The Patriots addressed multiple needs with their contract agreements on Monday, the first day of the NFL’s free agency negotiation period.
New England, entering the offseason with the highest amount of salary cap space in the league, spent big on Eagles defensive tackle Milton Williams (four years, $104 million with $63 million guaranteed), Lions cornerback Carlton Davis (three years, $60 million with $34.5 million guaranteed), Raiders linebacker Robert Spillane (three years, $37.5 million with $20.6 million guaranteed), and Jets right tackle Morgan Moses (three years, $24 million with $11 million guaranteed).
The team also added also added Bills wide receiver Mack Hollins (two years, $8.4 million), Cardinals defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga (one year, $2.7 million) and 49ers quarterback Josh Dobbs (two years, $8 million with $3.8 million guaranteed).
For about an hour Monday, it appeared Williams was headed to Carolina. Multiple outlets reported the two parties were in the process of finalizing a deal. But the Patriots, who already lost out on Ravens left tackle Ronnie Stanley and Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin, weren’t about to watch another one of their top free agent targets sign elsewhere.
New England gave Williams the richest contract in franchise history, with an average annual value of $26 million. The 25-year-old Williams figures to become a core member of Mike Vrabel’s defense, possessing the versatility and athleticism that allows him to rush the passer as well as stop the run. He played an integral role on the Super Bowl LIX champion Eagles, finishing with a forced fumble, 5 sacks, and 10 quarterback hits during the regular season.
The 6-foot-3, 290-pound Williams will be welcomed either as a complement or replacement to defensive tackle Christian Barmore, whose football future remains uncertain after getting diagnosed with blood clots last July. If Barmore is healthy and can return to form — he’s currently working out in Tampa — the Patriots will have a talented, young duo anchoring their defensive front.
Davis and Spillane will also fortify New England’s defense. As will outside linebacker Harold Landry, whom the team signed on Sunday before the negotiation period opened.
Outside cornerback was also a need for the Patriots, as the team needed better (and taller) options to play opposite Christian Gonzalez. At 6-1 and 210 pounds, the 28-year-old Davis brings both size and experience. Before the Patriots signed Davis, New England’s longest-tenured cornerback under contract was 2022 third-round pick Marcus Jones.
The addition makes New England’s secondary more formidable while making veteran cornerback Jonathan Jones expendable. Jones, who will turn 32 in September, is currently an unrestricted free agent.
The concern is that Davis has never played a complete season in his seven-year NFL career, missing anywhere from two to seven games each year. When healthy, though, he’s proven to be productive. Defensive coordinator Terrell Williams coached Davis last season in Detroit, so he will already be familiar with how best to use him.
The 6-1, 229-pound Spillane will bolster New England’s linebacking corps, a group that became so depleted it was forced to play core special teamer Christian Elliss on defense last season. Spillane, who went undrafted out of Western Michigan in 2018, started his NFL career playing for Vrabel in Tennessee. After one season, he spent four years in Pittsburgh before signing with Las Vegas in 2023.
Last season, Spillane was on the field for 98.2 percent of the Raiders’ defensive snaps. His toughness and past production — a team-high 158 tackles, including 10 for a loss in 2024 — will be a welcome addition to New England’s run defense, which struggled last season.
Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels was coach of the Raiders when they signed Spillane, so it’s likely he shared any insights from their eight games together. At 29, Spillane is the oldest linebacker the Patriots have under contract.
The Patriots only made one big splash on the offensive side of the ball, signing Moses to most likely serve as their right tackle.
Moses has years of starting experience, playing seven seasons in Washington, two in Baltimore, and two (non-consecutive) with the New York Jets. He started 14 games for the Jets last season, when Patriots wide receivers coach Todd Downing was the Jets’ quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator.
The biggest question mark is his age (34), but Moses is an immediate upgrade over the likes of Demontrey Jacobs and Caedan Wallace. His durability thus far is encouraging, as he’s missed just six games since 2015. If Moses can continue to stay healthy, he’ll provide better protection for Drake Maye and allow Wallace to develop.
Moses has primarily played on the right side throughout his career, which means the Patriots still could use a starting left tackle not named Vederian Lowe. Starting Moses at right tackle also lets the Patriots keep Michael Onwenu at right guard, which executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf said is his ideal position.
The 6-4, 221-pound Hollins brings some experience to an otherwise fairly young receiver room. Hollins registered the best season of his career while playing for McDaniels in Vegas in 2022, when he caught 57 passes on 94 targets for 690 yards and four touchdowns. Last season in Buffalo was his second best, with 31 receptions on 50 targets for 378 yards and five touchdowns.
The Patriots now have a crowded receiver room with Hollins, DeMario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte, Kendrick Bourne, Ja’Lynn Polk, and Javon Baker, but are still without a coverage-dictating weapon.
Nicole Yang can be reached at [email protected] her @nicolecyang.
