The Patriots had one of the greatest if not the greatest turnaround season in the history of the NFL as they went from 4-13 the year prior to being in the Super Bowl this past season. New England was very strong on both sides of the ball but if they plan to close the gap between them and the likes of teams like the Seahawks, whom New England lost soundly to in the Super Bowl, they will need to take their play on either or both sides of the ball up a notch or two. On the defensive side of things, the Patriots were a top 5 scoring defense in 2025 led by their defensive minded head coach Mike Vrabel in his first season on the job. However, the Patriots defense was an elite defense by any stretch, but it did not feel like a defense that had a next gear to it like the Seahawks’, Texans’, and Eagles’ defenses did this past season. If New England plans on taking the next step as a team, they will need to perhaps find another gear on the defensive side of the ball. I will assess New England’s personnel on the defensive side of things starting here with the front seven of the team.
Set to start at the first of the two edge rusher spots is veteran former 2nd rounder Christian Barmore. Barmore got off to a very strong start to his career grading in the above average to well above average range in terms of an overall defense grade according to Pro Football Focus in each of his first three seasons playing. In the third year in that streak Barmore graded in the top ten among players at his position logging 750 snaps which is quite a bit to be graded as high as he was. However, Barmore has dropped off the past few seasons in large part due to injury grading in the below average range for two straight seasons now. If Barmore can recapture strong form as he gets healthier then Barmore will be an above average to a well above average NFL starter.
Set to start at nose tackle is Cory Durden who will be transitioning to a starting role for the first time in his career. Durden looked borderline elite in a reserve role during the 2025 season which was his first season logging extended snaps. Durden, because of his strong play, will now transition to a starting role in Mike Vrabel’s defense next season. He has been very good in limited snaps, but it remains to be seen how consistently strong he can be as a starter.
Veteran former third rounder Milton Williams is set to start at the other edge rusher spot and is very effective. In every season he has played in outside of his rookie year, Williams has graded in the above average to well above average range in terms of an overall defense grade according to Pro Football Focus. A similar narrative can be written for former 2nd round pick veteran Harold Landry III who in every season but one outside of his rookie year has graded in the above average to well above average range. Landry III is set to start at the will linebacker spot for the Patriots as of now. Set to start at the second linebacker spot is veteran Christian Elliss, Elliss is a solid player who in two seasons where he has logged noticeable snaps, he graded well above average and then in the middle of the pack. Robert Spillane is set to start at the right inside linebacker spot and is very effective as a pro. Spillane after getting off to an up and down start to his career with the Steelers, has now graded in the above average to well above average range for three straight seasons. Rounding out New England’s starting front seven is veteran Dre’Mont Jones who is set to start at the sam linebacker spot. Jones has some potential grading in the above average to well above average range twice in seven seasons but is likely better suited as a backup given how he grades as below average most of the time.
From a reserve standpoint in the Patriots’ front seven the team has a lot of depth and the Patriots’ front seven is currently one of the deepest in the sport. Leonard Taylor III has graded in the above average in both seasons he has played in the NFL thus far, although certainly not well above average, and he has done so in limited snaps. 2025 undrafted free agent Eric Gregory graded in the well above average range as a rookie albeit in limited snaps. The Patriots drafted edge rusher Gabe Jucas in the 2nd round of the 2026 draft, and he could contribute in a big way to the team. Linebacker Bradyn Swinson who was a 5th round pick in last year’s draft looked solid in very limited rookie snaps, linebacker KJ Britt has played very well at times as well, linebacker Elijah Ponder looked solid as a rookie after going undrafted before 2025, while the likes of Joshua Farmer, Jeremiah Pharms Jr, Jesse Luketa, Chad Muma, Otis Reese IV have also shown potential to be high end backups. Below you can find a breakdown of the Patriots’ front seven heading into the 2026 season.
New England Patriots Current Starting Front Seven
LDE – Christian Barmore – B to B+, tailed off past two seasons in large part due to injury
NT – Cory Durden – B to B+, has performed very well as a reserve thus far, now transitioning to starting role
RDE – Milton Williams – B to B+
WLB – Harold Landry III – B to B-
LILB – Christian Elliss – B-
RILB – Robert Spillane – B to B+
SLB – Dremont Jones – C to C+
Key Front Seven Reserves
ED – Leonard Taylor III – B-
NT – Eric Gregory – B to B+ in limited rookie snaps as undrafted free agent before 2025
ED – Gabe Jucas – 2026 2nd rounder
LB – Bradyn Swinson – C, decent in very limited rookie snaps as 2025 5th rounder
LB – K.J Britt – C+, elite ceiling but far too inconsistent
LB – Elijah Ponder – C in limited rookie snaps as 2025 undrafted free agent
ED – Jeremiah Pharms Jr – B-
LB – Jesse Luketa – C+ to B-
LB – Chad Muma – C to C+
LB – Otis Reese IV – C to C+
DL/ED – Joshua Farmer – C as rookie, 2025 4th rounder
The New England front seven is very good and very deep, but I question if the unit can be elite as they lack high end talent as no player in the New England front seven warranted a grade of an even an A- or even a B+ to an A-.
