The Patriots under Mike Vrabel underwent a massive rebuild in the all-important 2025 offseason. Vrabel started from the lines out and did a masterful job in revamping and upgrading his two lines. He then filled in holes all over both sides of the ball, leading to predictions of a significantly improved team in 2025.

On the defensive line, Vrabel was already fortunate enough to have two top defensive tackles aboard. Christian Barmore, a breakout 2023 player with 8.5 sacks, is hopefully now fully fit and ready to rock in 2025. Added to Barmore, he has Keion White, who, if properly deployed as a down lineman, is another pocket-collapsing menace.

Adding to the party is Vrabel’s marquee defensive free agency signing, Super Bowl hero, and emerging uber-talent, tackle Milton Williams. Added to Barmore and White (and rookie Joshua Farmer), the Patriots have the makings of one of the best interior defensive lines in the NFL. And top NFL observers see Williams as a budding star.

Milton Williams is cited as a guaranteed improved player in 2025

Milton Williams was a terrific rotational defensive tackle for the Eagles in 2024. Yet, the Super Bowl hero only played 48 percent of the regular season defensive snaps. Regardless, his performance was stellar. Expect Mike Vrabel to dramatically increase his snap count in 2025.

In an article, Marc Ross, writing on NFL.com, selected seven NFL players whom he says, “I guarantee will improve on their 2024 output in the 2025 season.” Interestingly, two are Patriots. One is Christian Gonzalez, who is already an All-Pro, and the other is the Patriots’ free-agent signing, defensive tackle Milton Williams.

“Williams was my colleague Gregg Rosenthal’s top free agent this offseason, which speaks to Williams’ impact given he played fewer than 50 percent of Philadelphia’s defensive snaps in each of his four seasons with the team.

It can be risky paying part-time players big-time money like the Patriots did this offseason with Williams (four-year, $104 million deal). He will be tasked with turning around a defense that ranked 22nd in yards and points allowed in 2024.

…it’s clear early on that Vrabel is looking for Williams to set the tone in his revamped D-line. He brings the experience to a front that features some young but talented disruptors in now healthy Christian Barmore and third-year defensive end Keion White, who has already drawn praise from Williams. The 26-year-old defensive tackle is positioned to build on his 2024 breakout season.”

Contrary to Ross’s comment, there’s minimal downside risk in paying a player of Williams’ talent and age (he’s only 26 years old). When he was on the field in 2024, he excelled. The Eagles’ coaches decided to keep him on the pine. Vrabel will turn him loose.

Milton Williams will surge toward Pro Bowl and All Pro status in 2025

Mike Vrabel is keenly aware that teams are built from the inside out. You need top offensive and defensive lines to succeed. Williams helps achieve that goal on defense. In limited 2024 minutes, he made his presence felt with impactful plays. Stats are stats, but big plays win games, as Williams’s outstanding performance in the Super Bowl demonstrated.

He’ll team with Barmore and hopefully White as the Patriots’ three-down linemen, and NFL offenses will pay the price. All three are pocket disruptors, unblockable by one offensive lineman. This spells deep trouble for the AFC East and beyond.

He is only one of the playmaking additions Vrabel added on defense. Linebacker Robert Spillane, edges Harold Landry II and K’Lavon Chaisson, and cornerback Carlton Davis III all fit the label of playmaker, and all are dramatic upgrades over their 2024 predecessors.

Williams, as Ross suggests, will have a monster breakout 2025 season with increased snaps. He’ll rack up 10 or so sacks and 15-plus tackles for loss among his other copious stats. The landscape at Gillette Stadium has changed. Expect Milton Williams to be one of the best additions to a rebuilt Patriots team poised for a 2025 playoff run.