The New England Patriots have a fascinating offseason ahead of them. Armed with more cap space than any other team by a wide margin, GM Eliot Wolf and head coach Mike Vrabel can build out the roster to their liking. With plenty of holes on the roster, for which position they will be breaking the bank in free agency and for which they will wait until the draft is a massive decision that will have long-term ripple effects for the team.
A few of the most obvious needs for the Patriots are on the offensive side of the ball. Offensive line help and wide receiver upgrades will likely be the first order of business.
That doesn't mean, however, that the defense is set. The defensive line will also go through a significant overhaul. The Patriots granted defensive lineman Davon Godchaux permission to seek a trade, and Christian Barmore's health status for the future is up in the air.
The Patriots will almost certainly target a defensive tackle in free agency. In fact, NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe identified a name for the Patriots. He said that New England is expected to be a top suitor for the Eagles defensive tackle Milton Williams.
Eagles DT Milton Williams is set to have a strong free agent market with the #Patriots expected among top suitors, I’m told. More here: https://t.co/zilk96cIrZ
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) March 4, 2025
NFL News: Patriots Expected to Pursue DT Milton Williams
Williams is among the best defensive tackles to hit free agency this offseason. He has yet to turn 26, and he is coming off a dominant postseason run with the Eagles. On their way to win the Super Bowl, Williams had back-to-back impressive performances, receiving 89.6 and 90.9 PFF grades against the Commanders and the Chiefs, respectively.
The former third-round pick has consistently received elite grades in the pass rush but was less impressive against the run. Along with BJ Hill, Levi Onwuzurike, and DJ Jones, he will command the most money out of any interior defensive linemen on the market.
Mike Vrabel is looking to change the defensive scheme in New England. He is expected to deploy smaller, penetrating defensive tackles, creating a need for revamping the unit. Which direction they will go in free agency and whether they can acquire Williams remains to be seen.