New England Patriots - NESN.com
The New England Patriots are in the thick of training camp and multiple offseason acquisitions have already stood out.
On offense, four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs has come as advertised thus far, while veteran linebacker Robert Spillane has reportedly shined on defense.
Still, with more than a month left until the regular season kicks off, some NFL analysts think the Patriots should consider bringing in more talent.
NFL.com’s Kevin Patra recently listed 10 “best team-free agent fits” leading into the 2025 campaign and tied New England to three-time Pro Bowl pass-rusher Jadeveon Clowney.
“New England spent big this offseason to bolster the defense. That can still continue. The addition of Milton Williams upgraded the interior. Harold Landry adds experience on the edge, but he’s on the back nine of his career. Why not bring in another former Mike Vrabel player to fill out depth?” Patra wrote. “Last season in Carolina, Clowney generated 5.5 sacks, a number that would have led the 2024 Patriots (underscoring the sad state of the pass rush under the previous regime). He is only a year removed from a 9.5-sack campaign in Baltimore. Clowney began his NFL career with Vrabel in Houston and played for both the coach and Patriots defensive coordinator Terrell Williams in Tennessee in 2020. At this stage, Clowney is a rotational contributor, but he’d immediately bring more credibility to an edge rush that has underwhelmed in recent years.”
Clowney was the first overall pick during the 2014 NFL Draft and spent the first five seasons of his career with the Houston Texans, earning all three of his Pro Bowl nods from 2016 to 2018. He’s been a journeyman since then, playing for the Seattle Seahawks (2019), Tennessee Titans (2020), Cleveland Browns (2021-22), Baltimore Ravens (2023) and Carolina Panthers (2024).
The 32-year-old not only has four straight seasons with at least two passes defended and 2.0 sacks but has seven games of playoff experience as well.
Clowney played three postseason tilts with the Texans, two with the Seahawks and two with the Ravens, registering 24 tackles, six quarterback hits, five tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
The former South Carolina star would bring veteran leadership and playoff experience to a young team like the Patriots, whose defense is expected to be much improved from last year’s 22nd-ranked unit.
