New England Patriots - NESN.com
The New England Patriots’ pass rush was nonexistent last season.
New England recorded a league-low 28 sacks in 2024, leaving quarterbacks unbothered and offenses comfortable.
This summer, defensive coordinator Terrell Williams has a fresh set of players to work with, including Harold Landry, Milton Williams, Khyiris Tonga and K’Lavon Chaisson, along with the expected rise of Keion White. Early camp results suggest progress, though it is still difficult to judge given the offensive line’s struggles.
The bigger question is whether the team should consider outside help. Cincinnati’s Trey Hendrickson, who has posted 17½ sacks in back-to-back seasons, is holding out over his contract.
Adding him would give the Patriots an instant focal point for opposing lines, much like Matthew Judon once did. New England currently has “a stable of good, to potentially very good pass rushers,” as Karen Guregian of MassLive noted. What they do not have is one elite disruptor.
Still, the likelihood of Hendrickson leaving the Cincinnati Bengals appears very slim. His age, contract demands and New England’s long-term rebuilding outlook make such a move unlikely. That leaves Williams and his staff to elevate what is already in-house.
Williams has praised Landry in particular, saying he sees “a more mature player that understands now in year eight what his role is and what he wants to be,” as transcribed by Guregian.
Chaisson has turned heads in camp, while White remains a developmental piece coaches believe can blossom. Milton Williams, Tonga and Christian Barmore provide depth on the interior.
The Patriots may not have an All-Pro sack artist, but signs point toward a stronger front.
