Quarterback Drake Maye and head coach Mike Vrabel are the faces of the Patriots’ sudden turnaround this season, but savvy roster-building from the front office also helped spark the team’s [6-2 start](https://www.bostonherald.com/2025/10/26/what-we-learned-best-and-worst-from-patriots-32-13-win-over-browns/).
Vrabel, executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf, vice president of player personnel Ryan Cowden and vice president of football operations and strategy John Streicher spearheaded a much-needed reshaping of the Patriots’ roster in free agency this offseason.
Overall, between signings, draft picks and waiver claims, the Patriots turned over 55% of their 53-man roster from the end of last season. And as good as Maye has been at quarterback through eight games, he likely wouldn’t be nearly as comfortable or efficient without the added influx of talent brought in this offseason.
Let’s check in on the Patriots’ 2025 free-agent class.
#### DT Milton Williams
The biggest prize of Patriots free agency, Williams has come as advertised while taking on a much bigger role in the middle of Vrabel’s defense.
Williams has 3.5 sacks, six tackles for loss and six QB hits through eight games while playing 313 defensive snaps.
PFF has charted Williams with 25 total pressures, which is good for seventh among interior defenders. His 13 defensive stops ranks 15th.
#### WR Stefon Diggs
Expectations were relatively low for Diggs, despite a three-year, $63.5 million contract. Diggs expeditiously recovered from a torn ACL and has exceeded expectations with 42 catches for 470 yards and a touchdown while also providing locker room leadership.
Diggs currently ranks 13th among wide receivers with a 79.1 PFF grade. He’s caught 7-of-7 contested targets from Maye.
#### CB Carlton Davis III
The veteran cornerback is allowing just 27.75 yards per game as the Patriots’ No. 2 cornerback, playing across from Christian Gonzalez.
He’s allowed just 19 catches through eight games on 31 targets for 222 yards with two pass breakups and two touchdowns. He has been penalized six times, but he’s coming off one of his stronger games in Week 8, allowing zero catches on one target.
#### OLB Harold Landry III
The veteran edge defender has been another solid addition to the Patriots’ defense with 5.5 sacks, seven tackles for loss and 12 QB hits in eight starts. His 30 total pressures rank 13th among edge defenders this season.
#### LB Robert Spillane
Spillane had a slow start to the season as he struggled with missed tackles. From Week 3 on, however, the veteran linebacker ranks third among starting linebackers with an 89.4 PFF grade. His 91.1 run defense grade ranks first in that span.
The Patriots have been extremely stingy in run defense this season, and Spillane is one of the chief reasons.
#### RT Morgan Moses
Among the 64 offensive tackles who have played the most snaps this season, Moses ranks 17th with a 72.7 overall PFF grade.
He’s allowed just one sack and seven total pressures while starting every game and steadying the Patriots’ right tackle position.
#### C Garrett Bradbury
Replacing David Andrews with Garrett Bradbury came with some unhappiness from the Patriots faithful.
Bradbury has been perhaps the Patriots’ most pleasant surprise this season, allowing zero sacks and just six total pressures in eight starts.
#### WR Mack Hollins
Hollins is coming off his most productive game in a Patriots uniform with a game-high 89 yards on seven catches in a Week 8 win.
On the year, Hollins has 18 catches on 21 targets for 208 yards with two touchdowns while also providing tight end-level blocking from the receiver position.
#### QB Joshua Dobbs
Dobbs did his job as a backup by evading a sack and completing a 12-yard pass in Week 7 while Drake Maye was getting evaluated for a concussion.
#### OLB K’Lavon Chaisson
Another very pleasant surprise, Chaisson signed a one-year deal worth just $3 million this offseason.
He’s rewarded the Patriots by ascending into a starter with 4.5 sacks, five tackles for loss, eight QB hits and a fumble recovery for a touchdown which helped him earn an AFC Defensive Player of the Week honor in Week 7.
#### DT Khyiris Tonga
Tonga barely generated any headlines when he signed a one-year, $2.1 million contract on the first day of free agency.
He’s been a pseudo-starter and impressed with his combination of run defense and pass rush as a space eater in the middle of the defense.
#### LB Jack Gibbens
One of the Patriots’ core special teamers, Gibbens has also carved out a role on defense this season in a rotation with Christian Elliss, Jahlani Tavai and Marte Mapu.
Gibben is known for his smarts and is a favorite of interim defensive coordinator Zak Kuhr and special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer.