If the Philadelphia Eagles taught us anything in their lopsided Super Bowl win over the Kansas City Chiefs, it’s that you must control the line of scrimmage. Unfortunately for the New England Patriots, they don’t have the talent or depth on either side of the ball to exert their will, which is one of the principal reasons they’ve finished 4-13 in back-to-back seasons under two vastly different head coaches. However, with Mike Vrabel taking over for the one-and-done Jerod Mayo, you can bet that the Patriots will spend ample resources fortifying the trenches. While fixing an underwhelming offensive line looks like a more difficult task, the Patriots can easily upgrade their defensive line by taking a page right out of the Eagles’ championship-winning playbook. In fact, with about $123 million to spend, Vrabel and Co. can kickstart the offseason with a splashy move that could quickly transform a weakness into a strength. Coming off a superb Super Bowl performance that included a pair of sacks and a forced fumble, defensive tackle Milton Williams is in line for a major raise. While the Eagles could look to retain him, the reigning champs may need to devote some of their cap space to retain fellow pass rusher Josh Sweat. Meanwhile, the Patriots desperately need more talent and depth along the front seven, especially with Christian Barmore’s health (he missed the majority of the 2024 season with blood clots) still a concern. Could Williams be one of the crowned jewels of New England’s offseason? ESPN’s Matt Bowen certainly thinks so. “The Patriots could make another defensive upgrade with Williams, who moved up our ranks after his two sacks and a forced fumble in Super Bowl LIX,” Bowen wrote in his best team fits column for the top 50 players. “Williams had five sacks and 18 pressures during the regular season, and I see a disruptor on tape with the strength to displace blockers at the point of attack.” Tipping the scales at 6-foot-3, 290 pounds, the 2021 third-round pick turns 26 in April, meaning he’s still got his best football ahead of him. “He also has the short-area burst to slip interior offensive linemen,” Bowen added. “He could be a difference-maker with Davon Godchaux and Christian Barmore (currently out with blood clots) inside.”
Of course, Williams won’t come cheap. As an interior pass rusher who’s on the rise, he should command at least $15 million per season, if not more. That’s quite a hefty chunk of change, but the Patriots have more than enough financial wiggle room to make him an enticing offer. If the front office manages to convince Williams to take his talents to Foxborough, that would be a huge offseason win that could pay major dividends if Barmore returns to his 2023 form and 2023 second-rounder Keion White takes a step forward. Oh, and let’s not forget the Patriots could add another defensive lineman or edge rusher with the fourth overall pick, too.