Boston Sports Journal counts you down to the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit with our exclusive positional preview series–a collection of information gathered during our past year from our scouting travels across the country.
There isn’t a team in the NFL that wouldn’t like to add to their pass rush. While edge rusher is one of the greatest positional needs annually in the NFL Draft, the reality is that there are few, if any, who are regularly able to step into the league immediately and make a significant impact. That is why pass-rushers tend to get pushed up the board so frequently.
New England enjoyed bringing the heat quite a bit last year, despite not having the ideal personnel to achieve ideal results. We examine the possibilities below.
Patriots Projected Edge Rushers
New England likes to mix and match their defensive line rotation. They tend to disguise their front seven and were in the top percentile (35.2%) of teams that blitzed a season ago (fourth in the NFL). With double-digit sackmaster Matthew Judon going down early last season, the main source of sacks came from interior lineman Christian Barmore, who led the team with eight and a half. No other player had more than four and a half sacks.
That is why adding an edge rusher should be a relatively high priority on the Patriots draft agenda. Having an alternate threat to Judon would help elevate the New England defense. The second-round pick used on Keion White a year ago resulted in one sack during his rookie campaign and he can’t be counted on heavily for 2024. Veteran Deatrich Wise Jr. has chipped in respectively but more is needed.
Urgency Level: Medium-High Priority, a call for reinforcements.
NFL Draft Positional Overview: Edge Rushers
Adding a bonafide edge rusher is easier said than done. The No. 3 overall selection is almost certain to be an offensive player. Unless New England utilizes the No.34 pick on a pass-rusher, it will be difficult to find one later in the draft. There may be a greater need at wide receiver and offensive line on Day 2, so trying to identify value on Day 3 of the draft will likely be the route chosen.
The middle part of the first round is where the heart of the edge rushers will likely be found, with four players expected to be selected between picks No.8 and No.32. The market will likely cool down on Day 2 but there could be some situational pass-rushers worth exploring on the final day of the draft. Utah edge rusher Jonah Ellis had 12 sacks in 10 games before a season-ending shoulder injury that has prevented him from working out prior to the draft–it’s possible that he slides on draft weekend.
Players such as oft-injured Javontae Jean-Baptiste of Notre Dame who has flashed in spurts and small school standout Jalyx Hunt of Houston Christian could be worth a roll of the dice in the late rounds due to their upside. It’s also important to remember that Edgerrin Cooper of Texas A&M and Christian Braswell of Alabama are two players who are viewed as ‘hybrids’ and could play off-ball, or get after the quarterback, depending on what is asked of them.
It’s also worth noting that defensive linemen Darius Robinson of Missouri and Brandon Dorlus of Oregon, two players with inside-outside flexibility, are listed in our defensive tackle preview up next.
In case you missed any of our previous positional previews, be sure to bookmark the BSJ NFL Draft Page, or:
Here is our edge rusher preview:
Dallas Turner, Alabama 6-3, 247, 4.46, Rd1
The favorite atop the leaderboard to be the first defender off the board come draft night in Detroit, Turner was the absolute star of the combine, posting eye-popping testing numbers to back up his production at Tuscaloosa (23.5 career sacks in three seasons). A consensus All-American and team captain, he projects as a plug-and-play impact pass-rusher. In fact, Turner continues to show development and has yet to max out his unicorn skill-set.
“The weight journey at Alabama was crazy,” Turner explained. “Coming in I was 260 pounds but that was a COVID-19 260 pounds, I fluctuated. I played my freshman year at 240, my sophomore year at 245 and my junior year at 255, which is probably the best weight that I had, was my junior year.”
Jared Verse, Florida State, 6-4, 254, 4.58, Rd1
More of a traditional 4-3 hand-in-the-dirt defensive end, Verse is long, strong and explosive off the edge. He is one of the more productive pass-rushers, collecting 14.5 sacks in two seasons at Albany and 13 more during his two years in Tallahassee. His maturation from the FCS ranks to one of the premier players at the P5 level is an incredible story of perseverance, dedication and pure talent.
“It was world-changing. The smallest things that I learned at Florida State that I never would have even thought were a problem while I was at Albany, just the slightest tilt of my foot, my hand being a little bit more at my side instead of being too far out in front of me and just learning all that stuff. It's just my development and coming back for a second year you know, when I could have left last year, coming back and you'll learning that little bit more just, it's made me so much better of a player. I don't think I can even compare to the player I was in 2022.”
Chop Robinson, Penn State, 6-3, 254, 4.48, Rd1
When you measure up Robinson against other prospects, pound-for-pound he may be the best athlete in this year’s draft. He has been a constant force in the opponent’s backfield, applying pressure on the quarterbacks due to a fast get-off and bend. Where Robinson struggles is finishing the job–he totaled just 10.5 sacks in three seasons at Maryland and Penn State.
“When you’re so explosive and you get off the ball, especially with a guy like me a lot of O-linemen wouldn’t be thinking about speed-to-power. So, when they see me getting off the ball they’re just assuming I’m trying to work the edge. Once they give me their chest, I’m going to stay low and put my power through their chest.”
Laiata Latu, UCLA, 6-5, 259, 4.64, Rd1
There are many well-respected evaluators who believe that Latu is the best edge rusher in this year’s draft. He’s electric on the outside, possesses lightning quick burst and quickness, along with a relentless motor. Some teams will still be hesitant to invest a first-round pick on Latu, who had to medically retire during his time at Washington due to a neck injury, which required fusion surgery. He also struggled a bit at the Senior Bowl but the tools are certainly all there.
“Really it was just being told you’d never get to play football again. I never let it get the best of me. I continued to work out, continued to grow stronger, continued to work my pass rush moves and stuff like that and really just locked in and never gave up on my dreams. I had dreams of being in this moment, being in the NFL since a kid and I never gave up on that and God was with me through it all. You know, he really blessed me to be in this moment.”
Chris Braswell, Alabama, 6-3, 259, 4.60, Rd2
Blessed with a quick first step, Braswell owns the ideal combination of size, speed and power. Buried on the Crimson Tide depth chart, he broke onto the scene this past season with 10 tackles for loss, including eight sacks. Braswell was able to get by on pure talent in college but will need to further enhance his pass-rush repertoire to sustain success in the pros.
“Like you said, there are a lot of great pass rushers in the draft and at the Senior Bowl,” Braswell replied when asked about the depth of this year’s pass-rushers. “They’re all great. I feel like what I bring to the game is quickness, first quick step, power, and the ability to get to the quarterback.”
Bralen Trice, Washington, 6-4, 245, 4.72, Rd2
A consistent disruptor, Brice led the FBS with 75 pressures this past season. The Huskies team captain and two-time All-Pac 12 selection makes excellent use of his hands. Despite weighing in at the combine 30 pounds lighter than his listed weight at Washington, Brice ran a lackluster forty-time, which has excluded him from recent first round conversations.
"A lot of the time it's setting up moves with other moves. It's like a chess game out there between you and that guy in front of you. You can't go out there without a plan. You've got to be thinking on your toes all the time. Setting up power moves for me is a big thing. Working on those speed moves is huge for me right now."
Mohamed Kamara, Colorado State, 6-1, 248, 4.57, Rd3
A sawed off pass-rusher, Kamara is best-suited as a stand-up linebacker in a 3-4 base scheme due to his short arms and lack of length. However, he’s relentless in pursuit and can dip underneath blocks with explosion on his way to the quarterback, as evidenced by his 29.5 career sacks.
“Yes, you’ve got to come to my level to block me. At the end of the day the offensive lineman is blocking me. I'm not blocking him. He's protecting the quarterback. I don't protect the quarterback. I'm going to go attack. So there's certain things that hinder me like certain moves or whatever the case may be. But as a defensive end, if you only have one move, you're not really a good defensive end.”
Adisa Isaac, Penn State, 6-4, 247, 4.74, Rd3
Playing in the shadows of a highly talented defense, Isaac quietly accumulated 16 tackles for loss, with seven and a half sacks in 2023. He also owns excellent size and has had a strong draft season, which makes him an early Day 2 candidate, so long that his medical report checks out ok.
“The challenge is figuring out your new body,” Isaac said of his rehab from ACL surgery. “Obviously, you're not going to move the same, right away. You think you can do certain moves but it takes time to get back in the groove of things. Just like football, the more repetition you do, the better you feel. The second year out from the injury helped me take another jump.”
Marshawn Kneeland, Western Michigan, 6-3, 267, 4.75, Rd3
A four-year starter and Senior Bowl invite, Kneeleand possesses great length and athleticism, along with a high motor. While his overall game is still a bit raw, his size and bend will allow him to play defensive end in any scheme.
"It's a crazy feeling, man,” Kneeland said at his pro day in reaction to 23 NFL teams in attendance. “I was heavily under-recruited coming out of high school so for these guys to reach out to me and give me the opportunity to showcase my talents and now I'm about to go to the NFL, man, it doesn't get any better than that."
Jonah Elliss, Utah, 6021, 248, 4.65, Rd3
Coming off a monster season in which he racked up 39 quarterback pressures, resulting in 23 tackles for loss and 16 sacks, Ellis was ascending up draft boards. Unfortunately, a shoulder injury cut his season short (final three games missed) and would require surgery, which has prevented him from testing. NFL teams love bloodlines and they run deep with Elliss. His father, Luther, was a first round pick (Lions); he also has three brothers in the league; Christian (Patriots), Kaden (Falcons) and Noah (Eagles).
BEST OF THE REST
Xavier Thomas, Clemson, 6-2, 244, 4.62, Rd3
An injury-riddled career and a constant crop of fellow five-star recruits landing at Clemson made it difficult for Thomas to fulfill lofty expectations during his collegiate career. However, he was clearly a problem to defend for opposing offensive lineman at the East-West Shrine Bowl, as Thomas won with quickness and strength, while displaying his ability to convert speed-to-power. It will be interesting to see just how high he can go despite lacking ideal NFL size and arm length.
“It is a surreal experience. I was supposed to be a three-(years)-and-out guy after the first couple of years I had here,” Thomas said at his pro day. “Then 2020 hit but it was all a blessing in disguise in regard to my journey and what I had to go through. “I am glad it went the way it did because I would not have been ready to go if I did go three and out. I probably would have lasted two years in the league. I was not a grown man, yet. I was still a kid.”
Myles Cole, Texas Tech, 6-6, 278, 4.67, Rd3
Zion Tupuola-Fetui, Washington, 6-3, 244, 4.80, Rd4
Austin Booker, Kansas, 6-5, 240, 4.79, Rd4
Cedric Johnson, Mississippi, 6-3, 260, 4.63, Rd4
Jaylen Harrell, Michigan, 6-4, 247, 4.68, Rd5
Javontae Jean-Baptiste, Notre Dame, 6-5, 247, 4.66, Rd5
Jalyx Hunt, Houston Christian, 6-4, 252, 4.64, Rd5
Eric Watts, UConn, 6-6, 274, 4.67, Rd6
Nelson Ceaser, Houston, 6-3, 254, 4.89, Rd6
Brennan Jackson, Washington St, 6-4, 264, 4.69, Rd6
Trajan Jeffcoat, Arkansas, 6-4, 266, 4.69, Rd7
Solomon Byrd, USC, 6-3, 251, 5.02, Rd7
Braiden McGregor, Michigan, 6-5, 254, 4.78, Rd7
Javon Solomon, Troy, 6-1, 246, 4.72, Rd7
Eyabi Okie-Anoma, Charlotte, 6-5, 260, HPFA
Khalid Duke, Kansas State, 6-3, 246, 4.79, HPFA
Maema Njongmeta, Wisconsin, 6-0, 229, 4.81, HPFA
Joe Evans, Iowa, 6-1, 246, 4.70, HPFA
Layton Jordan Jr, Temple, 6-1, 240, 4.75, HPFA
Sundiata Anderson, Grambling, 6-4, 239, HPFA
Ron Stone, Washington State, 6-3, 247, 4.68, HPFA
Ovie Oghoufo, LSU, 6-3, 248, 4.65, HPFA
AJ Simon, Albany, 6-1, 260, 4.64, PFA
Richard Jibunor, Troy, 6-2, 232, 4.71, HPFA
Taylor Upshaw, Arizona, 6-4, 246, 4.82, HPFA
Caleb Okechukwu, Syracuse, 6-2, 260, PFA
Craig Young, Kansas, 6-3, 215, 4.57, PFA
John McCartan, Oregon State, 6-5, 253, 5.20, PFA
Daniel Grzesiak, Cincinnati, 6-1, 250, 4.70, PFA
Andre Carter, Indiana, 6-4, 285, 4.99, PFA
Elijah McAllister, Auburn, 6-7, 271, 5.13, PFA
TJ Franklin, Baylor, 6-5, 263, PFA
Justin Blazek, Wisconsin-Platteville, 6-3, 252, 4.84, PFA
Patrick Joyner, Kansas, 6-2, 248, PFA
Tre’mon Morris-Bash, UCF, 6-2, 256, FA
Jordan Riggs, Merrimack, 6-1, 258, FA
Praise Amaewhule, UTEP, 6-2, 254, FA
Deshawn McCarthy, East Stroudsburg, 6034, 265, FA
Kenny Dyson Jr., Bryant, 6-3, 235, FA
Cordarrius Bailey, Northern Iowa, 6-3, 271, 5.66, FA
PATRIOTS SLEEPER TO WATCH
Javon Solomon, Troy, 6-1, 246, 4.72, Rd 7
After leading the FBS with 16 sacks, the slender Solomon earned an invite to the Senior Bowl. While his 101 career quarterback pressures are an amazing stat, there are concerns about whether Solomon has the size to hold up at the next level. Should that cause him to go undrafted, he would be worth a flier for the Patriots as a third-down rush specialist.
“I see pass rush as like a dance. It means a lot to me because I feel like there's a big versatility to it. I grew up watching Von Miller, Khalil Mack being two different pass rushers. Mack being more of a power guy, Miller, more finesse, speed guy. But once you combine them both, I feel like that's where you get those Maxx Crosby, Myles Garrett nowadays, so you see those. That was big for me. So I started looking at pass rushers early. I, you know, I had great coaches along the way. They kinda helped me develop to where I am now.”
PATRIOTS UDFA CANDIDATE
Maema Njongmeta, Wisconsin, 6-0, 229, 4.81, HPFA
Upon first glance, Njongmeta doesn’t meet the standard NFL size requirements, nor did he test well at the combine. Once you scratch below the surface, you’ll find a scrappy player who is smart and quick to adjust. Njongmeta brings leadership (team captain) and intangibles (special teams experience), two traits that New England brass has typically valued.
“In some ways, our run fits did change, Njongmeta explained how the Badgers defense was different under new head coach Luke Fickell. “We ran a lot more man and that can change your run fit, especially when they’re zoning one way and the running back is going the other way because it’s man it changes how you’re fitting it. Otherwise nothing out of the ordinary. Just from the experiences, it’s really just learning there’s a 1,000 ways to skin a cat. There’s a lot of ways you can attack an offense a multitude of ways and bein g in a new scheme allowed me to learn that.”
*For year-round coverage of the NFL Draft and everything football be sure to follow @ricserritella
