One week into the new league year, the Patriots have brought in a dozen free agents.
The first two weeks of NFL free agency are almost in the books, and the New England Patriots have made their fair share of moves. Entering the market as the league leaders in salary cap space, they have brought in 13 players from outside the organization.
It remains to be seen what kind of impact they will all have on the team, but there is no denying that not every signing falls into the “instant difference maker” category. Such is the nature of having to address numerous roster shortcomings at once, and facing the need to build depth all across the team.
So, which additions should Patriots fans be most excited about? The answer to that question is, obviously, subjective; not every player is every fan’s type of flavor. To provide some assistance, however, we put our heads together to come up with a ranking based on the post-signing grades we handed out for each move.
We understand that this is not the most scientific of methods, but assessing players before they take the field is always a challenging if not futile exercise. With that said, please take the following list a) with a grain of salt, and b) as more of a “let’s keep an eye on him in training camp”-type of deal.
C-grade signings
13. OL Wes Schweitzer: Schweitzer has plenty of experience and has lined up all across the interior offensive line. However, considering that he only started two games the last two seasons the 31-year-old will likely be little more than a veteran depth option. | GPA: 1.77
12. DT Khyiris Tonga: The Patriots made some investments along their defensive line, and signing Tonga on a one-year deal was part of those. He is a big-bodied space eater in the mold of recently-traded Davon Godchaux, but on paper looks like a downgrade on the field. | GPA: 1.77
11. QB Joshua Dobbs: The Patriots needed a veteran quarterback to complement Drake Maye and Joe Milton, and they decided Dobbs would be their guy. There is nothing really wrong with that, even though the signing is not necessarily a “sexy” one. | GPA: 1.90
10. C Garrett Bradbury: After releasing David Andrews, the Patriots had a big hole at center. They are hoping that Bradbury will fill it, even though a) the Minnesota Vikings were happy to replace him as their starter this offseason, and b) there are questions about his pass blocking prowess. Still, he gives the team a floor-raising veteran presence. | GPA: 2.13
9. ED K’Lavon Chaisson: Chaisson never lived up to being the 20th overall pick in the 2020 draft, but there are some enticing tools to work with. Maybe this is a Tobias Fünke “…but it might work for us!” signing, but it’s a risk worth taking. | GPA: 2.33
8. S Marcus Epps: Coming off a season-ending injury, Epps’ status is a bit up in the air. If healthy, though, he should factor into the deep safety mix and thus fill a prominent role in the Patriots’ secondary. | GPA: 2.43
7. LB Jack Gibbens: Gibbens was more of a role player in his three seasons in Tennessee, but he has experience working with Mike Vrabel and offers special teams versatility as well. At worst, this is a solid depth signing helping in two phases. | GPA: 2.53
B-grade signings
6. WR Mack Hollins: No, Mack Hollins is not the same caliber of wide receiver as a DK Metcalf or a Chris Godwin. What he is, though, is a big-bodied player who has steady if unspectacular production as a third and fourth target — one who had the most productive season of his career under Josh McDaniels in 2022. | GPA: 2.90
5. ED Harold Landry III: This one felt inevitable, didn’t it? Landry found his way to the Patriots quickly after his release from the Titans, reuniting with the coach who drafted him in the second round in 2018. A productive and well-rounded player, Landry should slide right into a starting spot along the defensive edge. | GPA: 3.00
4. LB Robert Spillane: The Mike Vrabel-led Patriots want their linebackers to be faster to the ball and more competitive in coverage, and Spillane should help in both of those areas. He also has played under Vrabel before and was a team captain in Las Vegas. In short: a good guy to lead the New England front seven into a new era. | GPA: 3.00
A-grade signings
3. OT Morgan Moses: Even though left tackle remains a major issue at this point in time, the Patriots did fill their right tackle spot by signing arguably the top option available. Yes, Moses is already 34, but he has shown few signs of slowing down and as a seasoned pass protector and run blocker should help solidify a position that was a definitive weakness in 2024. | GPA: 3.75
2. CB Carlton Davis III: Carlton Davis is not taking any prisoners. A physical press-man cornerback with plenty of experience and a proven track record of production, he is a good player and will let you know about it. Teaming him up with All-Pro Christian Gonzalez is instantly giving New England one of the best outside cornerback tandems in the league — something worth spending $18 million a year on. | GPA: 4.00
1. DL Milton Williams: The Patriots had to open the checkbook to lure the premier interior defensive lineman on the market to Foxboro. However, in doing so they added a disruptive presence perfectly-suited to fit the style of defense Mike Vrabel and coordinator Terrell Williams want to play. A front line featuring Williams, Christian Barmore and Keion White could lead to a few sleepless nights for opposing coaches. | GPA: 4.15
As noted above, all the grades are subjective and the way we saw the signings at the time they happened. Still, what they do show is that there is plenty to feel good about when it comes to New England’s investments so far: even the lesser-graded players are still in a spot to become contributors and have value to the team.
While more moves will happen in the future, the foundation of the Patriots’ 2025 free agency class looks like a strong one — something the rebuilding team desperately needed.