NFL Rumors: Patriots Expected to Be Aggressive in Free Agency; Milton Williams Linked

The New England Patriots are set to be active in NFL free agency and reportedly plan to focus on fortifying the trenches.

Karen Guregian, Mark Daniels and Chris Mason of MassLive reported that the Patriots plan to "overhaul the roster" to fit the image of new head coach Mike Vrabel. This means that the team will look to add offensive and defensive lineman, with Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Milton Williams being a notable candidate.

The Patriots plan to beef up the trenches, seeking both offensive and defensive linemen," Guregian, Daniels and Mason wrote. "A top target to monitor is Philadelphia defensive tackle Milton Williams, who is considered a good fit in Vrabel’s system."

The Patriots enter free agency with $127 million in cap space, per OverTheCap. While this gives the team flexibility in the pursuit of free agents, it is also reflective of the work needed to bring the franchise back to being a perennial contender.

New England is coming off of a second consecutive 4-13 season. The team will also have a third head coach in the last three seasons in Vrabel, who last coached the Tennessee Titans in 2023.

He is a familiar face in New England as he played eight seasons with the franchise and won three Super Bowls. Still, this will be the first time he coaches for the Patriots and he will look to help build a roster that suits his coaching style.

Williams just finished his fourth season with the Eagles, where he helped the franchise win the Super Bowl. He appeared in 17 games, making seven starts, and recorded five sacks and 24 total tackles. He would likely see a significantly increased role in New England and could help the team creep closer to being competitive.