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[New England Patriots]

New England Patriots links 5/07/25 - Defending the defense: Has it improved enough to compete?

Patriots rookie DT Joshua Farmer | Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Daily news and links for Wednesday.

TEAM TALK

• Paul Perillo spotlights fourth-round pick Craig Woodson hoping to fill a role in the secondary. “He’s a pro through and through.”
• Media Availability: Kyle Dugger and Joshua Dobbs (16 min. video)
• The PU Crew talks with QB Joshua Dobbs in-studio to talk offseason workouts, learning Josh McDaniels playbook, working with Drake Maye and more! (10 min. video)
• Trailer: Forged In Foxborough: Exclusive look at the 2025 New England Patriots. (2.15 min. video)
• Patriots Unfiltered: Joshua Dobbs in-studio, Edelman to Pats HOF, offseason workouts. (2 hours)

LOCAL LINKS

• Doug Kyed reports the Patriots handed out numbers to its 2025 NFL Draft rookie class.
• Karen Guregian hears from Patriots backup QB Joshua Dobbs on what impresses him about Drake Maye.
• Mark Daniels notes Joshua Dobbs plans to be a healthy influence for Drake Maye.
• Mike D’Abate writes Kyle Dugger reveals his ‘fit’ within the defense and eagerness to bring some aggression back.
• Doug Kyed highlights Kyle Dugger, the Patriots’ new longest-tenured player, with an update on his ankle injury.
• Phil Perry and Andrew Callahan expect a big bounce-back year for hard-hitting safety Kyle Dugger.
• Jared Koch relays Chad Graff (The Athletic) on how New England may have hit a home run in the draft with their pick of DT Joshua Farmerone at 137.
• Sara Marshall relays NFL analyst Bruce Feldman (The Athletic) on how he believes TreVeyon Henderson is “further along” than top rookie running back Ashton Jeanty.
• Michael DeVito is finding that playmaking draftees TreVeyon Henderson and Kyle Williams are getting the kind of buzz fans dream about. /I prefer post-season accolades to offseason praise.
• Danny Jaillet notes Eliot Wolf says there were no disagreements on drafting TreVeyon Henderson.
• Michael DeVito believes Julian Edelman now has a real argument for the NFL Hall of Fame next.
• Jason Ounpraseuth explains why the Patriots were correct to pass on the George Pickens trade. Pickens has multiple drawbacks that fans aren’t considering.
• Alex Barth notes Massachusetts high schools had five players taken in the 2025 NFL Draft, leading the way among New England states.
• The Savage Boston podcast: Jerry Thornton joins to discuss Boston media, the 2025 Pats season; More. (42 min)

NATIONAL NEWS

• Albert Breer (SI) NFL Notes: Matthew Stafford salked away from $20M to stay in LA; Plus, more info on the draft in Washington, how the Falcons copied the Rams’ defensive moves and the Ravens’ release of Justin Tucker.
• Gary Davenport (Bleacher Report) Ranking every post-draft defense. Pats 25th. “... It’s possible the Patriots could roll out one of the league’s most improved defenses in 2025—they certainly paid to do so. But the success (or lack thereof) of the team’s new-look pass rush will go a long way toward determining just how improved they truly are.”
• Myles Simmons (ProFootballTalk) Kyle Dugger says ankle is “doing well” after undergoing tightrope surgery.
• Mark Ross (NFL.com) Patriots’ Drake Maye among second-year breakout candidates.
• Brad Gagnon (Bleacher Report) NFL’s top QBs after 2025 draft. Josh Allen No. 1. No Pats.
• Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Patriots gave undrafted rookie Lan Larison a $175K guarantee.
• Chris Trapasso (CBS Sports) One reason for optimism for all 32 teams after the 2025 NFL Draft, free agency. Patriots: Mike Vrabel changing the tone. /Click for commentary.
• Mike Kadlick (SI) Devin McCourty had the perfect answer to Patriots rookie taking his old jersey number: “Can’t wait to see real speed in that 32 jersey.”
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Why did Steelers wait until after the draft to trade George Pickens?
• Jim Reineking (USA Today) Looking ahead to the 2025 NFL schedule release; Here’s what we know.
• Mike Kadlick (SI) Fan suing NFL for ridiculous amount of money over Shedeur Sanders’s draft fall. /$100M? Then I’m suing the Patriots for the post-Brady/Belichick years.

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/2025/5/7...ing-defense-has-it-improved-enough-to-compete

 

[New England Patriots]

Patriots hiring A.J. Highsmith as director of pro scouting, per report

Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

The son of current Patriots executive Alonzo Highsmith is coming to Foxborough.

The New England Patriots have filled a prominent vacancy in their front office. A.J. Highsmith, the son of current senior personnel executive Alonzo Highsmith, will take over as the team’s new director of pro scouting.

NFL insider Neil Stratton was first to report the move.

A quarterback and defensive back at the University of Miami, Highsmith made the move to the NFL in 2014 not as a player but as an assistant in the San Francisco 49ers’ scouting department. After two seasons, he was promoted to pro personnel scout; his responsibilities included working in pro scouting and roster evaluation as well as coordinating player tryouts and visits.

In 2019, Highsmith left San Francisco to join the Buffalo Bills as an area college scout. He spent four years in that capacity, moving up to national scout in 2023. One year later, he was hired by the Tennessee Titans to serve as their director of scouting.

Highsmith lasted only a single season in that role. Shortly after this year’s NFL Draft, he was let go by a Titans team that had hired Mike Borgonzi as new general manager in January; Borgonzi took over for the man who had originally brought Highsmith to Tennessee, Ran Carthon.

Reuniting with his father in New England now, Highsmith will fill a role that was previously held by Patrick Stewart.

Stewart had left the team earlier in the offseason to become general manager at the University of Nebraska. His departure was reported just hours after Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf voiced criticism about how the team conducted its free agency research in 2024.

Highsmith is the second reported Patriots personnel move since last month’s draft. In addition to him filling the pro personnel director vacancy, area scout Josh Hinch will not be back with the club this coming season.

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/2025/5/7/24425863/patriots-hire-aj-highsmith-director-of-pro-scouting

 

[New England Patriots]

ESPN identifies Patriots’ biggest remaining roster hole, and it’s not what you might think

Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images

The Patriots did a good job addressing their needs in the NFL Draft.

The New England Patriots did a good job addressing their needs in the NFL Draft, but there is still room for improvement at multiple positions such as left guard, linebacker or edge.

The biggest issue among them, however, at least in the eyes of ESPN analyst Aaron Schatz, is at a position you might not expect.

New England Patriots

Position of need: Cornerback depth

The Patriots have three starting cornerbacks. Christian Gonzalez covered the opposition’s No. 1 option more often than any other corner in the league last season, according to FTN data charting. He’s joined by veteran Carlton Davis III on the outside and Marcus Jones in the slot. But there’s a problem if injuries hit.

Alex Austin started four games over the past few seasons but isn’t a strong option. There are a couple of late-round draft picks — Marcellas Dial Jr. from 2024 and seventh-rounder Kobee Minor this year. Fourth-round safety Craig Woodson might be able to play some slot, but there’s a significant drop-off from the top three.

In total, the Patriots have nine cornerbacks on their roster at the moment. Besides the six mentioned, they also have Isaiah Bolden, Miles Battle and D.J. James signed.

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...6/patriots-biggest-remaining-roster-hole-espn

 

[New England Patriots]

Former Patriots long snapper Joe Cardona signs with Dolphins

Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Joe Cardona finished his tenure as a team captain in 2024.

Joe Cardona will be remaining in the AFC East.

The Miami Dolphins announced the signing of the former New England Patriots long snapper on Friday, shortly over a week after he became a free agent.

Roster Move | We have signed LS Joe Cardona. pic.twitter.com/W00busSwDk

— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) May 9, 2025​

Cardona, 33, held the longest tenure on the roster in Foxborough until his release on April 29. The run stretched 10 campaigns and Super Bowl LI and LIII rings.

Chosen in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL draft at No. 166 overall, Cardona went on to appear in 160 games in the regular season for the Patriots, handling 1,435 snaps on special teams to go with 20 tackles and one forced fumble. In addition, he played in 13 playoff games.

By way of the Navy Midshipmen, Cardona won the Salute to Service Award as well as a spot on the franchise’s All-Dynasty team during his stay. He served as a captain in the kicking game in 2024 and was midway through a four-year contract extension.

New England selected long snapper Julian Ashby in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL draft at No. 251 overall. The product of Furman and Vanderbilt officially signed his contract as rookie minicamp opened.

“I think any time that you have to move on from players that have been at a place and that have been a part of successful football teams, it just comes down to our ability to acquire a player that we believe in strongly,” head coach Mike Vrabel told reporters on Friday. “And we just felt like that was the best decision to go with Julian. ... I have a lot of respect for Joe and what he’s done here. We tried to do that in the most respectful way possible and give him an opportunity to go and catch on.”

Cardona now joins special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman’s roster in Miami Gardens, which also includes ex-Patriots punter Jake Bailey.

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/2025/5/9/24427077/dolphins-sign-ex-patriots-long-snapper-joe-cardona

 

[New England Patriots]

‘Eye-opening medical scare’ keeping Patriots defensive coordinator Terrell Williams sidelined

Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images

Inside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr has taken over Williams’ role for the time being.

Update 5/9/2025: ‘Eye-opening medical scare’ keeping Patriots defensive coordinator Terrell Williams sidelined​

New England Patriots defensive coordinator Terrell Williams took the time to meet with the media on Friday afternoon, a few hours after head coach Mike Vrabel announced that he would be absent from rookie minicamp due to a “medical condition.” As Williams himself put it, the situation was quite drastic.

Referring to the event as “eye-opening” and “life-changing,” the 50-year-old did not provide any specifics of what had happened. He did, however, say that his medical situation developed during a spring break and that he currently is at his home in Detroit per his doctor’s orders.

“You think you’re invincible,” he said. “But when things like this happen, you realize that, ‘Hey, we got to slow down a little bit and take care of our health.’”

Williams also made sure to point out that he would be “away from the building [but] not away from the team” and that he is “working remotely right now.” He additionally spoke highly of the support he received from his head coach.

“You guys think you know him. You know the football coach. I know the person,” he said about Mike Vrabel. “That person means a lot to me with what he’s been — and long before this has happened. He means a lot to me.”

Williams added that Vrabel seemingly texted him every day at 5 in the morning to check in. Like his head coach, he did not offer any timeline for a potential return to Gillette Stadium.

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Original story 5/9/2025: Patriots defensive coordinator Terrell Williams missing rookie minicamp due to medical condition​

The New England Patriots are starting their 2025 rookie minicamp on Friday, and there will be one prominent absence. Defensive coordinator Terrell Williams will not be on the field, as was announced by head coach Mike Vrabel during a press conference.

According to Vrabel, the 50-year-old is “working through a medical condition” and that the two have “been in constant communication.”

“Terrell’s eager to get back, and we’re excited to get him back,” Vrabel added. “He’s still been in contact with the players through Zoom, and with myself and the rest of the coaching staff.”

Williams arrived in New England earlier this offseason to reunite with Vrabel. The pair previously worked together in Tennessee from 2018 to 2023, when Vrabel served as the Titans’ head coach and Williams as their defensive line coach.

Following a one-year stint as defensive line coach with the Detroit Lions, Williams was offered the Patriots’ vacant defensive coordinator position. In his absence, the responsibilities associated with it will be handled by inside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr, Vrabel said.

“Just feel like Zak has a great knowledge of what we’ve done here in the past with me and this system and Terrell,” Vrabel said.

Vrabel mentioned that he would not provide any timeline for Williams, but that he would be made available by the team later on Friday. The Patriots have since announced that their the defensive coordinator will host a video conference call at 4:30 p.m. ET.

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/2025/5/9...errell-williams-medical-issue-rookie-minicamp