New head coach Mike Vrabel played linebacker for the New England Patriots in the early years of their dynasty. He was a key member of the Patriots defense on teams that won three Super Bowls, and in 2007 recorded the only 16-game undefeated regular season in NFL history.

Though those teams are remembered mostly for the high-flying offense quarterbacked by future Hall of Famer Tom Brady, and of course they bore the indelible brand of Bill Belichick’s coaching leadership, defense was as important to the Patriots success and any other phase of the game.

The 2007 team finished fourth in fewest opponents’ points allowed (274), and tied for second in rushing touchdowns allowed (7), a testament to the team’s, and Vrabel’s, toughness.

The Patriots team that Vrabel inherited was nothing of the sort.

Patriots Defense Last Year Can Only Be Called a Failure

In 2024, the Patriots allowed the 22nd-fewest points in the league. Their 28 quarterback sacks placed them dead last, as did their 62 tackles for loss.

Vrabel, when he took over the head coach’s job in January, quickly set about remaking the Patriots defense in his own image.

The Patriots signed Jacksonville Jaguars 2020 first-round draft pick K’Lavon Chaisson, as well as former Vrabel protege Harold Landry, Vrabel’s second-round draft pick in 2018, the former linebacker’s rookie year as Tennessee Titans’ head coach.

Under Vrabel, the Patriots are now sixth in NFL in total defensive spending, adding former Detroit Lions cornerback Carlton Davis III to pair with New England’s own 2023 first-round draft pick Christian Gonzalez.

But according to USA Today Patriotswire correspondent Jordy McElroy, there is still one blockbuster trade New England could make that would raise the 2025 defense to a whole new level.

“T.J. Watt is playing on an expiring deal and likely seeking a lucrative extension at 30 years old,” McElroy wrote. “Some would argue the Pittsburgh Steelers should consider moving on and rebooting their football team.”

Watt Would Bring QB Sacks Back Into Fashion For Pats

Even one year of Watt would reboot the Patriots’ pass rush. Watt tallied 11 1/2 sacks last season — that’s 1 1/2 more than Patriots 2024 team co-leaders Deatrich Wise Jr. and Keion White had, combined. Each recorded five sacks.

And 2024 was a “down” year for Watt, who has led the NFL in sacks three times in his eight year career, all with the Steelers — most recently in 2023 when he put down opposing quarterbacks 19 times. In 2021 he led the league with 22 1/2, and also led in 2020 with 15.

Watt will be playing the final season of his four-year, $112 million deal with the Steelers, and the fact that he would essentially be a one-year rental should drive down his trade value, perhaps as far down as a single Day Two draft pick, according to NFL experts.

At the same time, his 2025 cap hit of $30.4 million would be prohibitive for many teams. But not the Patriots who still have $60.7 million remaining to spend before they hit the cap, according to the NFL financial site Over The Cap.

Just two months ago, the Patriots were listed as BetOnline favorites to reel in Watt.

But McElroy admits that things have changed in the interim — one big thing in particular.

“The team signed quarterback Aaron Rodgers to a one-year deal, which likely means they’re going all in on a potential Super Bowl run,” McElroy noted. “Rodgers admitted that he’s ‘pretty sure’ this will be his last NFL season. It’s hard to imagine the Steelers bringing the legendary quarterback in just to trade the best player on their team, but crazier things have happened.”