The New England Patriots signed one of the top edge rushers on the free agent market the day before the legal tampering period opens.
According to Tom Pelissaro of NFL Network, Harold Landry and the Patriots have agreed to a three-year, $43.5 million deal, with $26 million guaranteed. The deal has a maximum value of $48 million.
The first major move of the 2025 Patriots offseason is an addition along the defensive line. Landry and Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel overlapped with the Tennessee Titans, where Landry has been his entire career.
Landry was released by the Titans after Tennessee couldn't find a trade partner. The Patriots then offered Landry a deal, inking the seven-year veteran to a big contract to bring him to New England.
Across his six seasons in the NFL, Landry has 50.5 sacks and 397 combined tackles. He missed the 2022 season due to an ACL injury, but when he came back he didn't miss a beat.
In the two seasons post-ACL injury, Landry recorded 10.5 sacks and nine sacks in 2023 and 2024 respectively. Before the injury, Landry had a 12 sack season where he was named to the Pro Bowl.
The first major acquisition of the Vrabel era in New England is reuniting him with a star outside linebacker he coached in Tennessee. The deal locks Landry up through 2027, and gives the Patriots exactly what they needed along the defensive line.
The Patriots relied heavily on Matt Judon for three years before trading him last offseason. New England ranked last in the NFL in sacks in 2024 without him in the fold, so at least one notable splash in the EDGE market was expected. Landry will be tasked with replacing Judon’s production and experience with the Patriots as Vrabel and Co. aim to fortify the Pats’ offensive and defensive lines.
2023 second-rounder Keion White operated in a rotational capacity during his rookie season, but in 2024 he took a step forward with five sacks. A starting role should again await him next year, but Landry will in place as a fellow first-team option for 2025 and beyond.
A draft investment along the edge would not come as a surprise, but if one is not made early in April a Landry-White tandem will be tasked with handling much of the load next season.
