The New England Patriots have been one of the most active and successful teams in the early stages of the 2025 NFL free agency period, earning high marks for their aggressive roster upgrades. New England’s signings have significantly improved the defense while also addressing key needs on offense.
Patriots Earn Top Grade in 2025 NFL Free Agency
In PFSN’s evaluation of free agency moves, the Patriots received an A- grade for “adding talent at all three levels of their defense.”
Analysts noted that New England now boasts “one of the strongest cornerback duos in the NFL” and has “assembled a very talented group across their front.”
From 2003 to 2021, the Patriots’ defense ranked in the top 10 in scoring defense for 17 of 19 seasons. However, in 2024, they slipped to 22nd in both yards and points allowed. Furthermore, in PFSN’s Defense+ metrics, the Patriots’ defense ranked No. 30 overall.
“New England needed a solid defense to support its rebuilding offense, and that wasn’t close to the case. Overall, the Patriots ranked 20th or worse in 11 out of 17 games.”
To reverse the downward trend, the Patriots made several key defensive additions, including Harold Landry III, Milton Williams, Robert Spillane, and Carlton Davis III. These moves instantly position New England as one of the most formidable defensive units in the league.
Davis joins second-team All-Pro Christian Gonzalez, forming one of the NFL’s most potent cornerback duos. Williams and Landry bolster a defensive line that already features Christian Barmore. And Robert Spillane adds versatility and experience to the linebacker corps.
Though Williams secured the largest free agent contract, he was ranked 52nd on PFSN’s list of top free agents, with analyst Sterling Xie highlighting Williams’ efficiency.
“Williams was one of the best pass-rushing defensive tackles on a per-snap basis last year… He generated a 14.2% pressure rate over 282 pass-rushing snaps, ranking fourth among 101 defensive tackles with at least 100 pass-rushing snaps.”
Davis helps soften the loss of Jonathan Jones, who ranked ninth among free agents, with Xie stating:
“He is coming off the best season of his career, with a 77 passer rating allowed — 20th among qualified corners. He has now posted a passer rating allowed below 90 in five of the last six seasons. In 2024, Davis allowed just two touchdowns and a 55.3% completion rate when targeted.”
Landry was a full-time starter for the Tennessee Titans after being drafted in the second round of 2018 by then-head coach Mike Vrabel. He made the Pro Bowl in 2021 but missed all of 2022 due to a torn ACL. Over his last three active seasons, Landry has totaled 31.5 sacks and 43 tackles for loss.
Spillane was ranked just below Williams on PFSN’s free agent list, with Xie noting his run-stopping ability.
“Spillane allowed 7.5 yards per target in coverage during each of his two seasons with the Raiders, a solid number for a linebacker. His calling card last season was run defense, where he made a tackle on 22.5% of run plays — ranking first among 108 defenders with at least 400 run snaps in 2024.”
Patriots’ Offensive Moves Are Solid but Not Enough?
The Patriots bolstered their offensive line by signing veteran tackle Morgan Moses, a move crucial for protecting rookie quarterback Drake Maye. Moses was the fifth-ranked free agent by PFSN, largely due to his pass-blocking efficiency.
“Moses allowed just 16 pressures on 433 pass-blocking snaps in 2024. His 3.7% pressure rate was the lowest he’s allowed since PFF began tracking pressures in 2019 and ranked eighth among right tackles in 2024.”
However, the loss of longtime center David Andrews leaves a significant hole in the offensive line. New England must now address this issue either in free agency or the draft.
At quarterback, the Patriots signed Joshua Dobbs after losing Jacoby Brissett to the Arizona Cardinals. Dobbs has proven capable of stepping in as a reliable backup. Additionally, the Patriots have explored trading strong-armed quarterback Joe Milton III, potentially for a draft pick or depth player.
While New England added former Buffalo Bills wide receiver Mack Hollins, wide receiver remains a priority. With the Los Angeles Rams releasing Cooper Kupp, the Patriots are reportedly a frontrunner to sign the Super Bowl MVP and Offensive Player of the Year.
While the offense still has gaps to fill, the Patriots have set themselves up for success with a revitalized defense that could carry the team to wins. If they solidify the offensive line and add another weapon at receiver, New England could be a legitimate contender in 2025.