If defense wins championships, the New England Patriots are well-positioned to contend during the 2025 NFL campaign.<\/p>\n
The team spent a lot of money during the offseason to rebuild its defense<\/a> under new head coach Mike Vrabel.<\/a><\/p>\n When the Patriots\u2019 defense takes the field next month at training camp, it will have two \u201cguaranteed risers,\u201d according to NFL.com\u2019s Marc Ross<\/a>, who identified seven players overall who will improve in 2025. First up is cornerback Christian Gonzalez<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThe third-year cornerback has already shown he can play at a high level,\u201d Ross wrote Monday. \u201cAfter a promising rookie season ended due to injury just four games into the year, Gonzalez proved why he was a first-round pick by routinely shutting down his side of the gridiron in 2024. <\/p>\n \u201cGonzalez allowed only one reception for 58 yards on 13 deep targets (20-plus air yards) last season, per Next Gen Stats. He was one of only three cornerbacks to not allow multiple deep receptions (minimum 10 targets). He enters the 2025 campaign with a proven cornerback playing opposite him in veteran\u00a0Carlton Davis III, who won a Super Bowl in Tampa and was a playmaker for Aaron Glenn\u2019s unit in Detroit last season.\u201d<\/p>\n Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n Last year, Gonzalez missed just one game and had a pair of interceptions, one fumble recovery and 59 tackles, earning second team All-Pro honors. <\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n The 17th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Gonzalez is entering the third year of his four-year rookie contract, which includes a team option for the fifth year. <\/p>\n The other Patriots defender catching Ross\u2019 attention is defensive lineman Milton Williams<\/a>, who played less than 50% of defensive snaps during his four years with the Philadelphia Eagles.<\/p>\n \u201cIn a backup role behind first-round draft picks Jordan Davis\u00a0and Jalen Carter, Williams totaled a career-high five sacks and 35 QB pressures in 2024 (both third on the team),\u201d Ross wrote. \u201cHis 12.9 percent QB pressure rate was highest among NFL defensive tackles, per Next Gen Stats. He saved his best performance for last with two sacks in the Eagles\u2019 Super Bowl LIX victory.\u201d<\/p>\n Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n The Patriots signed Williams in March to a four-year, $104 million contract<\/a>. Ross predicted that by playing on New England\u2019s overhauled defense, Williams is well-positioned to improve on his breakout 2024 season, which saw him record one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and 10 quarterback hits.<\/p>\n