Part 4 in a series on free agency, which begins March 10 at Noon. Today's focus is on defensive tackle.
As we know, what happens in free agency will influence some of what happens in the draft. For instance, if the Patriots don't land a left tackle in March, that heightens the need to find one in late April.
Regarding the defensive line, the number of draftable players is mind-boggling. In particular, 41 defensive tackles are invited to next week's Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. The year before, there was just 25. Wherever you consume my stuff - here, on TV, on the radio, on social media - I've been beating this same drum: double dipping on the 'D' line, maybe even the daring triple dip, is the way to go. You get a pass rusher, the eventual Davon Godchaux replacement, and a significant upgrade behind Christian Barmore.
Barmore, of course, is the biggest 'X' factor on this roster. As I reported a week ago, the big fella is working out. Still, a treadmill and lifting weights are not the same as playing football, especially when considering Barmore's condition (recurring blood clots). There's been precious little information about it. I understand. This is the guy's life we're talking about. But I won't automatically assume anything about the DT's availability for the upcoming season, another reason why the Pats need to be active.
Godchaux is a polarizing player. I don't view him as a leader. He is a 'me first' guy on a team that's had far too many of those types in the last handful of seasons. But he fills a role as a run-stopper, and if he wants one more contract, he should drink the Kool-Aid that Mike Vrabel will be selling. To his credit, Godchax has been durable, playing between 659 and 685 snaps during his first four seasons in New England.
No interior defender logged more snaps than Daniel Ekuale. He's a league-average starter at best, although ideally, he would spell the big guys for a series here or there and enter the game in certain pass-rush situations. Ekuale is a free agent.
The team just inked Jeremiah Pharms to a two-year extension, but if he gets beat out, so be it. Pharms has had some moments, but he's a break-glass in case of emergency type, and if the Pats do this roster build right, he'd only be active on select occasions.
Jaquelin Roy, Eric Johnson, and Marcus Harris also have contracts. Roy is five years younger than Pharms and could be a rotational piece on the interior, but he will need to get healthy. He dealt with both foot and, more concerning, a neck injury that eventually landed him on IR the second week of December.
Like Roy, Johnson is a former fifth-round pick (Indy). He appeared in 11 games and was stout the final two weeks of the year, logging his highest snap counts of the season (30 vs the Chargers and 34 against the Bills). He will compete for a reserve role.
Signed for 2025:
Barmore (2025 cap hit $15.1 million/signing bonus $3.6 mil/1.275 million roster bonus/$225K workout bonus/dead cap $26.4 mil) *it should be noted that the Pats have an out in Barmore's contract after this season. The dead cap would be $12.8 million.
Godchaux (2025 cap hit $8.3 million/signing bonus $3.3 mil/850K roster bonus/$150K workout bonus/dead cap $10.6 mil)
Pharms (2025 cap hit $1.08 million/signing bonus 50K//dead cap $100K)
Roy (2025 cap hit $103 million/dead cap $0)
Johnson (2025 cap hit $1.1million/dead cap $0)
Harris (2025 cap hit $840K/dead cap $0)
YOU WANNA GET NUTS, LET'S GET NUTS
1. Milton Williams: You saw what the third-round pick was capable of in the Super Bowl (2 sacks). But trust me, his name has been big in NFL circles for the last couple of seasons. Williams is an excellent pass-rusher, with a career-high six sacks this year. He has a quick first step, knows how to use his hands, and, for a big man, can close on quarterbacks. He's never played more than 50% of the snaps in a single season (his high is 501 plays), but when you consider who he's played alongside - Fletcher Cox, Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis - it's easy to understand.
PFF estimates a three-year extension worth S63 million ($37.5 million guaranteed). Spotrac sees it as considerably less: 3 years, $36 million (to quote Ron Burgundy, "I don't believe you.").
2. Osa Odighizuwa: While the Cowboys season was going up in smoke, the 26-year-old played some of the best football of his career. He's not as big as Williams (6'2", 280 vs. 6'3", 290), but his hands and feet are in constant motion, and his strength is impressive. "That dude never stops," an NFC scout told me. He is a tweener, which could be good in terms of his ability to line up in a couple of different spots, but his work as a run defender can be lacking, though not because of effort.
PFF estimates a 4-year, $85 million contract ($42.5 million guaranteed). Spotrac says 3 years and $62.9 million.
INSIDER INFO
1. Levi Onwuzurike: New Pats DC Terrell Williams was the DL coach in Detroit this past year, meaning he got an up-close and personal look at Onwuzurike. He gets up the field, which is what this new-look defense will encourage. His pass-rush win rate was in the top 15 at the position, though he didn't have big sack numbers (1.5). He could be in the upper tier based on talent, but before this past season, injuries held him back. There will be competition for Onwuzurike's services. Aaron Glenn and the Jets are also quite familiar with his skill set.
PFF projects 2 years and $16.5 million ($10 guaranteed). Spotrac is at 2 years for $9 million.
I LIKE DEPTH. DEPTH IS GOOD.
1. Jarran Reed: He would be a nice piece to complement Barmore or, if needed, assume more of a role. Reed remains a strong pass rusher and had a strong year for Seattle. He's older (32), but this is a one-year contract with a bit of a higher cost than bringing back Ekuale.
PFF estimates one year for $6 million ($5 million guaranteed).
2. Maurice Hurst: I liked him last year. I still like him. Penetrator. He is coming off a subpar season and played just eight games before ending the year on injured reserve (ankle). Hurst is strictly a rotational piece.
Spotrac estimates 1 year, $2.1 million.
BEST OF THE REST: Poona Ford (had a bounceback season with the Chargers), Adam Butler (remember him?), Naquon Jones, Javon Kinlaw.