The Patriots found themselves staring at a familiar offseason problem and then watched one of the best fixes slip away.
New England’s 2025 season was supposed to be a slow climb, but instead it turned into a Super Bowl run that caught plenty of people off guard. That success showed the roster was further along than most had expected, even if there were still obvious gaps to patch once the offseason arrived.
The biggest issue was up front. The pass rush needed help, and the Patriots didn’t exactly attack it with urgency.
K’Lavon Chaisson, who had the second-most sacks on the team last season, left in free agency. Dre’Mont Jones came in as the replacement.
Then came second-round pick Gabe Jacas, who missed the entire offseason before finally signing his rookie deal two days into training camp. He may develop into something real, but he isn’t there yet.
That made Harold Landry III’s status even more concerning. Last year’s sack leader will begin the season on the PUP list, leaving the Patriots thin in a spot that already looked vulnerable.
That’s why Kyle Van Noy made so much sense. He just finished an impressive run with the Ravens, spent all offseason unsigned, and seemed like the kind of proven edge option New England could have used right away. Instead, he visited the Vikings on Tuesday and, according to NFL insider Tom Pelissero, signed with Minnesota that night.
For the Patriots, that likely closes the door on what might have been their best remaining shot at a veteran pass rusher they know well. Van Noy played for New England in two separate stints, helped the team win two Super Bowls, and while his last season there in 2021 was mostly forgettable, he rebuilt his value in Baltimore. That run earned him his first Pro Bowl selection in 2024.
What New England doesn’t have right now is exactly what Van Noy brings: flexibility across the defensive front and a real ability to get after quarterbacks. The Patriots are leaning on rookies and players who haven’t yet been asked to carry that kind of load, and that makes a veteran addition feel more and more necessary.
Van Noy had said he would be very interested in a return to New England, but that option is gone now. The Patriots will have to keep digging through the remaining unsigned names, with Joey Bosa standing out as the most obvious one.
On paper, that’s at least worth a look. In reality, the situation is murkier, especially after Nick Bosa said his brother wasn’t all that focused on football right now.
Whether New England makes a move before its Super Bowl rematch against the Seahawks remains to be seen. But the need is obvious, and the clock is ticking.
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Patriots Are Counting On An Unproven Linebacker In A Thin Spot
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For the Patriots, the move is as much about coverage as it is about upside. Hunter gives them an extra body in a spot they need to reinforce, and he also brings a path to contributing on special teams, which is often how unproven defenders carve out a place on the roster. The question now is whether his preseason momentum can carry into a bigger opportunity when the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]