New England Patriots - NESN.com
The New England Patriots made several key moves this offseason, enhancing their coaching staff and adding to the roster across all positions.
However, one ESPN analyst wasn’t as content with all their offseason additions, giving them a fairly harsh grade.
Seth Walder provided 2025 offseason grades for all 32 NFL teams, and the Los Angeles Rams received the highest grade with an A, while the New Orleans Saints received the lowest grade with a D.
As for the Patriots, he gave them a C+, highlighting their best move as hiring head coach Mike Vrabel, but saying the move he disliked was signing defensive tackle Milton Williams.
Walder said it was the “right call” to fire former New England head coach Jerod Mayo, and that Vrabel is “an upgrade” because he “has demonstrated success getting the most of his past rosters.”
He also gave the Patriots credit for having “significantly improved their roster.” However, his reason for disliking the Williams contract was due to the money.
During free agency, it seemed that Williams was going to sign with the Carolina Panthers, with some reports even saying the deal was done. However, New England swooped in at the last minute and offered him the largest contract in franchise history at 4 years for $104 million.
But, for Walder, he thought it was too much.
“Although he’s a nice player, Williams also played only 47% of Philadelphia’s snaps in 2024 while playing next to other stout defensive linemen,” he wrote.
Other notable signings by New England were cornerback Carlton Davis, right tackle Morgan Moses, and veteran wide receiver Stefon Diggs. And while he’s not set on it all, Walder can’t deny that these “additions also unquestionably made the team better.”
