New England leans into a faster, meaner defensive front

The Patriots Now roster board starts up front. New England has been building toward a defense that can win earlier in the down, squeeze rushing lanes, and force quarterbacks to play from muddy pockets.

The biggest question is whether the rotation can stay fresh enough to keep that pressure profile alive into the fourth quarter. If it can, the defense has the ingredients to become the identity of the team again.

Expect camp reps to tell the real story: alignment flexibility, early-down discipline, and who earns the high-leverage snaps when the game gets tight.