If the New England Patriots are going to show significant improvement and actually be in the mix for a playoff spot in the AFC late in the 2025 NFL season, the defense has to play at an elite level.
And that’s not a crazy expectation for this group.
The Patriots spent a ton of money in free agency to bolster their talent and depth on defense. Among the most notable additions were defensive lineman Milton Williams, linebackers Harold Landry and Robert Spillane, as well as cornerback Carlton Davis.
One specific area of the defense where the Patriots could really shine is in the secondary.
In Pro Football Focus’ latest offseason position rankings, they rated the Patriots’ secondary as the fifth-best unit in the league, trailing only the Houston Texans (No. 4), Denver Broncos (No. 3), Kansas City Chiefs (No. 2) and Baltimore Ravens (No. 1).
“Despite the Patriots’ struggles in the post-Bill Belichick and Tom Brady era, their defense remains a strength,” PFF’s John Kosko wrote. “Budding star Christian Gonzalez leads the group after missing most of his rookie season in 2023. His 78.2 coverage grade last season was outstanding for a de facto rookie year, and the Patriots added Carlton Davis in the offseason to bolster the cornerback room.
“Jabrill Peppers has quietly put together a quality career, earning overall grades above 82.3 in each of the past two seasons. Dell Pettus also looks like an undrafted gem, excelling in PFF’s advanced coverage metrics and posting a 73.9 overall grade as a rookie.”
The key to the group is Gonzalez, who had a breakout Year 2 and was voted to the All-Pro second team. He also received a ton of praise from rival coaches and players, including Aaron Rodgers and Tyreek Hill. Gonzalez is the Patriots’ best player and it wouldn’t be surprising if he made first team All-Pro in 2025.
Davis was an excellent pickup in free agency. He played very well for the Detroit Lions last season and has Super Bowl-winning experience from his time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Davis and Gonzalez should be one of the top cornerback duos next season.
The Patriots also need a bounce-back campaign from both of their starting safeties — Kyle Dugger and Jabill Peppers. But even if that scenario unfolded, we could still see plenty of rookie safety Craig Woodson. He had a strong rookie camp in May.
A lot of things need to go right for the Patriots to be a playoff team next season. The defense being a top 10 unit would be among the most impactful. And with a defensive-minded head coach in Mike Vrabel running the show in Foxboro, the chances of New England improving on that side of the ball are pretty good.
