Pats Pulpit
The Patriots retained the pending free agent on a reported two-year contract extension.
Following a series of futures additions and the release of offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor, the New England Patriots have now made their first player re-signing of the 2025 offseason. Defensive tackle Jeremiah Pharms Jr. was retained on a reported two-year contract extension.
Pharms Jr., a former undrafted free agent who originally arrived in 2022, was coming off the best season of his career. Originally set to enter exclusive-rights free agency in March, he will instead be part of the team through the 2026 season.
What does the signing mean for the Patriots, though? Let’s assess.
The Patriots’ incoming staff led by head coach Mike Vrabel and defensive coordinator Terrell Williams likes one thing out of its defensive linemen: aggressiveness. From that perspective, Pharms Jr. getting re-signed makes plenty of sense.
The 28-year-old has been violent at the point of attack whenever on the field, and showing a high motor along the way. His game against the Chicago Bears in Week 10, when he registered a sack, two hurries and five total tackles, was his best performance to date and a perfect encapsulation of all that.
All in all, Pharms Jr. offers quality depth as a rotational pass rusher who can also hold his own in the running game. And while the former UDFA does have limitations from a size perspective and is not the most natural talent, he is trying to make up for his shortcomings with an A-plus effort on every down — something Vrabel and Williams put a high value on as well.
The Patriots entered the offseason with five interior defensive linemen on their roster, plus three more headed toward free agency. Re-signing Pharms Jr. moves one player from that second to the first category, and — together with Marcus Harris signing a reserve/futures pact — gives the team a stronger foundation to build on heading into 2025.
In total, the Patriots’ current interior defensive line looks as follows:
Tackles (6): Christian Barmore (90), Davon Godchaux (92), Jeremiah Pharms Jr. (98), Jaquelin Roy (94), Eric Johnson (96), Marcus Harris (58)
Ends (1): Keion White (99)
The biggest question mark outside of how the new coaching staff will employ its linemen is whether or not Christian Barmore will return to his Pro Bowl-caliber form in 2025, or return to the team at all. The former second-round draft pick, who signed a four-year contract extension last offseason, missed most of 2024 after being diagnosed with blood clots.
Also unclear is the outlook of the Patriots’ remaining two free agents up front. Tackle Daniel Ekuale and end Deatrich Wise Jr., both of whom in their 30s, are set to enter the open market as unrestricted free agents in March.
Given all of those potential moving pieces, Pharms Jr. staying put at least improves the depth from a foundational point of view.
Even thought the...
