The main wave of free agency is in the rearview mirror, but the New England Patriots continue to tinker with their roster as the 2025 NFL league year is underway. While things have slowed down between free agency and the NFL Draft, let’s clean out the notebook to take a look back on the week that was.
Welcome to the latest edition of our Sunday Patriots Notes.
Williams pursuit
Mike Vrabel entered free agency with the goal of remodeling a Patriots defense that ranked 30th in DVOA in 2024. To do that, Vrabel looked to add a key difference maker at each level of the defense.
That started with linebacker Robert Spillane and cornerback Carlton Davis, but the big target came up front in Philadelphia Eagles interior pass rusher Milton Williams, who projected as a perfect fit in Vrabel’s defensive scheme.
Roughly an hour into the free agent negotiation period, however, Williams looked to be on the cusp of signing with the Carolina Panthers. That was until New England swooped back in with a monster four-year, $104 million offer that made him the highest paid player in franchise history in terms of AAV.
“My agent — they were all on the phone, and I was just kind of in the room,” Williams told NFL Network Friday night. “They were on the phone talking to teams and teams were coming in with new deals. There was a lot going on, it happened really fast. He told me about Carolina then and I was like, ‘alright, it sounds like the best offer we are going to get, so, we were going to go there.’
“Then, a split second later, New England hopped on and was like, ‘Nah, this is what we got for you.’ Carolina, they felt like they went too high on their number, so, they stayed where they were at. New England came in, and it was it after that. They showed they wanted me the most and made me a priority. So, made them a priority.”
Following a season in which he was one of the most dominant interior penetrators in football, Williams was viewed by many as the top available player in free agency. That and his level of play last season led to the hefty price tag, as Vrabel explained during the NFL Combine in February that when “there’s only one of a certain car, maybe you have to pay a little bit more for that one car because there’s only one of them.”
But New England is not just paying Williams for what he has accomplished, but in hopes of what he can continue to develop into. After playing a situational role throughout his career on a deep Eagles defensive line, Williams will be counted on more in Vrabel’s defense.
After visiting the facility last week, the soon-to-be 26-year old returned to Texas and has already got back to work to make that happen.
“Do what I’ve always done, just put in the work,” Williams said of preparing to handle the extra workload. “Just extra conditioning, boxing, running, trying to make sure I’m eating right, eating cleaner, getting the right amount of sleep, everything. Anything I can do in my power, I’m trying to do whatever I can to make sure that I’m fully functioning and able to provide for my team when they need me to.”
Beyond expecting to be a dominant force on the field, Williams’ contract will come with a leadership role as well. While he is more of a lead-by-example type of leader, Williams believes he and his fellow free agents additions are the right people to help establish Vrabel’s culture and vision.
“[Vrabel] wants us to come in and try to change the culture around with what’s been going on in New England the last couple of years,” Williams shared. “I definitely think he picked the right guys for that.”
Reseting the tackle market
Fellow free agent addition Morgan Moses also projects as a big figure on and off the field for the Patriots. The veteran will take on a leadership role, but more importantly is expected to settle down the right tackle position which was the weakest along the offensive line last season.
Who will play opposite of Moses is still a question, however. Last year’s starter Vederian Lowe remains under contract, while Caedan Wallace and Trey Jacobs are the only other tackles on the roster.
Following Cam Robinson signing a one-year deal in Houston, the free agent options are limited at the position:
Tyron Smith: The 34-year still has some gas left in the tank, making him the best stop-gap option remaining.
Jedrick Wills Jr.: A former top-10 pick, Wills has never lived up to the billing in Cleveland. Vrabel saw first hand Wills get benched last season after he made a “business decision” to sit out of a game with a minor knee injury — likely removing him from the option list going forward.
D.J. Humphries: The 31-year old played just 92 snaps at tackle for the Chiefs last season after missing the start of the year rehabbing a torn ACL.
Joe Noteboom: A versatile backup in Los Angeles, Noteboom has struggled with injuries appearing in just 24 games over the last three seasons.
Diggs review
With Mike Vrabel looking to establish a new culture and find a veteran for his receiver room, some were surprised the team held wide receiver Stefon Diggs on a free agent visit. Diggs has never been shy to be animated on the sideline while a fallout in Buffalo with Josh Allen led to a trade to Houston last offseason.
Ask the Texans — and specifically quarterback C.J. Stroud — and the reviews are nothing but positive about the 31-year old receiver.
“It’s been great. I think he got a bad rap just by the media and by people,” Stroud said of Diggs during training camp last year. “But he’s been nothing but just amazing to this team and to his teammates. He’s helped me out a ton. As you can see, we’re clicking more and more every game. So, I’m very happy for him and I’m glad that he’s finally having fun playing the game and doing what he loves to do because he loves football a lot. So, just really, really happy to be part of his journey and just being around him has been really awesome.”
Stroud then added later in the season: “He’s somebody who loves the game and doesn’t cheat it, and that’s why he’s been successful and I think he’ll continue that success. I’m blessed enough to, hopefully, be a part of that. That’s some things that just stuck out to me. Just how personable he is, how relatable he is. He’s really friendly and very vocal, so it’s really nice to have him around.”
Deadline deal
As Diggs ultimately left the building without a deal, the search continues for upgrades at the wide receiver position. While the most likely outcome may be the NFL Draft at this point, New England will keep eyes on the trade market. The top available option is wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who the 49ers are opening to dealing as they look to reset their financial books.
With money being a priority to moving off the receiver, April 1 could be the deadline to move Aiyuk as his $22.855 million option bonus kicks in that date — where an additional $31 million would also become guaranteed.
Josh’s system
“To me it’s not a hard system. It gets said it’s such a hard system, it’s a very intricate system and everyone has to be on the same page and when they are there’s a lot of success cause it gives the quarterback the controls to get things right,” David Andrews said of Josh McDaniels’ offensive system.
“Everyone’s got to be on the same page, there’s a lot of checks involved in it. I think it’s a great system because the whole point of the system is not to run a bad play. You have answers to problems within the system. Now sometimes it’s just hard getting to those answers.”
Gonzo lookahead
Following the 2025 season, signing the then extension eligible Christian Gonzalez to a new contract should be atop the Patriots to-do list. That likely made Gonzalez a happy camper to see Texans’ CB Derek Stingley Jr. sign a historic three-year, $90 million extension with $89 million guaranteed this week.
“I think it’s good that the cornerback position and other defensive positions are starting to get up there, too,” Stingley said. “Obviously with time, it’s gonna keep on going up, so I’m excited to see who is gonna make [the next] deal like that.”
Tee times
The third annual NFL Players Association Classic will be held on Tuesday, March 25 and Wednesday, March 26 at the El Camadleón Golf Course at Mayakoba in Riviera Maye, Mexico. Among the 18 foursomes in competition will include Patriots quarterbacks Drake Maye and Joshua Dobbs in addition to cornerback Marcus Jones.
Maye and Dobbs will be teammates for the first time in their foursome which also includes former Patriots QB Jacoby Brissett and Maye’s close friend Sam Howell. Maye will hold the team captain title.
Setting up the week ahead
Free agency remains on going for the Patriots to make any moves or host visits. New England will also have to make a decision by Monday on the Raiders’ free agent offer sheet to restricted free agent Christian Elliss.
Outside of that, the Pro Day circuit continues for New England’s front office as they get closer to the NFL Draft in April.