#defensive-line

#defensive-line

"I think it's always about the entire package. When you look at compensation, it's the body of work. It's what they're going to do for us," Vrabel said of Williams in March. "There's a high ceiling and a great vision about the person, the effort, the skillset, the speed in which he plays. There's power. Certainly, there's an aggressiveness. To be able to add him to our defensive line is something that was really exciting."

College football teams across the country are far from finished products this season, but the first weeks of the 2025 slate are already giving them a better sense of who they are -- for better or worse. At the same time, coaching staffs face the delicate balancing act of winning today and looking ahead, knowing some of the answers to weaknesses with their current rosters might come from the 2026 class and beyond.

Had an opportunity to sign with Washington. That's a championship-contending team. Me personally, I'm not a big bandwagon guy. I'm not going to sit here and jump on a team because y'all have a good opportunity to go to the championship. Like, what am I needed for? If y'all already got that type of team, y'all don't need me. It's all about me bringing my attitude and personality to a team to help us get to where we need to be.

Despite the impressive state of the position, the Patriots may not be done yet. With the release of former Clemson and Miami Dolphins star Christian Wilkins on Thursday, Vrabel and company have yet another chance to bolster the unit.

The Commanders' defensive front received the most attention in free agency, releasing starters Jonathan Allen and Dante Fowler while adding DT Javon Kinlaw, NT Eddie Goldman, and Edge Defenders Von Miller and Jacob Martin.

Mykel Williams officially signed a four-year rookie contract with the San Francisco 49ers, valued at $25 million, fully guaranteed.

"We all watched the Super Bowl, right? You want to have waves of pass rushers," Poles said.