"The unit ranked 22nd in sacks during the regular season, and they'll need to improve that figure if they want to have a chance to repeat their Super Bowl feat in 2026. The lack of pressure came from the edge. While Milton Williams and Christian Barmore each rated highly from the interior, Harold Landry's injury-ridden second half of the year hurt the team's pressure stats."
"In a recent article from NESN's Keagan Stiefel, Lions' edge rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad is listed as a potential fit for the Patriots. The soon-to-be 31-year-old had a career year in 2025, recording 11 sacks for the Lions opposite Aidan Hutchinson. Previously, Muhammad never had a season with more than 6 sacks, and had 15 in his previous seven seasons in the NFL."
"Aside from a recent surge in production, Muhammad has experience with the Patriots' coaching staff: Terrell Williams was his positional coach in 2024 during each of their first seasons in Detroit (and Williams' only). Stiefel argues that one pass rusher won't be enough to fix New England's woes."
The New England Patriots' defense performed well in the postseason despite an offense averaging only 15 points per game across four playoff contests. However, the defense ranked 22nd in regular season sacks, with pressure primarily lacking from the edge. While interior defenders Milton Williams and Christian Barmore performed well, Harold Landry's injury-plagued second half and K'Lavon Chaisson's pending free agency status create gaps. The team must address edge rusher depth, as relying on sophomores Elijah Ponder or Bradyn Swinson is insufficient. Al-Quadin Muhammad, a soon-to-be 31-year-old Lions edge rusher with 11 sacks in 2025, represents a potential solution. Muhammad previously worked with Patriots positional coach Terrell Williams in Detroit and could help replace Chaisson's production.
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