For the 2025-2026 season, the New England Patriots will sport a new coaching staff headlined by Mike Vrabel. This new staff also includes a new defensive coordinator, Terrell Williams. The long-time defensive line coach not only worked in Detroit last season but previously was one of Vrabel’s favorites in Tennessee. The defense lost a few key pieces over the last calendar year: star Matt Judon traded, the ascending Christian Barmore sidelined with health concerns and Jabrill Peppers in legal trouble mid-season. While it does appear that Barmore and Peppers will return to being key facets of the unit next season, several potential key pieces are not under contract for next season. That being said, who should they bring back to the 21st ranked defensive unit from last year?
Retain: DB Jonathan Jones
Jonathon Jones had a subpar season by his standards, but at 31 years old, it wasn’t unexpected. Despite the return of Christian Gonzalez this past season, Jones still played quite a bit of outside cornerback and moved back to safety at times during the absence of Peppers. These constant transitions hurt his ability to find a level of consistency, but a versatile veteran leader shouldn’t be the type of player the team looks to move on from. The former undrafted free agent has come a long way since his introduction to the league in 2016. The team should look to add to the defensive backfield, but that doesn’t mean moving on from one of the better players already rostered.
Contract Prediction: Returns, 2 Years | $17M
Retain: ED Deatrich Wise
Deatrich Wise is another long-tenured Patriot; he’s been on the roster since being drafted in 2017. During his eight years, he has had some solid production, with a career high of 7.5 sacks in 2022. Nonetheless, his age will be a factor, as he will be 31 at the beginning of the season. While I’d like to keep Wise around another season, there’s some strong evidence that points to him not returning. The Patriots’ struggle to stop the run may not have been solely due to his play, but the fact that he played less than 40% of the snaps on one of the league’s worst run defenses suggests that last year’s coaching staff may not have had much confidence in his ability to contribute in that area at this stage of his career.
Despite being a captain last year, I predict Vrabel will opt for new depth across the defensive line.
Contract Prediction: Departs, 2 Years | $6-8M with a Playoff Team
Let Walk: DT Daniel Ekuale
While some fans may disagree about my assessment of Daniel Ekuale, I think it’s time to move on. The Patriots don’t have much need for a 31-year-old rotational lineman. He did have a career year, recording 52 tackles compared to his previous season high of 14, and played 65% of snaps. However, given how poor the team was stopping the run, it’s probably time to look elsewhere, specifically for younger players. Ekuale’s market will be niche but will likely garner him some decent money. Solid (though aging) pass rushing defensive tackles don’t grow on trees and have a place in the NFL. I like Ekuale; it’s just not the right situation for now.
Prediction: Departs, 2 Years | $4-6M elsewhere
Let Walk: SAF Jaylinn Hawkins
Jaylinn Hawkins was a bit of a surprise in camp prior to last season, and with the absences of both Peppers and Kyle Dugger at different points, he saw some solid action, playing more than half the snaps. Similar to Ekuale, I like Hawkins, although I don’t think he’s the player the team needs right now. He has looked a bit lost at times playing out of position as a deeper safety. Should he play in position, the team has man players vying for the box safety role: Peppers, Dugger and 2023 third round pick Marte Mapu have all played in that spot at a higher level than Hawkins. He’ll have a market in free agency, and it isn’t out of the question that the Patriots re-sign him, but I do feel they could use an upgrade at the free safety spot.
Contract Prediction: Departs, 2 Years | $2-3M elsewhere
Retain: ED Oshane Ximines
Oshane Ximines had an impressive pre-season in 2024 but played just fourteen snaps in Week 1 before being placed on season-ending injured reserve. With how much the team struggled rushing the passer, him returning wouldn’t be the worst option. He won’t have a lucrative market in Free Agency, and should he be given the opportunity to return to Foxborough; it’s not unreasonable to think he could make the team again. An inexpensive pre-season performer seems to be a pretty solid bet to return, even with a new member of staff.
Contract Prediction: Returns, Veteran Minimum
Restricted Free Agents (RFAs)
Restricted Free Agents are players with exactly three accrued seasons in the NFL. A team can choose to “tender” a player or offer them a one-year contract with one of three values: a first-round tender, a second-round tender, or an original round tender. These tenders are of varying values, usually in the range of $4M, $2M and $1M respectively. The team has only one defensive player who fits this mold:
LB Christian Elliss
Christian Elliss played much more than anyone expected following an early season injury to Ja’Whaun Bentley, and he struggled at times. In the end, Elliss managed a very respectable 72.6 PFF grade and was a solid run stopper, managing 80 total tackles along with an interception and 1.5 sacks. While he isn’t starting caliber, there’s little reason not to see Elliss return on the original round tender to be a rotational piece.
Exclusive Rights Free Agents (ERFAs)
Exclusive Rights Free Agents are players with an expired contract and fewer than three accrued seasons. These players must sign the ERFA tender (a one year, sub-million-dollar deal) if the team offers it to them. The Patriots have a pair player that fit this description:
DT Jeremiah Pharms and CB Alex Austin
DT Jeremiah Pharms signed a two-year contract with New England on 2/11, reported to include $250K in guarantees, including a $100K signing bonus. Further conditions of the contract are currently unknown.
While I wasn’t enamored with the ERFA’s on the offensive side, both players had some very solid play at different points. Pharms managed 19 pressures on the year, while Alex Austin built on his solid play at the end of 2023. Given their minute price tags, and solid play, Austin should similarly return to the team.
While the defensive unit did disappoint a bit last season, with HC Mike Vrabel and DC Terrell Williams at the helm, they should be able to quickly steer themselves back on track. The first step to returning to the great Patriots defenses will be building solid depth, and these in-house free agents should be able to do just that.
