The New England Patriots only produced 28 sacks in 2024, finishing as one of the worst pass rushes in the NFL. However, a little spending with the league’s most salary cap space could help change that in 2025.
Defense wins championships, and the new coaching staff understands that.
Pro Football Focus’ Mason Cameron named a potential option for the Patriots, writing that they’re one of the top fits for Dallas Cowboys star defensive lineman Osa Odighizuwa in free agency.
Odighizuwa had 4.5 sacks, 47 tackles, a forced fumble, and 23 quarterback hits in 2024.
“Mike Vrabel inherits a roster that needs a boost at nearly every position group, and New England holds the cap space to do so this offseason,” Cameron wrote. “New England’s interior was especially ineffective in 2024, totaling the lowest pressure rate from defensive tackles (7.6%) in 2024.”
“Odighizuwa would be an instant upgrade, having recorded two consecutive seasons with a 78.0-plus PFF pass-rush grade and a 14%-plus win rate,” Cameron added.
The four-year veteran out of UCLA has been durable in his time with the Cowboys, too. Odighizuwa started all 17 games in the past three seasons and played 16 of 17 games in 2021 as a rookie.
He has a four-year, $5.08 million rookie contract that’s set to expire. Spotrac projects him for $21 million annually or a three-year, $62.97 million deal.
New England has plenty of room to bring in Odighizuwa amid $123.79 million in salary cap space.