If last offseason was about rebuilding the Chicago Bears' offense, this one is shaping up to be about stabilizing and reshaping the defense. A year ago, Ryan Poles attacked the offensive line from every angle, adding four new starters through a mix of the draft, free agency, and trades. The result was tangible progress. This offseason calls for a similar approach on the other side of the ball, where needs are both obvious and unavoidable. That's what makes this weekend in Mobile so important.
Jones comes highly regarded. He was a driving force with the Minnesota Vikings, working closely with Brian Flores on strategic planning while also developing their defensive backs considerably. He's also spent time under Mike Zimmer and Vance Joseph throughout his career, and he served as LSU's defensive coordinator for one season. With fresh ideas come new players. General manager Adam Peters needs to recruit players aligned with the schematic concepts Jones plans to run.
There are a few irreplaceable players on New England's current roster - like quarterback Drake Maye, left tackle Will Campbell and cornerback Christian Gonzalez - and Landry is near the top of that list. He's been a mainstay on the field in Vrabel's defense, already logging 300 snaps (fourth-most on the team, per Pro Football Focus); he leads the Patriots in both QB pressures (25) and sacks (4.5) through six games.
"I think we're two of the very best," Garrett said. "I think we're two of the very best in this generation, so just got to continue to lead the way. There are definitely some other names in that conversation, but I think saying that he's in it and that I'm in it is not out of the norm."
