From historically easy schedules and a weak path through the playoffs to getting obliterated by the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl, the New England Patriots went through it all during the 2025 NFL season.
But if they want to continue to be a legitimate threat in a jam-packed AFC, the roster needs a lot of tweaking. Beyond any major additions, one analyst believes their first priority needs to be addressing the defensive losses in free agency.
Why the New England Patriots Should Prioritize Defense in the 2026 Offseason
An MVP leap from Drake Maye, who finished second only to Matthew Stafford in the voting, was a huge reason for the team’s success last year. But the summer hasn’t been very kind to the squad.
After getting thoroughly outplayed in Super Bowl 60, they have already lost key pieces in the offseason. However, the loss of Jaylinn Hawkins from the secondary might be among the biggest blows to the overall roster.
A defense that ranked at No. 12 on PFSN’s Defense Impact became their calling card during the postseason, as they gave up just 26 total points in the three games before the Super Bowl.
As a result, in his latest mock draft, Ian Cummings of PFSN has the team finding the perfect replacement in Emmanuel McNeil-Warren with their first-round pick. Calling the safety position a “pressing need,” he made his case for McNeil-Warren to be the guy to come to New England.
“At 6-foot-3 1/2 and 201 pounds, McNeil-Warren will draw misconceptions of being a box-only safety, but he’s much more multifaceted than that. He’s extremely fluid and efficient on his pedal in two-high looks, he’s intelligent in monitoring route combos, and he triggers fast on the attack.”
As the third-ranked safety by PFSN, the Toledo product possesses extremely high upside. A force to be reckoned with in run support because of his fast-flowing play style and closing burst, he’s also shown he can manage short and intermediate zones in coverage.
His smooth coverage mobility, ability to process overlapping routes, and spatial discipline in 2-on-1 situations allow him to make plays on the ball with his closing burst and proactive length usage.
Additionally, his frame will make him a matchup nightmare for most teams. And for a Patriots squad that had major questions about its depth last year, he would give them an instant fix at the safety spot.
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Despite representing the AFC in the Super Bowl, New England has a long way to go before it stands out as an upper-echelon contender.
But the potential of its quarterback gives the team remarkable upside, which could become dangerous with the right roster around him.
