Four years ago, around this time, the New England Patriots decided to sign just about everyone available in the 2021 NFL free agent class, notably landing Matt Judon, Hunter Henry, Davon Godchaux, and Kendrick Bourne as the best of that bunch. Earlier today, they made good on their promises of being aggressive in free agency, but I don't think anyone could've expected some of their big moves to open up the "legal tampering" window. Within the first three hours, the Patriots made a concerted effort on defense once Chris Godwin wound up back in Tampa, dishing out massive money to ex-Raiders linebacker Robert Spillane, ex-Lions cornerback Carlton Davis, and most notably, ex-Eagles IDL Milton Williams, who an hour prior was largely expected to end up with the Carolina Panthers.
Offensively, the Patriots opted to bring in three veterans at three different positions: tackle Morgan Moses, wideout Mack Hollins, and quarterback Josh Dobbs. The key trend here is that outside of Williams, each player signed so far is heavily connected to Vrabel and his inner circle, Josh McDaniels, and/or Terrell Williams in some way. This is the same philosophy that the Washington Commanders used last year, bringing in dependable guys that Dan Quinn had familiarity with from his time with the Cowboys, Falcons, and Seahawks to set a solid foundation before crushing the draft, selecting Jayden Daniels, Johnny Newton, and Mike Sainristil with their first three picks.
There are, of course, still good names available as of Wednesday afternoon, and the Patriots should be keen to add some more talent, but they've done a phenomenal job so far in revamping things, speciffically on defense where there's juggernaut potential with the guys they now have. Here's how I'd grade the key moves from Monday and a key pick-up on Sunday.
Milton Williams Signing Grade: A+
The roller coaster of emotions from seeing Adam Schefter claim that Milton Williams was Carolina-bound on national TV just for things to dissolve in less than 70 minutes and end up with him signing the biggest contract in Patriots franchise history was one hell of a ride. If you were skeptical over how serious this organization was about adding elite talent through the free agent market, they died (or should've) when the 26 million dollar AAV figure dropped. Williams' market was expected to be in the 18-20 million dollar range, and Eliot Wolf/Mike Vrabel left no stone unturned to get one of, if not the single best defender on the free agent market.
So what does Williams bring to the Patriots besides sharing a first name with a town 20 minutes away from Gillette Stadium and a Super Bowl ring? Simply put, elite pass-rush production. He was one of the most productive interior defenders in terms of pressure rate in 2024 and was an absolute terror in the Eagles' NFC Championship Game and Super Bowl wins up front. If the Patriots cap situation weren't what it is, I'd call this an overpay, but they had the money to bring a guy like Williams in and took no chances—a spectacular move from every angle.
Carlton Davis Signing Grade: B-
I would've preferred to have seen the Patriots bring in Charvarius Ward, who ended up with the Colts on the exact same deal, but Davis is another former Super Bowl winner from his run in Tampa, their top corner that season, and has an excellent size profile at 6'1" with a 94th percentile wingspan. Durability also factors into this equation, as Davis has missed at least four games a season since 2021, but he's been exceptional when he's out there. His 86 forced incompletions are the most by any corner since the 2019 season and was a much-needed steady presence for a relatively young Detroit secondary in 2024. His health is the big concern, but I don't mind the 20 million dollar AAV. With the guaranteed money, this is really just a two-year deal, and I can live with a guy like Davis.
Robert Spillane Signing Grade: A-
For whatever reason, I never really considered one Bob Spillane as a target at linebacker with guys like Dre Greenlaw, and Nick Bolton had Kansas City not rudely re-signed him, but this was one of the sneakier great moves from the opening day of action, and someone who all three key coaches on this team are very familiar with. Spillane has been a tackling machine over the last two years, and in 2024 with the Raiders, he was one of just two players in the entire league with at least 155 tackles, 80 defensive stops, 10 pressures, and a pair of sacks, and interceptions (Indianapolis' Zaire Franklin being the other).
With how things degraded after Ja'Whaun Bentley went down vs. Seattle, this team needed to revamp this linebacker room, and while Spillane doesn't have the name value of guys like Greenlaw, he's a guy who can be a heat seeker vs. the run, and even with some coverage inconsistency, has racked up five interceptions in the last two years. His deal also ended up in the same range as Greenlaw's did, and about four million dollars less in AAV than the Jets' new deal with Jamien Sherwood.
Morgan Moses Signing Grade: C+
Once Alaric Jackson and Ronnie Stanley came off the board, things began to look pretty bleak at tackle, but the Patriots had to add at least one veteran option to this unit. Luckily, that name wasn't Dan Moore, who legitimately might be playing on the worst (non Nasty Man in Cleveland) contract in the league (TLDR; he's not as egregiously bad as some may say, but he's at best league average). I genuinely would've lost my mind had the Patriots done that same deal. While veteran right tackle Morgan Moses isn't a perfect add, given he's 34 years old, he might as well be by comparison. He's durable and a fine short-term right tackle option, but I'd hope this team doesn't go down the Chuks Okorafor route of putting a career right tackle on the opposite side two years in a row.
Harold Landry Signing Grade: B-
Doesn't get more "Mike Vrabel Guy" than Harold Landry, the second-ever draft pick under the Vrabel regime in Tennessee. A 2022 ACL tear came at a pretty bad time, right off his only Pro Bowl berth, and despite the consistent sack totals in his last four seasons, he wasn't a good pass rusher in 2024, with his 4.8% pass rush win rate ranking dead last in the NFL among 95 qualifying edge defenders, along with a career-low 10.4% pressure rate. The hope is that he can make the most of his opportunities on stunts and potentially benefit from playing with Williams, Keion White, and, health permitting, Christian Barmore.
The Landry grade is still a B- for two reasons. First, he's one of the best run-defending EDGE guys in the league, meaning the Patriots can throw him and Anfernee Jennings in obvious run situations, which is a terrifying prospect. Second, I don't believe the expectation here is that he will be a true No. 1 EDGE. Assuming there's another domino to fall, potentially Abdul Carter, depending on how things go in late April, having a steady veteran presence like Landry as a part of an EDGE rotation is worth the price of admission.
Mack Hollins Signing Grade: B+
Josh Dobbs Signing Grade: C+
Khyiris Tonga Signing Grade: C
What Else Needs to Be Done?
Adding impact defenders at every level of this defense and a stop gap right tackle option, all eyes should be focused on the Patriots adding a true top wide receiver and a left tackle. We saw DK Metcalf come off the board, and to be frank, I'm not too broken up that the Patriots didn't land him. He went on the record to say he didn't want to end up here around January. He also said he wanted to be in a warm-weather city with a good quarterback situation, just to end up in Pittsburgh, which has neither.
Cooper Kupp has been a logical name for a Patriots add, and last night, the Rams made it known to Adam Schefter that they would be releasing him, which feels like code for "last call for trade offers". Unless this team thinks Kupp has nothing left, I can't imagine why sending at least one of their three seventh-rounders for him is a bad investment. It's hard to say where the Tee Higgins situation goes at this point, but it doesn't appear that Cincinnati is looking to move him now. That would lead me to believe the best option for the Patriots would be Travis Hunter at No. 4 overall. I've said this a few times this offseason: The Colorado product is a better corner than the receiver, but it is the best receiver in this class by a healthy margin. If these top WR options won't hit the open market, you have to be proactive and be the team that drafts and develops these guys. The only way I'd be ok with Tet McMillian is with a trade-down for those wondering.
On the left tackle front, ex-Jaguar/Viking Cam Robinson is a fairly logical fit given his connection to OL coach Doug Marone, and judging by the fact he's still available, I don't think he'd cost in the range of where Dan Moore got from Tennessee. Drafting a tackle in rounds two or three of the draft would be my preferred route at this point, but we still have a long way to go before draft weekend.
Main Image via
Comments