The New England Patriots have been searching for answers in the trenches. Once defined by dominant defensive fronts that featured names like Richard Seymour and Vince Wilfork, the team’s defensive line has slipped into mediocrity.
According to Pro Football Focus, the unit ranked among the league’s worst last season, finishing 31st in pressure rate, tied for 30th in total pressures, and tied for 28th in team pass-rush grade. The lack of disruption up front left a young defense exposed and was one of the primary reasons the Patriots finished with another losing season.
Two weeks into the season, the team’s weakness has turned into a strength, largely due to the arrival of Harold Landry III.
Patriots' Harold Landry III Isn’t Getting Enough Praise for His 2025 Start
Landry, 29, is no stranger to defensive coordinator Terrell Williams. The two spent six seasons together, 2018 to 2023, with the Tennessee Titans, where Williams oversaw the Titans’ defensive line and helped develop Landry into a Pro Bowl pass rusher. Landry’s peak came in 2021, when he racked up 12 sacks and played every game in a breakout campaign. While he would go on to miss the entire 2022 season due to a torn ACL, Landry showed flashes of his 2021 season form by combining for 19.5 sacks and 141 tackles during the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
Two seasons removed from the injury, Harold looks fully recovered. So far in the young season, he’s tallied 8 tackles and is tied for the league lead with 3.5 sacks.
While Landry’s resurgence has been critical, he hasn’t been the only new face making an impact. Fellow offseason addition Milton Williams has drawn plenty of headlines after signing a four-year, $104 million contract following his role in helping the Philadelphia Eagles win a championship. Williams has provided interior strength and versatility, drawing attention from opposing offensive lines. But while Williams may be stealing the spotlight, Landry’s edge presence has been equally vital to the Patriots’ early defensive success.
The results are showing. Through two games against the Las Vegas Raiders and Miami Dolphins, New England’s defense ranks 12th in total pressures with 36, and 30 of those have come directly from the defensive line. For a unit that was among the league’s worst a year ago, that’s a remarkable turnaround.
Early in 2025, the Patriots’ defensive line already appears to be one of the NFL’s most improved units. And while New England will face tougher offensive lines in the weeks ahead, there’s no denying that Harold Landry III has been one of the most impactful additions in the NFL so far this year. If he keeps playing at this level, he won’t just shake the “under-the-radar” label — he could be headed for another Pro Bowl, and maybe even help the Patriots build a defense that keeps them in contention deep into the fall.