8 potential Patriots edge rusher draft picks

Welcome to Potential Patriots!

Every day main as much as the NFL Draft on April 24, the Herald will introduce prospects the Patriots are possible focusing on place by place. The Pats have 9 draft picks, beginning at No. 4 total. As for his or her different picks, the Patriots are anticipated to deal with offensive sort out and vast receiver, although they may pad their depth at just about any place.

Beneath is a breakdown of the Patriots’ greatest prospect matches at edge defender:

Day 1-2

Abdul Carter, Penn State

Ht/Wt: 6-3, 250

Projected spherical: 1st

Scouting report: The perfect defensive prospect – and maybe total prospect – in the complete draft, Carter is an authorized game-wrecker.

Final season, he was named a unanimous All-American on the again of a 12-sack season that included 4 cross breakups and a pair compelled fumbles. Carter bursts off the road and boasts elite pace and adaptability across the edge. He’s amplified his athletic presents by studying a deep repertoire of cross rush strikes that ought to make him an immediate influence participant. Simply ask Mike Vrabel.

“The tape is dynamic,” Vrabel mentioned this week. “There’s numerous nice qualities of a disruptive cross rusher. Very slippery, free, sudden participant.”

Jalon Walker, Georgia

Ht/Wt: 6-1, 243

Projected spherical: 1st

Scouting report: If the Patriots aren’t fortunate sufficient to have Carter fall into their laps at No. 4 total, they may flip to a different cross rusher in Walker.

A loose-hipped, explosive rusher, Walker can play off the ball and win on the sting. He break up his defensive snaps virtually 50/50 between inside and outdoors linebacker final yr at Georgia, the place coaches and teammates reportedly rave about his management and aggressive character. Walker is an extended, multi-faceted rusher, and clean in house; somebody who might unlock tons of potentialities in a a number of Patriots protection.

He had 6.5 sacks, 10.5 tackles for loss and 60 tackles final yr as a first-team All-American.

Jack Sawyer, Ohio State

Ht/Wt: 6-4, 260

Projected spherical: 2nd

Scouting report: Since Vrabel’s taking part in days at Ohio State, maybe no participant has come by means of campus and performed like him greater than Sawyer.

Sawyer is a relentless rusher who performed his greatest soccer through the Faculty Soccer Playoff. He was voted a group captain in 2024 and didn’t miss a recreation in faculty. He’s highly effective and stout, and makes up for his lack of bend with heady performs, together with six passes he batted down on the line. If he slips into the third spherical at No. 69 total, the Patriots ought to pounce.

Oluwafemi Oladejo, UCLA

Ht/Wt: 6-3, 261

Projected spherical: 2nd-Third

Scouting report: Oladejo took a pre-draft go to to Foxboro and it’s straightforward to see why. He matches the prototype for edge rushers who performed below Vrabel in Tennessee and applies immediate stress going from pace to energy. Oladejo has additionally performed off the ball and performs with continuous power. There are some considerations about his play self-discipline, together with ill-timed penalties, but when the Patriots imagine they will clean out some edges in his recreation, there’s beginning potential right here.

Day 3

Barryn Sorrell, Texas

Ht/Wt: 6-3, 256

Projected spherical: 4th

Scouting report: A bodily freak, Sorrell is without doubt one of the strongest pound-for-pound gamers within the draft, and extra importantly performs with the precise play demeanor Vrabel needs. His motor runs continuous, he’s violent and makes influence performs in opposition to the run and cross. Sorrell was additionally a captain for eight video games final yr.