The 2026 Defense - Do No Harm

mgteich · Feb 24, 2026

Our 2025 Defense was a top Defense, one of the very best in the NFL. Sure, we can improve. HOWEVER, as a base, we should do no harm and be as good as 2025 in each unit.

To be as good as 2025, we need to re-sign or upgrade Tonga, Chaisson, Gibbens and Hawkins. It is really that simple.

DL
We had injuries last year. Everyone better knows the system. The backups should improve (Farmer and Gregory).

Re-sign Tonga or a better starting NT and we will be at least as good as in 2025.

EDGE/OLB
Landry wasn't a huge producer. For the total year, neither was Ponder. I expect that the production of the two of them as a total should be as good as 2025. Sure, we could add a major addition in free agency or in the draft.

However, re-sign Chaisson or a better starter and we will be as least as good as in 2025.

INSIDE LB
We should be fine with Spillane, Elliss and Tavai.
Re-sign Gibbens or a better replacement and we will be at least as good as in 2025.

SECONDARY
Sure, we should sign a safety. All the corners are back (plus Dial).
However, re-sign Hawkins or a better replacement and we should be at least as good as in 2025.

50-yard-line · Feb 24, 2026

They need a game-wrecker on the edge opposite Chiasson, imo. A star - a guy who can set an edge AND get to the QB regularly.

Zuma · Feb 24, 2026

I prefer the defense continues to choose violence and harm

UGAPatsfan · Feb 24, 2026

Largely agree but do have some concerns about Spillane’s wheels falling off

hornetfb85 · Feb 24, 2026

All sounds good. Just give me a big time edge guy and I’m good.

TheRainMaker · Feb 24, 2026

Pats have serious needs at Edge. Their pass rush was mediocre and got caught regularly over pursuing and/or getting overpowered in the run game. I don't believe they will re-sign Chaisson as a starter. He will test the market and make a decision.

FS was a weak link. Hawkins made plays, but he also gave up the most TD's on the team.

LB is still a need. They played better as group than in recent years because of Spillane, but they need get some young talent.

DL. I could see Barmore getting moved. Redundant to Williams who hasn't produced since his illness.

VJCPatriot · Feb 24, 2026

50-yard-line said:
They need a game-wrecker on the edge opposite Chiasson, imo. A star - a guy who can set an edge AND get to the QB regularly.

Maxx Crosby? He would cost a 1st round pick.

Trey Hendrickson? He would command probably at least 25m per season.

50-yard-line · Feb 25, 2026

VJCPatriot said:
Maxx Crosby? He would cost a 1st round pick.

Trey Hendrickson? He would command probably at least 25m per season.

Yes or yes.

Getting to the QB in big moments is needed in the playoffs. They need a game-wrecker, which would only make Williams even more deadly.

First round pick at 31? Meh.

scott99 · Feb 25, 2026

I think the Pats will use their 1st round pick on an edge. Then, they really shouldn’t draft defense until much later in the draft, everything should be Oline, TE, WR & RB after the 1st round. Of course all of that depends on the results of free agency. Edge might not be an urgent need after free agency.

Chiasson was a sneaky good signing on a guy who wasn’t really coveted by teams in free agency, maybe we find a similar overlooked free agent edge who fits in the Pat’s scheme.

stinkypete · Feb 25, 2026

I don't agree that a game wrecking edge is needed. If you look at Super Bowl participants over the past decade, teams that surround an elite interior rush with deep, average-good edge talent have fared best.

mgteich · Feb 25, 2026

hornetfb85 said:
All sounds good. Just give me a big time edge guy and I’m good.

100% agree

If we re-sign or replace our free agents, the top place for improvement on Defense is clearly in adding a big time EDGE guy from free agency or the draft.

mgteich · Feb 25, 2026

stinkypete said:
I don't agree that a game wrecking edge is needed. If you look at Super Bowl participants over the past decade, teams that surround an elite interior rush with deep, average-good edge talent have fared best.

"Needed" is always an interesting word.
==========
Our current corps of EDGE/OL rushers consist of
Landry (injured
Jennings (underrated)
Ponder (a bit over-rated)
Swinson (probably PS material again)
========
Could we cobble together a good groups without a $20M+ AAV star? Sure, we can. I agree that this top addition isn't critical.

However, without Chaisson and a healthy Landry, I do think that we NEED help.

patfanken · Feb 25, 2026

You know for the most of the Superbowl I thought the Pats were getting almost as much DL penetration as the Seahawk D was getting, EXCEPT that penetration rarely resulted in sacks, just a lot of "near misses" for most of the game. Near misses that often turned into big plays for Seattle. Anyone else get that impression. I doubt I will ever go back to review the game (too painful), but I do wonder why we couldn't finish the deal so many times. Just sayin'

TheRainMaker · Feb 25, 2026

patfanken said:
You know for the most of the Superbowl I thought the Pats were getting almost as much DL penetration as the Seahawk D was getting, EXCEPT that penetration rarely resulted in sacks, just a lot of "near misses" for most of the game. Near misses that often turned into big plays for Seattle. Anyone else get that impression. I doubt I will ever go back to review the game (too painful), but I do wonder why we couldn't finish the deal so many times. Just sayin'

Milton Williams was whiffing at the QB several times after beating the G in the Super Bowl. But the most glaring thing nobody is talking about is how there were zero teammates in sight to help him play clean up. You can't rely on Williams to duplicate what he did in the previous Super Bowl playing against a one dimensional offense up 20+ points. Chaisson had a play where he ran around the T, but couldn't get to Darnold in time when he ran outside of the pocket and threw it away.

Would Williams sacking Darnold have changed the game? Only if it caused a turnover and they ran it back for TD's. The Pats OL was just that bad they are lucky they scored 13 points.

The difference was that the Seahawks edge players constantly put Campbell on the sled drill and ran around Moses.

Real fan 02 · Mar 1, 2026

TheRainMaker said:
Pats have serious needs at Edge. Their pass rush was mediocre and got caught regularly over pursuing and/or getting overpowered in the run game. I don't believe they will re-sign Chaisson as a starter. He will test the market and make a decision.

FS was a weak link. Hawkins made plays, but he also gave up the most TD's on the team.

LB is still a need. They played better as group than in recent years because of Spillane, but they need get some young talent.

DL. I could see Barmore getting moved. Redundant to Williams who hasn't produced since his illness.

One of Mafe, Oweh or Hendrickson would suffice.. also Vrabel's expected to target premium edge rusher in the draft as well..

Mafe and Oweh are younger.. we need a demon off the edge to stress OTs.. Hendrickson still a good player but age and injury are concerns.. Landry is an unknown this upcoming season..we need as many edge rushers as possible.

Real fan 02 · Mar 1, 2026

stinkypete said:
I don't agree that a game wrecking edge is needed. If you look at Super Bowl participants over the past decade, teams that surround an elite interior rush with deep, average-good edge talent have fared best.

Houston- Anderson and hunter elite
Denver- bonito is elite

To have one elite rusher would allow the defense to do so much more.. getting sacks on 3rd downs creating more TOs and giving Drake the ball back inside the 40 or 50.. it gives the offense more opportunities to score..

That's what this patiots defense is lacking Wolf and Vrabel both acknowledged... we seen this first hand in the postseason with Denver, Houston, LA and Seattle.. you have to be able to create pressure without blitzing.

Vindicate · Mar 1, 2026

patfanken said:
You know for the most of the Superbowl I thought the Pats were getting almost as much DL penetration as the Seahawk D was getting, EXCEPT that penetration rarely resulted in sacks, just a lot of "near misses" for most of the game. Near misses that often turned into big plays for Seattle. Anyone else get that impression. I doubt I will ever go back to review the game (too painful), but I do wonder why we couldn't finish the deal so many times. Just sayin'

Been thinking about this a lot and quite frankly, if I know someone has a very disruptive single talent on the interior, I wonder if at some point it is advantageous to take those pressures with the intent of redirecting the pressure instead of trying to hold it off at all costs, which can result in a breakdown. I'm not much of an X/O's type person, is this a thing OL's do? Identify teams that generate pressure and seek to redirect the path of pressure rather than just simply "stop" it? If multiple players are there and you have pressure on one side AND the interior, this wouldn't work... but if you're facing a DL that can only pressure on one side/interior?

BennyBledsoe · Mar 1, 2026

I would absolutely be looking at developing some players at every level of the defense. While the priority level will change for each position group, no group is immune to needing talented depth or even a new starter.

I do agree with others, though, who point out that the quality of our offensive unit lags behind our defensive unit. OL and TE are huge needs in the draft. I would be very uncomfortable if we didn't find new eventual starters at C and RT. While Wilson played poorly, he still has upside to develop. I don't think we can say the same at either RT or C.

n1997y · Mar 1, 2026

Real fan 02 said:
One of Mafe, Oweh or Hendrickson would suffice.. also Vrabel's expected to target premium edge rusher in the draft as well..

Mafe and Oweh are younger.. we need a demon off the edge to stress OTs.. Hendrickson still a good player but age and injury are concerns.. Landry is an unknown this upcoming season..we need as many edge rushers as possible.

Are there any draft candidates that have potential to help with this?

PancakeBlockPaul · Mar 2, 2026

TheRainMaker said:
Would Williams sacking Darnold have changed the game? Only if it caused a turnover and they ran it back for TD's. The Pats OL was just that bad they are lucky they scored 13 points.

The difference was that the Seahawks edge players constantly put Campbell on the sled drill and ran around Moses.

There were several times I also saw poor Will lying on his stomach after blowing a cut and looking back at the defender now closing in on Drake. I know I will sound like a broken record, but the kid WILL get bigger, stronger, and faster....yes....we have the technology...AND it also helps that he is still VERY young....

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