The 2026 NFL Draft is less than 10 days away as the New England Patriots continue the process of finishing their board. Things will look quite different for the team this draft picking 31st overall after back-to-back years selecting in the top-five. With the team stating their need for an edge rusher — especially one with speed — it’s expected the Patriots add one early-on.
So, with that said, let’s take a look at some of the prospects that might make sense for the Patriots at the position.
Patriots’ current edge situation
The Patriots
struck quick in free agency to sign Dre’Mont Jones to a three-year deal. Jones is expected to start opposite of Harold Landry III, but the veteran’s ability after an injury plagued season is TBD as he continues his rehab process.
New England saw K’Lavon Chaisson and Anfernee Jennings depart which will elevate second-year players Elijah Ponder and Bradyn Swinson as top secondary options on the depth chart. Another free agency signing, Jesse Luketa, rounds out the group.
Patriots NFL Draft fits along the edge
Akheem Mesidor (Miami): Entering the NFL with a ton of college production (35.5 sacks), Mesidor plays with a burning hot motor and has experience rushing from the edge and along the interior. He has a deep bag of pass rush moves, but recently turned 25 years old and has an extensive injury history which may force him to slide out of the first round. | Consensus ranking: 21
T.J. Parker (Clemson): A two-and-a-half year starter and early declare, Parker’s production dipped this season on a bad Clemson team after a dominant 2024 season. He has good size and length along the edge that helps in the run game, but is stiff withan average athletic profile as he tends to win more with power and a long-arm over speed. If teams believe more in the ‘24 film, Parker could be a strong value later in the first-round. | Consensus ranking: 28
Cashius Howell (Texas A&M): A pure speed rusher with an explosive first step and elite bend, Howell is coming off a career-year with 14 TFL and 11.5 sacks. Howell has an extremely similar profile to Harold Landry but did measure in with 30 1/4” arms that is shortest at the position dating back to the 1990s. His wingspan was then 2nd-lowest. | Consensus ranking: 33
Zion Young (Missouri): Young is another bigger edge rusher who plays with a strong motor and is firm against the run. That comes with a lack of burst and pass rush plan that does not fit the speed profile New England is looking for, but the team held him for a visit. Young, who was a team captain last season, also has an extensive list off of the field issues. | Consensus ranking: 37
Malachi Lawrence (UCF): A riser throughout the draft process, Lawrence now has a chance to hear his name called in the first-round after a dominant Combine performance at 6-foot-4, 253 pounds. His play at UCF backs that up as he’s explosive off the line and pairs the athleticism with strong length and powerful, fast hands plus a variety of pass rush moves. He has been an inconsistent run defender but has the makings to develop into a three-down player. | Consensus ranking: 43
R Mason Thomas (Oklahoma): If New England is purely looking for speed, look no further than Thomas. While he had an underwhelming Combine, Thomas showed a lethal first step and plenty of bend to duck around the outside of tackles for the Sooners. At 241 pounds with 6th percentile weight and 4th percentile arms, however, he likely will be limited to passing downs. The Patriots held him on a visit. | Consensus ranking: 47
Gabe Jacas (Illinois): The Patriots defense pride themselves on violence and that’s what Jacas brings to the field. Jacas’ wrestling background is seen with his hand usage while his pass rush plan is built off of his strength at 260 pounds. He had an impressive testing performance at his Pro Day but didn’t always seem to play with that first-step explosiveness on film. | Consensus ranking: 50
Derrick Moore (Michigan): At 6-foot-4, 255 pounds, Moore looks to go through offensive tackles with a nasty bull rush and speed-to-power conversion. His motor and ability to win with speed-to-power should catch the Patriots’ eye, but Moore did not do any athletic testing as he looks to be an overall average athlete. | Consensus ranking: 52
Romello Height (Texas Tech): With speed in mind, Height would be a welcomed addition to the group as he posted the 3rd fastest average time to pressure (2.9s) in the FBS last season. That speed-rush ability will get him on the field, but his 239-pound frame may restrict his every down usage. He also recently turn 25 years old and had four stops (!) in college. New England held him for a visit. | Consensus ranking: 76
Keyron Crawford (Auburn): A personal Day 2 favorite, Crawford was late to football as a basketball player growing up. Despite that, Auburn asked a lot of him as an edge rusher and overhang defender due to his athletic ability and intelligence. As a rusher, he’s an explosive player with active hands and a hot motor which helps him survive in the run game. His best football should be ahead of him and New England held him for a visit this past week. | Consensus ranking: 91
In addition to those players, Michigan’s Jaishawn Barham is another explosive rusher with off-ball linebacker versatility. Other options include: Dani Dennis-Sutton (Penn State), Max Llewellyn (Iowa), and George Gumbs Jr. (Florida), who the team held for a visit.
