Top 10 free-agent signings in Patriots history: Where does Williams rank?

New England Patriots

Williams has quickly proven that he’s worth the contract the Patriots gave him this past offseason.

By Conor Roche

January 31, 2026 | 5:14 PM

6 minutes to read

The Patriots’ decision to give Milton Williams the largest contract in franchise history has quickly paid off.

Williams has proven to be worth the four-year, $104 million deal that includes $63 million in guaranteed money as the defensive tackle has been one of the Patriots’ top players in their run to Super Bowl LX. He has two sacks this postseason to go with nine pressures, per Next Gen Stats.

In fact, the way Williams has generated pressure is pretty fascinating, too. Williams has six “quick pressures” (when a pass rusher provides pressure on an opposing quarterback within 2.5 seconds of the ball getting snapped) in the postseason, per Next Gen Stats. Former Rams star and future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald is the only player to record more in a single postseason.

Suffice it to say, Williams is already in the conversation for the best free-agent signing in Patriots history. But where does he rank? Here’s a top-10 of the best free-agent signings in Patriots’ history.

10. Joe Andruzzi (2000)

There are a handful of players that you could’ve picked for this spot, especially when you consider that the first three Patriots Super Bowl-winning teams largely consisted of free agent signings. Running back Antowain Smith and special teamer Larry Izzo were a part of that group. Rosevelt Colvin deserves mention as well, along with running backs LeGarrette Blount and Dion Lewis. Heck, maybe Hunter Henry could make this list if he has a strong performance in Super Bowl LX.

For now, we decided to go with Andruzzi. The Patriots took a flyer on him in 2000 after he was released by the Packers following a stint in NFL Europe. Andruzzi wound up becoming the Patriots’ starting right guard for their first three Super Bowl teams as a result, earning him spots on the franchise’s All-2000’s Decade Team and All-Dynasty Team.

9. Matthew Judon (2021)

Relative to many other names on this list, Judon was on some of the more forgettable Patriots teams in recent memory. But he proved his worth in his short time in New England. He had 32 sacks in 38 regular-season games for New England, proving to be a strong signing on the four-year, $56 million deal he signed to join the Patriots in 2021.

The Patriots were also able to turn the draft pick they got from the Falcons in the Judon trade in 2024 into Jared Wilson, who’s started at left guard for New England this season. So, the Judon signing might help the Patriots for years to come.

8. Milton Williams (2025)

Williams’s first season has been strong enough to earn him a spot on the top 10. While his box score stats might not stand out (29 total tackles, 3.5 sacks), it’s evident that he’s been one of the few best players for the Patriots this season. His 13.7 pass rush win rate is the eighth-best mark among defensive tackles who’ve played at least 10 games this season, per Pro Football Focus. His 2.73 pressures per game is also one of the best marks for defensive tackle this season.

The five games Williams missed this season were also an indicator of just how vital he’s been to this Patriots team. They had three different players rush for 100 yards in a game during that stretch, while struggling to also get pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

7. Danny Amendola (2013)

When the Patriots lost Wes Welker to the Broncos in March 2013, they quickly moved to sign Amendola. But it took some time for him to make an impact, logging just 833 receiving yards in his first two regular seasons in New England.

But Amendola stepped up when the Patriots needed him the most over the 2014 and 2016 postseasons. He had three touchdown grabs in the 2014 playoffs, including a catch from Julian Edelman in a key play from the Patriots’ divisional win over the Ravens. He also had one of the two touchdown grabs in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLIX to help the Patriots beat the Seahawks.

Two years later, Amendola had a touchdown grab and got the two-point conversion that tied the game up in the Patriots’ Super Bowl LI win over the Falcons. His best postseason run was in 2017, though, when he had 348 receiving yards and two touchdowns, with the Patriots falling to the Eagles in the Super Bowl that year.

Amendola finished his Patriots career with 709 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns in 13 playoff games, earning him a spot on the Patriots’ All-2010s Team.

6.  Roman Phifer (2001)

Phifer was maybe one of the more underrated pieces of the Patriots’ defense in their run to their first three Super Bowls. After getting cut by the Jets following the 2000 season, Belichick and the Patriots swooped Phifer, who wound up having three consecutive of 90-plus tackles in New England.

Phifer was particularly key in the Patriots’ 2001 Super Bowl-winning season. Cornerback Terrell Buckley called Phifer the “MVP” of that Patriots team as he viewed as one of the leaders for that relatively young and inexperienced squad. On top of that, Phifer was named a Pro Bowl alternate twice in his New England tenure.

5. Rob Ninkovich (2009)

If you’re lucky, a signing you make in August can help give your team some extra depth for a season. But when the Patriots signed Ninkovich in August 2009, they wound up getting a player who was a mainstay on defense for eight seasons.

Ninkovich, who signed a one-year deal to join the Patriots just days after getting cut by the Saints, was one of the team’s top defensive standouts when they began their run of reaching the AFC Championship Game in eight straight seasons. He logged eight sacks in three straight years (2012-14), and his sack of Russell Wilson in Super Bowl XLIX was key to a Patriots win.

Ninkovich won his second Super Bowl with the Patriots in 2016 and retired after that season. A few years later, he was named to the Patriots’ All-2010s and All-Dynasty Teams.

4. Darrelle Revis (2014)

Revis only spent one season in New England, but it was a pretty good year for the star cornerback. Revis was named first-team All-Pro that year, logging two interceptions in the regular season. But he stepped in the postseason, getting an interception in the AFC title game and a sack in Super Bowl XLIX to help the Patriots win it all that season. 

3. Stephon Gilmore (2017)

Gilmore continued the lineage of great Patriots cornerbacks that wore No. 24. Even though Gilmore didn’t have the best season in his first year in New England, he proved he was worth his five-year, $65 million contract by his second year with the team. Gilmore had two interceptions in the 2018 regular season before adding two more in the playoffs, including the game-sealing interception in the Patriots’ Super Bowl LIII win over the Rams. Gilmore was named a Pro Bowler, All-Pro, and Pro Football Focus’ top-rated cornerback that year.

Gilmore had his best season with the Patriots in 2019, though. He logged a league-high six interceptions that year, earning first-team All-Pro honors again and becoming the first player in team history to win Defensive Player of the Year.

2. Rodney Harrison (2003)

It’s not often you’re able to land a potential future Hall of Famer in free agency, but the Patriots were able to do that in 2003. Just a couple of weeks after the Chargers released Harrison, the Patriots signed him to a six-year deal.

While the addition of Harrison paved the way for the Patriots to surprisingly release popular safety Lawyer Milloy, Harrison quickly proved his worth in New England. He was named first-team All-Pro in 2003 and second-team All-Pro in 2004, helping the Patriots win the Super Bowl in each season. He also became the first player in NFL history to log 30 career interceptions and 30 career sacks during his time with the Patriots. 

1. Mike Vrabel (2001)

The Patriots’ decision to take a chance on the Steelers’ backup linebacker in free agency is still paying dividends 25 years later. New England signed Vrabel to a three-year, $5.275 million deal in the 2001 offseason and got a return worth much more than that. Vrabel was a starter for the Patriots’ surprise Super Bowl-winning team in 2001, recording three sacks that postseason. He really made his mark two years later, though. Vrabel logged 9.5 sacks in the 2003 regular season and added three sacks in the postseason that year. But he also added goal line tight end duties to his responsibilities that year as well, catching a touchdown in the Patriots’ Super Bowl XXXVIII win.

Vrabel continued to remain a force for New England for the rest of eight-year tenure, logging another touchdown reception in Super Bowl XXXIX. He was named a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 2007, when he logged a career-high 12.5 sacks.

But that free-agent signing helped pave the way for Vrabel to become the Patriots’ head coach in 2025, helping New England get back to the Super Bowl in his first year with the team.