by assessing their performance in 2024, by fixing their contract status in 2025 and by classifying their priority of off -season on a scale of 1 to 5.
After having passed positional assessments for strategist,, back,, END,, wide And offensive lineNow we are moving to the defense of the patriots.
For those who hope for better news here, there is none.
The planned strength of the team in 2024 has turned into responsibility. And it started in advance on the defensive line. And now there is an important job to do.
The patriots were 23RD In authorized yards on the ground (4.4 per race), 26th in third drop (conversion rate of 43.26), 28th By authorizing the affected in take -out goal situations (83.8%) and 26th By authorizing the touch of the red zone (63.2%). They died last in bags by attempted pass (5.25%).
Light points
Do you know who was damn good compared to expectations last year? Daniel Ekuale. During his sixth NFL season, Ekuale had 52 plated, which is more than he had during his first five combined seasons. He played 68% of defensive shots, a workload that fell to him after the loss of Christian Barmore.
Ekuale, who is a free agent from next week, was not dominant. But it was signed as a deep player playing a more important role.
The defensive platform Davon Godchaux, who has obtained permission to seek a profession, has played in each match since his arrival at the Patriots since 2021. Godchaux, who received pay bumps in 2022 and 2024, was described once by Bill Belichick As one of the best defensive line players in the League. The light point with him: availability.
The second year defensive winger Keion White started the season well. Due to its speed and power combo, it can be a force. Nine of his 16 shots of a quarter occurred in the first four games. Four of his five bags came in the first two games.
But while the scores began to become more unbalanced, White seemed to embark on the attempted games that would shove him inside where he would lose containing. So he remains a talented player who has a large engine.
The change of coaching can do him good because – at the end of the year – White was Openly reflecting if his future was in New England.
“I will try to spend these next two games, then understand it after that, and see where the cards can lie for my future,” said White. “… Something should change. This is what I feel at this stage.”
Jeremiah Pharms, that the patriots re-signed a two-year contract last month, is a situational DT.
Daniel Ekuale played 68% of the defensive shots of the patriots in 2024, but is a free agent pending.
Disappointments
The loss of barmore against blood clots was a hard blow for the defense of the patriots. He missed the first 11 games, returned to play four and was closed again after the clots resurfaced.
His availability in 2025 is a huge source of concern in the future. He signed an extension of a contract of $ 84 million over four years with the team last April which had 41.8 million dollars guaranteed. The disappointment with Barmore is not based on performance, it is out of control.
White’s apparent discontent with the management of the team is also a cause of a break. Also The lack of production of Godchaux Compared to his agreement.
Contract statutes
Barmore and Godchaux are the players of the second and fifth patriots paid in terms of guaranteed salary and ceiling.
White has two more years on his recruit contract at $ 1.5 million and $ 1.8 million in wages.
Deatrich Wise and Ekuale are free agents. Pharms, an in -depth defensive tackle, still has two years in the agreement he signed last month.
Inter-season priority (1-5 scale)
It is a 5. It will be interesting to see what the future has in store for us for Ekuale and Wise. The defensive coordinator Terrell Williams looks very much like a coach of the former no BS who will want dogs crazy in advance (just like Trebel), so we will see who feels the team that adapts to this mold.
In the free agency, the Eagles DT Milton Williams will be highly taken. Levi Onwuzurike, who played for Williams in Detroit, could also be an interior option. If they are looking for more experienced players, Javon Hargrave is released by the 49ers after missing all the matches except three with a triceps injury in 2024. He is 32 years old but is a rush pass rush.
On the edge, where the patriots desperately need to improve, the most intriguing perspective is Malcolm Koonce from Las Vegas. Wounded in 2024, he is a big passer -by. Josh Sweat, Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack, Chase Young, Dayo Odeyingbo, Patrick Jones, Dante Fowler and the old friend Matthew Judon are also on the market.
Choosing fourth, it would be interesting to see what the Patriots do if Abdul Carter de Penn State is always on the board when their choice came. James Pearce Jr. Du Tennessee, Mike Green from Marshall and Mykel Williams from Georgia are also first -round prospects.
