The New England Patriots defense got the better of the offense during Tuesday’s training camp practice, mostly shutting down the run and limiting big plays in the passing game.That makes this the perfect time to offer a quick thought on every defensive player on the Patriots, one day after looking at the offense.QB Drake Maye on chemistry with WR A.J. BrownChad GraffHarold Landry, edge: A disappointing offseason for the veteran, whose lingering injury has kept him out of practice. When healthy, he’s been really good for the Pats. But health is a real question as Week 1 nears. And this is not a position where there is a great deal of depth.Milton Williams, DT: I thought it was a risk a year ago to give a guy who had never played more than 50 percent of his team’s snaps in a season so much money. I was dead wrong. Williams has been everything you’d want and looks primed for another strong year.Christian Barmore, DT: The team has managed his workload and worked with him on converting pressures into sacks after notching just two a year ago. The guess here is he triples that number this season.Dre’Mont Jones, edge: His size stands out (6-3, 268), and he should help against the run. The question is whether he can contribute enough as a pass rusher in his eighth year in the league.Cory Durden, DL: Last season was easily the most productive of his career, and now he has a chance to build on that after the team didn’t re-sign Khyiris Tonga.Joshua Farmer, DL: It’s not often fourth-round picks are cut 18 months after being drafted, but Farmer is on the roster bubble entering preseason games.Eric Gregory, DL: He brings size (6-3, 319) to the interior that the team otherwise lacks, and while run defense is his calling card, he’ll need to show that in the preseason to earn a spot.Leonard Taylor, DL: His length is noticeable on the interior (and contributed to his field goal block in the AFC Championship Game), where he can gain space from would-be blockers.Jeremiah Pharms, DL: It speaks to his ability to do his job that Pharms has stuck on the Patriots’ roster the past three years through three different coaches as an undrafted player out of Friends University.David Blay Jr., DL: He’s undersized at 6-2 and 292 pounds and lacks explosiveness, but a path to the practice squad is within reach.Isaiah Iton, DL: He went undrafted in 2024 but has pass-rush upside the Pats hope to develop.Casey Rogers, DL: The Pats added him to the roster this week, and he brings an elite athletic profile after running a 4.86 time in the 40-yard dash and leaping 35 inches at 294 pounds.Gabe Jacas, edge: His early summer absence has resulted in some friendly ribbing, with coach Mike Vrabel forcing him to the front of the room to present to the group during team meetings. Jacas spoke Tuesday for the first time since signing but declined to get into when he underwent the knee surgery that prolonged his negotiations, only saying that he feels good following the procedure.Elijah Ponder, edge: Praise continues to pour in for the undrafted second-year player, but translating that to in-game success is the next step.Bradyn Swinson, edge: He dropped 15 pounds and looks noticeably faster, and the Patriots really need a rusher like Swinson to earn a spot in the rotation.Quintayvious Hutchins, edge: Size isn’t his strength at 6-3, 245 pounds, so he needs to win with speed. He could still push for a roster spot with a strong preseason.Jesse Luketa, edge: After three years with the Cardinals, he spent most of last season on the Rams’ practice squad.Xavier Holmes, edge: He made the 90-man roster after impressing at a rookie minicamp tryout, but his most likely path is the practice squad.Robert Spillane, LB: No word yet on any additional strange workouts added to his offseason routine, but Spillane remains an elite run stuffer and has made life difficult in camp for Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson.Christian Elliss, LB: The Pats have a little more linebacker depth this year, so Elliss will need to do his part against the pass to keep his starting job.Chad Muma, LB: He’s the linebacker whose stock is most on the rise, playing with the starters in base defense on Tuesday.KJ Britt, LB: The free-agent signing hasn’t looked head and shoulders ahead of the rest of the backups, which you’d hope for from a five-year vet.Namdi Obiazor, LB: Special teams will be important to his path to a roster spot, but he said Tuesday that’s a role he wants to take on. Still, his chances likely bank on the team keeping five linebackers, which is not a given.Amari Gainer, LB: Speed and athleticism are his calling cards, but he’ll need to use them on special teams to earn a spot.Riley Wilson, LB: His speed shows up on kickoff coverage, but the Patriots are going to have to be picky with which linebackers they keep, considering they may want six cornerbacks on the roster.Khalil Jacobs, LB: The former Missouri Tiger was a late add to the undrafted rookie class in May and has mostly been with the third-team defense.Christian Gonzalez, CB: Even amid a lengthy contract negotiation, Gonzalez has played physical football and looked every bit like the No. 1 cornerback. It wouldn’t be a surprise if, at the end of 2026, he’s viewed as the best corner in the league.Carlton Davis, CB: Injuries have lingered, keeping him out of recent practices. The skill set is there, but he’ll turn 30 this season. Depth at outside corner is a question, so the Pats need him to get — and stay — healthy.Marcus Jones, CB: He’s incredible in coverage as a nickel corner, but there are concerns given his size (5-8, 188) and how much he can contribute in run defense. The team has toyed with the idea of a big nickel defense where they swap a safety in for Jones in potential running situations.Karon Prunty, CB: His stock continues to rise as the fifth-round rookie gets more and more opportunities and keeps making the most of them. If this continues, he could be the No. 3 outside corner.Charles Woods, CB: Versatility always helps make a case for a roster spot, and Woods has shown he can back up Jones in the slot or Davis on the outside.Kobee Minor, CB: Maybe it’s because he has drawn some tough matchups against top receivers, or maybe it’s been because of mistakes elsewhere that he’s trying to cover up, but Minor just seems to get beaten a lot in practice.Kindle Vildor, CB: A lack of length hurts him on the outside, but the veteran of 80 NFL games has stuck around for a reason.Channing Canada, CB: Tuesday wasn’t his best practice, but he has the speed to run with the Patriots’ top receivers, which has shown up on deep balls.Marcellas Dial, CB: Special teams is his calling card, but it looks like he’s on the wrong side of the roster bubble.Kenneth Harris, CB: He’s a great athlete (he posted a 39.5-inch vertical leap) but needs more development to play at this level.Brandon Crossley, CB: He’s a roster long shot who could use a strong preseason.Kevin Byard, S: He has quickly become one of the leaders on defense, and his ball skills stand out, which is why he tends to rack up so many interceptions.Craig Woodson, S: A breakout season could be on the horizon for Woodson, who has been excellent this summer and should form a great safety duo with Byard. The back end of the defense is much stronger than the front.Dell Pettus, S: A hard hitter even in practice, Pettus has improved his ball skills with help, he said, from Byard.John Saunders, S: The Pats want to use a third safety in some big nickel packages, so look for Saunders to get a chance there against the Colts next week.Mike Brown, S: He brings experience to the back end of the defense after playing nine games last season, but that spot is such a strength that it’s not clear Brown makes the team.Brenden Schooler, S: An undisclosed injury has kept Schooler out of camp, but he has probably proven enough to keep his role on special teams.Peter Manuma, S: He doesn’t have great length but can play a variety of positions and could be useful on the scout-team defense.