Welcome to Potential Patriots!
Each day leading up to the NFL Draft on April 25, the Herald will introduce prospects the Patriots are likely targeting position by position. The Pats have eight picks this year, starting at No. 3 overall, their highest selection in decades. As for their other picks, the Patriots are expected to address offensive tackle and wide receiver, though they could pad their depth at virtually any position.
Below is a breakdown of the Patriots’ best prospect fits at edge defender:
The Patriots re-signed Anfernee Jennings and Josh Uche in free agency this offseason, giving them some flexibility in the draft on the edge. But Deatrich Wise Jr. and Matthew Judon are getting up there in age, and there’s no guarantee that Keion White, a second-round pick in 2023, can play a bigger role this season. The Patriots also retained Commanders 2021 seventh-round pick William Bradley-King.
Ideally, the Patriots could find another edge defender in the draft who can help boost their pass rush with the upside to earn an every-down role.
Day 1-2
Laiatu Latu, UCLA
Ht/Wt: 6-5, 259
Projected round: 1st/2nd
Scouting report: The Patriots reportedly met with Latu at the Senior Bowl and at his pro day. He comes with serious medical question marks, since he was medically retired with a neck injury during his time at Washington before transferring to UCLA and being cleared to play.
Latu was a unanimous All-American in 2023, his first year as a starter, registering 13 sacks and an FBS-leading 21 tackles for loss. He ran a 4.64-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine.
If available, he could be a steal at the top of the second round if the Patriots aren’t happy with the wide receivers and offensive tackles available. Latu led qualified edge defenders in the 2024 draft class in PFF’s pass-rush grade, pass-rush productivity metric and pass-rush win rate.
Chop Robinson, Penn State
Ht/Wt: 6-3, 254
Projected round: 1st/2nd
Scouting report: Robinson has elite potential as a pass rusher thanks to his get-off. He ran a 4.48-second 40-yard dash with a 1.53-second 10-yard split at the combine.
Robinson ranked second in PFF’s pass-rush grade among qualified prospects in the 2024 class. He missed two games with a concussion in 2023.
Marshawn Kneeland, Western Michigan
Ht/Wt: 6-3, 267
Projected round: 1st/2nd
Scouting report: Kneeland has potential as an every-down player as one of the top run-stoppers atop the edge defender draft class. He was a team captain in 2023 and has ideal length for the position with 34.5-inch arms.
Adisa Isaac, Penn State
Ht/Wt: 6-4, 247
Projected round: 2nd/3rd
Scouting report: A team captain in 2023, Isaac led Penn State in sacks and tackles for loss. He doesn’t have Robinson’s pure athleticism but can be used standing up or with his hand on the ground, which is helpful in the Patriots’ defensive scheme. Isaac missed the 2021 season with an Achilles injury.
Chris Braswell, Alabama
Ht/Wt: 6-3, 251
Projected round: 2nd/3rd
Scouting report: Braswell ranked top 15 among his peers in pass-rush grade, pass-rush productivity and pass-rush win rate last season. He’s not as highly regarded as his Alabama position-mate, Dallas Turner, who could be a Top 10 pick, but Braswell was productive with 10.5 sacks and three forced fumbles in 2023. He ran a 4.6-second 40-yard dash and best projects as a situational pass rusher early in his career.
Austin Booker, Kansas
Ht/Wt: 6-5, 253
Projected round: 3rd
Scouting report: Booker had a 30-minute visit with the Patriots during the pre-draft period. Booker won’t be 22 until December and led Kansas in forced fumbles, sacks and tackles for loss last season despite playing in a rotational role. Booker has tons of upside.
Bralen Trice, Washington
Ht/Wt: 6-4, 259
Projected round: 3rd
Scouting report: Trice, a team captain in 2023, led his peers in total pressures last season with the Huskies. The Patriots have plenty of information on him since current wide receivers coach Tyler Hughes was a quality control coach on Washington’s staff last season. He lacks ideal length but has loads of experience as a pass rusher and run defender.
Patriots 2024 NFL mock draft: Trading back to take two wide receivers
Day 3
Gabriel Murphy, UCLA
Ht/Wt: 6-2, 247
Projected round: 4th
Scouting report: Another UCLA product, Murphy’s twin brother, Grayson Murphy, is also an edge defender in this class. Gabriel Murphy is undersized for the position and best projects as a situational pass rusher and special-teamer. He finished 13th among his peers in PFF’s pass-rush win rate.
Jalyx Hunt, Houston Christian
Ht/Wt: 6-4, 252
Projected round: 4th/5th
Scouting report: A Cornell transfer, Hunt reportedly visited the Patriots during the pre-draft process. He showed off impressive athleticism at the combine with a 4.64-second 40-yard dash, 37.5-inch vertical leap and 10-foot, 8-inch broad jump. He also has ideal length with 34 3/8-inch arms. Hunt is a project coming from two FCS programs, but his athletic traits are appealing.
Zion Tupuolo-Fetui, Washington
Ht/Wt: 6-3, 244
Projected round: 7th
Scouting report: Another Washington prospect whom Hughes has the book on, Tupuolo-Fetui, will be 24 in July after six seasons at Washington. ZTF led Washington in sacks and tackles for loss in 2020, the COVID-shortened season. He’s a strong run defender who could work onto the field on early downs.
