New England Patriots links 5/07/25 - Defending the defense: Has it improved enough to compete?

Daily news and links for Wednesday.

TEAM TALK

• Paul Perillo spotlights fourth-round pick Craig Woodson hoping to fill a role in the secondary. “He’s a pro through and through.”
• Media Availability: Kyle Dugger and Joshua Dobbs (16 min. video)
• The PU Crew talks with QB Joshua Dobbs in-studio to talk offseason workouts, learning Josh McDaniels playbook, working with Drake Maye and more! (10 min. video)
• Trailer: Forged In Foxborough: Exclusive look at the 2025 New England Patriots. (2.15 min. video)
• Patriots Unfiltered: Joshua Dobbs in-studio, Edelman to Pats HOF, offseason workouts. (2 hours)

LOCAL LINKS

• Doug Kyed reports the Patriots handed out numbers to its 2025 NFL Draft rookie class.
• Karen Guregian hears from Patriots backup QB Joshua Dobbs on what impresses him about Drake Maye.
• Mark Daniels notes Joshua Dobbs plans to be a healthy influence for Drake Maye.
• Mike D’Abate writes Kyle Dugger reveals his ‘fit’ within the defense and eagerness to bring some aggression back.
• Doug Kyed highlights Kyle Dugger, the Patriots’ new longest-tenured player, with an update on his ankle injury.
• Phil Perry and Andrew Callahan expect a big bounce-back year for hard-hitting safety Kyle Dugger.
• Jared Koch relays Chad Graff (The Athletic) on how New England may have hit a home run in the draft with their pick of DT Joshua Farmerone at 137.
• Sara Marshall relays NFL analyst Bruce Feldman (The Athletic) on how he believes TreVeyon Henderson is “further along” than top rookie running back Ashton Jeanty.
• Michael DeVito is finding that playmaking draftees TreVeyon Henderson and Kyle Williams are getting the kind of buzz fans dream about. /I prefer post-season accolades to offseason praise.
• Danny Jaillet notes Eliot Wolf says there were no disagreements on drafting TreVeyon Henderson.
• Michael DeVito believes Julian Edelman now has a real argument for the NFL Hall of Fame next.
• Jason Ounpraseuth explains why the Patriots were correct to pass on the George Pickens trade. Pickens has multiple drawbacks that fans aren’t considering.
• Alex Barth notes Massachusetts high schools had five players taken in the 2025 NFL Draft, leading the way among New England states.
• The Savage Boston podcast: Jerry Thornton joins to discuss Boston media, the 2025 Pats season; More. (42 min)

NATIONAL NEWS

• Albert Breer (SI) NFL Notes: Matthew Stafford salked away from $20M to stay in LA; Plus, more info on the draft in Washington, how the Falcons copied the Rams’ defensive moves and the Ravens’ release of Justin Tucker.
• Gary Davenport (Bleacher Report) Ranking every post-draft defense. Pats 25th. “... It’s possible the Patriots could roll out one of the league’s most improved defenses in 2025—they certainly paid to do so. But the success (or lack thereof) of the team’s new-look pass rush will go a long way toward determining just how improved they truly are.”
• Myles Simmons (ProFootballTalk) Kyle Dugger says ankle is “doing well” after undergoing tightrope surgery. -...