Analyzing the film and projecting roles for the Patriots' newest defensive additions - linebackers Erick Hunter and Darius Muasau, and safety Jaylen Reed:
ERICK HUNTER, LB, 23 years old
Strengths:
- Really good athlete for the off-ball linebacker position, especially in coverage against tight ends. He's long at 6-3, 222, with long arms and big hands. He had a standout interception in Lions camp where Jared Goff was trying to go to Sam LaPorta in the back of the end zone.
- Stood out on special teams, but the Lions were full up there with 3-4 special teams-only players already entrenched.
- Shows good strength on tackles and blitzing.
Erick Hunter is a LB prospect in the 2026 draft class. He scored a 8.64 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 474 out of 3480 LB from 1987 to 2026.https://t.co/ZFWZd67pOK pic.twitter.com/Jl5j7T2kqx
— RAS.football (@MathBomb) April 20, 2026
Weaknesses:
- Really, really raw.
- Doesn't really know how to play the position yet.
- Needs to learn to read his keys and anticipate the play.
- Doesn't change direction well in a back pedal. Better straight-ahead speed than agility.
- His pursuit is not relentless on film.
Possible role this season once he gets up to speed with the playbook: It's possible he could eventually have a role where he matches up with certain tight ends, but that's probably a ways off. He's very much a future bet, and an unusual one at that. Hunter was released by the Lions and went unclaimed (the Patriots just could have done that). It feels like the Lions and the Patriots wanted to