The sixth Lombardi Trophy for the New England Patriots can greatly be attributed to the defensive line at Super Bowl LIII. They harassed, hit and knocked down Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff over the course of the 60-minute game, turning the grandest stage in sports and the Mercedes-Benz Stadium into a house of horrors for the third-year signal caller.
Everything is coming full-circle for the Patriots dynasty that kick-started with a defense-first mentality. They eventually evolved into a plug-and-play unit with a bend but don’t break philosophy, spearheaded by quarterback Tom Brady’s prolific offense.
With Brady slated to turn 42 years old in August, defense is re-emerging as the focal point for the Patriots, and it all starts up front with the defensive line. The backend of the unit is already fortified with veteran talent and the best cornerback in football in Stephon Gilmore.
If the front of the unit can consistently get pressure on quarterbacks in 2019, the Patriots will have one of the best defenses in the NFL. Here are five defensive line free agents they should target in the offseason.
Trey Flowers
The first order of business for the Patriots should be re-signing defensive end Trey Flowers to a new deal. While he lacks the gaudy statistics of some of the premier pass rushers in the league, he fits the Patriots system perfectly. He’s a versatile and selfless player that has a knack for making crucial plays when the game is on the line.
His sack on quarterback Matt Ryan at Super Bowl LI essentially took the Atlanta Falcons out of field goal range and aided in the Patriots’ historic comeback win.
However, we’ve seen this story play out time and time again for the Patriots, particularly when it comes to elite pass rushers. Coach Bill Belichick isn’t afraid to let guys walk if the price is too high. The Patriots would ultimately love to bring Flowers back next season, but their willingness to do so will depend on the market for his services.
There aren’t many veteran pass rushers out there with two Super Bowl wins in three years.
Ezekiel Ansah
Ezekiel Ansah was good enough for the Detroit Lions to slap him with a $17.5 million franchise tag in 2018. They’ll obviously forgo that option next season with Ansah turning 30 years old and coming off a season-ending shoulder injury. That means he’ll be free to select the team of his choosing this offseason.
The Patriots have a long history of taking on veteran players and milking the last bit of talent they have left. Yet, Ansah is an interesting case considering he was one of the elite players at his position before his injury in 2017, when he registered 44 tackles and 12 sacks.
There should be plenty of teams vying for his services, but he might be more inclined to join a championship contender after spending his professional career getting bounced in the Wild Card round of the postseason or failing to make the playoffs altogether.
Sheldon Richardson
It’s crazy to think Sheldon Richardson was once considered one of the untouchable defensive players for the New York Jets. The former first-round draft pick was one of the imposing figures that made up former Jets coach Rex Ryan’s fearsome defense. However, his production slipped in his final two seasons with the team, and he was traded to the Seattle Seahawks.
The trip to Seattle ended up being a one-year pit stop before he signed with the Minnesota Vikings in 2018, when he posted his best season in the last three years. He finished the year out with 49 tackles and 4.5 sacks.
The Patriots have already declined to pick up Malcom Brown’s fifth-year option, and it would be a surprise to see them extend Danny Shelton. They’ll have to get to work rebuilding the interior portion of the defensive line, where Richardson would be a solid addition. He’s still only 28 years old, and he should come at a reasonable price on the open market.
Ndamukong Suh
Brady would probably sleep better at night knowing Ndamukong Suh is on his side for a change.
Before joining the Rams in 2018, the former No. 2 overall draft pick spent his previous three seasons chasing after Brady as a member of the rival Miami Dolphins. He then went on to Super Bowl LIII, where Brady and the Patriots continued to crush his dreams.
Perhaps it’s finally time to let bygones be bygones and come together for a common goal of winning a championship. Time is slipping away from the 32-year-old Suh, and he could potentially help fill a massive void for the Patriots up front. The Patriots could use a little nastiness at the point of attack, and few defensive tackles have incited fear in quarterbacks like Suh.
Dante Fowler Jr.
Timing is an interesting dynamic in contract agreements, and the stars could be aligning for Dante Fowler Jr. to join the Patriots. The former No. 3 overall draft pick didn’t live up to expectations with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and he was traded to the Rams mid-season in 2018. That could set him up for a prove-it deal at only 24 years old.
The best team for him will not only help optimize his abilities, but they’ll give him an opportunity to display his skills in meaningful games. A team like the Patriots would be able to offer both without burdening him with the responsibility of doing things that make him uncomfortable.
There is no coach in the league better at putting players in a position to succeed than Belichick. Fowler’s age and hunger for a blockbuster contract makes a potential pairing with the Patriots one of the team’s most intriguing free agent options in 2019.
