Bubble: Sam Roberts, Jeremiah Pharms, Daniel Ekuale
In the Mix: William Bradley-King, Trysten Hill, Jotham Russell
The Patriots defensive line is expected to look mostly the same as it did in 2023, except for the subtraction of stalwart Lawrence Guy, who was released this offseason after seven productive seasons in which he missed just five total games.
Davon Godchaux, the anchor in the middle, was a light participant in mandatory minicamp, with head coach Jerod Mayo acknowledging that Godchaux was hoping for a new contract as he heads into the final year of his current deal.
"Look, we want [Davon] here," said Mayo in mid-June's minicamp. "He's one of our best players. He's working... He's here every single day, has been here every single day. We look forward to getting him on the field in camp."
Assuming Godchaux's situation is resolved, he'll join newly extended Christian Barmore and veteran captain Deatrich Wise along the defensive line, giving New England an experienced group that is well balanced with run stoppers and pass rushers.
Barmore, who earned a four-year extension that included $41.8 million of guaranteed money, is one of the league's rising stars and showed his dominance in 2023. Now, the fourth-year defensive lineman will look to take his game to new heights as an every-down player who should make a consistent impact.
Wise has put together his two best seasons back-to-back and has emerged as one of the team's core leaders. The captain was often the very first player to take the fields in the spring, spending extra time on technique and some finer points of his position, setting an example for the younger players.
Expect the team to once again heavily rely on Wise both on and off the field.
However, there are some holes to fill and questions to answer along the defensive line. Those holes could look even bigger when you consider that Wise and Godchaux could both be headed to free agency next offseason. That means an opportunity for younger players in training camp this year.
Keion White was heavily involved during the offseason and appears to be in the mix with the top players on defense. A 2023 second-round pick, White played in 16 games as a rookie, logging 26 total tackles and one sack to go with five QB hits. White is an interesting tweener who could contribute both along the line and standing up off the edge of the defense. His second-year jump will be a major factor in determining the defense's ceiling as well as its long-term potential.
"Keion has kind of taken that step forward as far as being a leader," said Mayo. "Not as much vocally, but you see him actually leading the groups and working well, so if you need a name, that is a good one."
Armon Watts was signed on a one-year free agent deal and offers some interior pass rush potential as well as experience in Guy's base defensive end role, while Daniel Ekuale showed impressive strides in 2022 playing 15 games but was limited to just three games in 2023 and now will again be fighting for a role.
Developmental players Sam Roberts (140 defensive snaps in two seasons) and Jeremiah Pharms (12 game appearances in 2023) offer good size and have budding experience and should be in the mix for depth roles. Pharms especially could see a bump in action if Godchaux's situation is not resolved.
Behind them, depth players William Bradley-King, Trysten Hill and undrafted rookie Jotham Russell will look for an opportunity to emerge.
New defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery coached one of the best DL units in the NFL in Green Bay for nine seasons and should have a positive influence as he takes over for promoted defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington.
With Godchaux in the mix, the Patriots defensive front features a nice array of space eaters and up-field attackers, and nearly all are proven in NFL trenches. But the unit is not without questions, both short-term and long-term, and a new trajectory could emerge if younger players impress the coaching staff and earn increased roles.
It's a solid position group, but Barmore is the key piece. If he can pick up where he left off last season, they could find themselves among the best defensive lines in the league. A disruptive interior defensive lineman is a major problem for any offense, altering blocking schemes and opening opportunities for others. Barmore can have that kind of impact in 2024.
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