With the 2024 season in the books, MassLive will look at each position group on the Patriots, analyzing how the team performed and where it might be heading in the future. This is an important offseason for new Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and owner Robert Kraft. This series continues with defensive linemen.
Defensive linemen: Davon Godchaux, Christian Barmore, Keion White, Deatrich Wise, Daniel Ekuale, Jeremiah Pharms, Jaquelin Roy, Eric Johnson, Titus Leo, Truman Jones, Marcus Harris
Contract situation: The Patriots have three big names locked up but lack long-term depth.
Godchaux is signed through 2026. The 30-year-old has a cap number of $8.3 million, most of which is guaranteed. His cap hit rises to $11.83 million in 2026 but the Patriots would save $8.5 million by cutting the veteran.
Barmore will be in the first year of his massive four-year, $84 million extension. The 25-year-old will have a $14.125 million cap hit next season and that’s guaranteed. Barmore’s cap number rises to $17.1 million, $23.6, and $24.6 million. The Patriots can get out of this deal in 2026 – saving $11.5 million if they cut him. The team would save $20 million in 2027 and $21 million the next year by releasing Barmore.
White enters 2025 in the third year of his rookie contract with a $1.12 million cap hit. He’s signed through 2026. The other two veterans who played the most, Wise and Ekuale, are unrestricted free agents.
Pharms signed a new 2-year, $2.275 million contract this week. He has a cap hit of $1.08 million this season and $1.245 million in 2026.
The Patriots have five younger players entering this season in contract years with minimal cap hits – Johnson ($1.1 million), Roy ($1.03 million), Leo ($960,000), Jones ($840,000), and Harris ($840,000).
2024 review: It wasn’t good enough.
The Patriots traded away Matthew Judon in the summer. They hoped they could rebound without their best pass rusher, but that didn’t happen. The Patriots had the worst pass rush in the NFL. They finished last in the league in sacks (28). The defense sacked opposing quarterbacks on 5.25% of their pass attempts, the worst sack percentage in the NFL.
The group wasn’t much better against the run. The Patriots allowed 131.4 rushing yards per game. That ranked 23rd in the NFL. The defense allowed 2,233 rushing yards. That’s the seventh most in NFL history and the most allowed by a Patriots team since 1990.
Part of the Patriots problem with the pass rush and pass defense was the absence of Barmore. The talented defensive tackle missed most of the season after being diagnosed with blood clots. He came back to play four games, making six tackles and a sack before a medical setback forced him back on the sidelines. Barmore led the Patriots in sacks (8.5) and quarterback hits (16) in 2023 and was sorely missed.
White and Wise led the Patriots in sacks with five. White also led the team in quarterback hits (16). The second-year player started strong, amassing four sacks in the first two games. He had one sack in the final 15 matchups.
Godchaux started all 17 games at defensive tackle, finishing with 67 tackles. Pro Football Focus ranked him 88 out of 126 defensive tackles. Ekuale stepped up with Barmore out. He started 16 games, finishing with a career-high 52 tackles. PFF ranked Ekuale 54 out of 126 players.
The future: Other than the offensive line, fixing the defensive line is the Patriots biggest priority of the offseason. The team’s pass rush was the worst in the NFL. Mike Vrabel has made it clear that he wants a defense that can get to the quarterback.
Barmore is another question. If he’s back, he’ll be a huge piece of the puzzle. But if he can’t play due to medical reasons, the Patriots need to invest in another defensive tackle. They have two solid players in White and Godchaux but need more help.
The Patriots should attack free agency and bring in a veteran pass rusher. Philadelphia’s Josh Sweat would be a fit. This free-agent class has several veterans who could help – Khalil Mack, Haason Reddick, Chase Young, and Azeez Ojulari. It would be helpful to land one of these vets.
The team could also look for free-agent defensive tackle options. There are some good options available with Osa Odighizuwa, Milton Williams, and Levi Onwuzurike, who played for Patriots defensive coordinator Terrell Williams last season.
The Patriots will also likely search for help in the draft. This year’s draft is considered deep with defensive line prospects. At No. 4, Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter would be a home run – if he’s available. Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham is another legitimate option.
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