Entering Week 12, the New England Patriots are one of the top teams in the AFC right now, putting them on track to make some postseason noise. Though things have gone well for the Patriots this season, they will be down top defender Milton Williams for the next four games, after he was placed on injured reserve due to an ankle injury. Without Williams in the lineup, the rest of the pass rush will need to play their best football to help make up for his absence.
Unfortunately, the pass rush off the edge hasn't been the team's strong suit, with only Harold Landry and K'Lavon Chaisson registering more than two sacks on the year. In other words, no one would blame Patriots fans who aren't thrilled that their team currently ranks 16th on Pro Football Focus with a 69.3 pass rush grade.
It won't be a surprise if upgrading their pass-disrupting unit is one of the Patriots' top priorities this offseason, which is why the NFL's latest extension is bad news for them.
Potential Alex Wright Signing Is Off the Table for Patriots
If the Patriots were to look for help off the edge in free agency, one name is now off the board with Alex Wright resigning with the Cleveland Browns, per Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot. Wright's extension with the Browns is for three seasons, totaling $33 million with $21 million guaranteed, helping him avoid a trip to free agency in March.
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel has a connection with Wright, having served as a coaching and personnel consultant for the Browns last season. Given his ties to Wright and the need for another edge rusher, it would've been interesting to see if New England would've looked to make an offer. Vrabel's connection with players is undeniable, and it's easy to imagine how he could've lured Wright to the Pats.
Given the Patriots' cap space for free agency next year (over $58.3 million, per Spotrac), Wright could've seen more money from New England. He's currently at 10 pressures this season (7 hurries, 3 sacks) while racking up 19 tackles with as many stops, playing a big role in his high PFF grades when it comes to overall defense (88.7, 8th) and run defense (82.3, 3rd) among 117 qualified exterior defenders.
As great as it would've been to see Wright on the Patriots, that book has officially closed, leaving a reunion off the table for Vrabel. As disappointing as it is, other options will be available to help the Patriots' pass rush this offseason, whether through free agency, the NFL draft, or the trade market, leaving time to tell how the Pats will address their growing concern.