It doesn’t take a football genius to see the New England Patriots need to get stronger in the trenches.
While figuring out how to fix a woefully underperforming and undermanned offensive line will take some brain power, financial resources, and a bit of luck, the Eliot Wolf-led front office can solve their No. 1 problem on the other side of the ball quickly and easily.
Albeit, expensively.
No team had a more putrid pass rush than the Patriots in 2024. With Matthew Judon traded and Christian Barmore sidelined by blood clots, New England’s defense only recorded 28 sacks. In fact, they were the only team in the NFL not to break the 30-sack mark.
However, the Patriots could check a massive box by using some of their league-high $123.5 million in cap space on an established pass rusher.
Enter: Josh Sweat.
Philadelphia Eagles DE Josh Sweat in the Super Bowl LIX:
▪️ 6 total tackles
▪️ 2.5 sacks
▪️ 2 TFL
▪️ 3 QB hits— SPORTSRADIO 94WIP (@SportsRadioWIP) February 10, 2025
Coming off an MVP-worthy Super Bowl performance, the veteran defensive end stands to cash in. Since becoming a full-time starter in 2021, Sweat has accumulated 33 sacks and 74 quarterback hits. Still just 27 years old (he turns 28 on March 29), the 6-foot-5, 265-pounder should be a double-digit sack threat for at least several more seasons.
Spotrac projects Sweat’s market value at $18.8 million per year. Money shouldn’t be an issue for a Patriots team that didn’t come close to “burning cash,” as former head coach Jerod Mayo said a year ago. And signing a well-respected, productive player like Sweat to kickstart free agency would send a strong message that Mike Vrabel and Co. are committed to transforming the franchise back into a contender.
However, handing Sweat a big-money deal is just one half of the equation.
The second?
Doubling down on the defensive line with their top draft pick.
In an ideal world, the Patriots would move down a few spots from No. 4 and still be in position to take Michigan’s Mason Graham, who’s widely regarded as the best defensive tackle in the draft.
Tipping the scales at 6-foot-3, 320 pounds, Graham boasts great quickness and flexibility. Pair him with a healthy Barmore, and the Patriots would have a dynamic defensive tackle duo bookended by Sweat and promising third-year pro Keion White.
Plus, trading down would give New England more draft capital to attack other positions of need or even flip a pick for an established starter.
Ultimately, there’s no excuse for the Patriots to emerge from the offseason without a much-improved pass rush. They have more spending power than any team and have the fourth overall pick in a draft that features several high-profile defensive linemen and edge defenders.
The only question is: Can this front office put those resources to good use?
