The New England Patriots made some noticeable signings during this year’s free agency period, but the first of them flew largely under the radar. Back in early March, a week before the market officially opened, they signed Jesse Luketa to improve their depth on the defensive edge.
Luketa brings the experience of four NFL seasons to the table, but he needs to make the most out of it to end up on the roster.
Hard facts
Name: Jesse Luketa
Position: Defensive edge/Outside linebacker
Jersey number: 42
Opening day age:
27 (1/15/1999)
Measurements: 6’2 7/8”, 260 lbs, 10 3/8” hand size, 32 5/8” arm length, 78 3/4” wingspan, 4.89s 40-yard dash, 7.29s 3-cone drill, 4.27s short shuttle, 37 1/2” vertical jump, 10’0” broad jump, 17 bench press reps, 5.98 Relative Athletic Score
Experience
NFL: Arizona Cardinals (2022-24), Los Angeles Rams (2025), New England Patriots (2026-) | College: Penn State (2018-21)
Born in Edmonton, Luketa moved from Canada to the United States at 15 in hopes of pursuing his dream of playing pro football. He joined Mercyhurst Preparatory School in Erie, PA, and quickly became an impact defender for the Lakers. As a four-star linebacker recruit, he received close to three dozen scholarship offers from high-profile schools such as Ohio State, Georgia and LSU. He decided to join Penn State, however, and spent four seasons in Happy Valley.
Seeing action in 46 games with 17 starts for the Nittany Lions, Luketa had modest production as a hybrid edge (151 tackles, 0.5 sacks, 1 INT. The one-time All-Big Ten honorable mention (2021) therefore headed toward the 2022 NFL Draft as a projected late-round option. Indeed, he remained on the board until Arizona picked him up with the 256th overall pick in the seventh round.
Luketa, who also was selected in the second round of the 2022 CFL Draft, was a Cardinal for three years. He played 31 games, including three as a starter, and notched a trio of sacks as well as a forced fumble. After leaving Arizona in 2025, he had a brief stint in Los Angeles before getting picked up by the Patriots in March 2026.
Scouting report
Strengths: Checking in at just under 6-foot-3 and 260 pounds, Luketa offers a filled-out frame and serviceable length. Experienced against the pass and the run, he is capable of lining up both on and off the ball as well as in a two- or three-point stance. He wins through impressive effort and active hands regardless if he is crashing down on the pocket, shooting gaps or playing pursuit, while his thick lower body allows him to set a stout edge. He has adequate burst as a pass rusher and a solid feel for attack angles. Luketa also was named a two-time team captain at Penn State, and has an extensive special teams résumé.
Weaknesses: Luketa is not a particularly impressive athlete and has no true standout traits from a size/speed/power perspective. His wins come through effort more so than having a clear physical edge over his position or a sound technical foundation. He runs hot and cold as a pass rusher and furthermore struggles to consistently disengage against bigger blockers in the run game. He also is not the most fluid mover, which can be a challenge in coverage. His big play production has been marginal going back to his college days, and the fact that he has not been able to keep a steady spot in the league an ominous sign.
2025 review
Stats: N/A
Season recap: Luketa’s 2024 season came to an end in December because of a thigh injury, and the Cardinals subsequently decided not to tender him as a restricted free agent in 2025. Once on the open market, he had to show patience: the first teams to show interest were the Cowboys and Seahawks, who brought him in for what ultimately were unsuccessful workouts in July. It took until October before other teams gave him a chance, but neither the Ravens nor the Panthers signed him after he tried out for them.
In November, however, he finally found a spot in the NFL again: the Rams added him to their practice squad, and he spent the remainder of the 2025 season there. However, he did not see any game action for his new club and was not retained on a futures contract after his practice squad deal expired in February — a somewhat fitting end to what was a disappointing season overall.
2026 preview
Position: Outside linebacker | Ability: Camp body/Practice squad candidate/Depth special teamer | Contract: Signed through 2026 (2027 RFA)
What will be his role? Despite some college experience playing off the ball, Luketa has lined up almost exclusively on the edge since entering the NFL. He therefore projects to provide rotational and well-rounded depth at the position for the Patriots behind starting duo Harold Landry and Dre’Mont Jones. His main role, however, projects to come on special teams; he brings five-unit experience to the equation.
What is his growth potential? Unless a change of scenery can unexpectedly unlock some untapped potential, any major jumps in performance from Luketa should not be expected at this stage in his career. At age 27 and entering his fifth season as a pro, he likely very much is who he is.
Does he have positional versatility? Luketa is a theoretically versatile player, capable of playing multiple spots along the front seven. However, he has not really been used in that fashion since entering the NFL in 2022. Things might change in New England now, but at this point in time it seems his versatility is limited to special teams. There, however, he has been a five-unit performer: he played on kickoff return, kickoff coverage, punt return, punt coverage and field goal/extra point block during his time with the Cardinals.
What is his salary cap situation? The Patriots signed Luketa to a one-year deal back in March, and it is as straight-forward a contract as it can be: his non-guaranteed $1.145 million base salary simultaneously functions as a his cap number. Despite that sum being the minimum for a player of his experience — i.e. three accrued seasons of at least six games on either an active roster or a reserve list — he currently finds himself on the Top 51 list and therefore is counted against New England’s offseason books.
How safe is his roster spot? Luketa’s contract is reflective of his roster outlook: he is very much on the roster bubble and needs to compete for a spot on the team this summer. In his case, the path toward earning one probably starts in the kicking game. On defense, meanwhile, he will need to prove himself against fellow backup edges Elijah Ponder, Bradyn Swinson, Quintayvious Hutchins and Xavier Holmes.
Summary: Luketa’s experience on the edge and particularly in the kicking game can help him make the team. However, his spring was quiet and he currently finds himself toward the bottom of the pecking order. The practice squad will therefore likely have to remain his most realistic goal, and even that is not a given with plenty of young talent on the team both on defense and special teams.
What do you think about Jesse Luketa heading into the 2026 season? Will he be able to make an impact again? Or will he be a camp body only? Please head down to the comment section to share your thoughts.
