by The New England Patriots made the most of their abundant cap space this offseason by investing heavily on the defensive side of the ball — adding playmakers like Milton Williams, Carlton Davis, Harold Landry, Robert Spillane, and others during free agency.
But despite their busy offseason, the Patriots are also banking on several returning players elevating their respective games in 2025 — headlined by third-year pro Keion White.
In a piece from
The Athletic
mapping out the top ‘breakout’ candidates for each NFL team in 2025, White earned the nod for New England as a potent pass rusher who should thrive on a roster that added plenty of talent over the last few months.
“It looked like White’s breakout was coming a year ago after the 2023 second-round pick had four sacks in the first two games. But White’s performance dipped, and his playing time decreased,”
The Athletic’s
Chad Graff wrote. “ He made some pointed comments late last season about change needing to come to New England, which seemed like a shot at last year’s coaching staff. Now with Mike Vrabel in charge, it’s time for White to look like the player he was early last season.”
Even though White’s numbers tailed off last season, he was one of the few bright spots on a lackluster Patriots roster in 2025. The 2023 second-round pick led the Patriots in QB hits last year (16) while finishing tied for first in sacks (5.0) and tied for second in forced fumbles (two).
On a Patriots team that dealt away Matthew Judon before the start of regular-season play, White became a dependable stalwart in New England’s defensive personnel, with his defensive snaps surging from 521 in 2023 to 829 this past year.
Speaking in June, White offered up plenty of praise toward new Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and the tone he’s already set ahead of a pivotal 2025 campaign.
“I like Mike. He leads with work,”
White said.
“I can respect that. It’s similar to Bill [Belichick], just with a younger face. I think we all know how I feel about that; I liked him. So it’s comforting to know that you have a hard-ass at the helm who will not be afraid to fistfight with you in a back alley.”
“I’ve been training myself. I ain’t going to lie,” White added “Now I feel like I have a coach.”
If White can take another step forward under Vrabel’s watch in 2025, the Patriots could boast one of the more dynamic pass-rushing groups in the NFL this fall —
a welcome sight for a New England franchise that ranked last in the league in 2024 with just 28 total sacks.
Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.
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