On paper, the New England Patriots appear to be in a good position along their interior defensive line. Milton Williams and Christian Barmore are one of the top duos in football, and both still under contract for multiple years. And yet, the team might decide to use draft capital to further bolster the group.
The depth behind Williams and Barmore, after all, leaves something to be desired after Khyiris Tonga’s free agency departure to Kansas City. The Patriots could try to go after a Tonga-like player
type in the draft in order to improve the overall quality of the depth chart. However, they alternatively could just look for disruptiveness no matter the size.
And if they do, Kaleb Proctor is a player to keep an eye on.
Hard facts
Name: Kaleb Proctor
Position: Interior defensive line/Defensive tackle/3-technique
School: Southeastern Louisiana (Sr.)
Opening day age: 22 (4/26/2004)
Measurements: 6’1 7/8”, 291 lbs, 33” arm length, 9 1/2” hand size, 4.79s 40-yard dash, 4.71s short shuttle, 33” vertical jump, 9’5” broad jump, 9.14 Relative Athletic Score
Experience
Colleges: Southeastern Louisiana (2022-25)
Career statistics: 48 games (35 starts) | 1,717 defensive snaps, 260 special teams snaps | 134 tackles, 12 missed tackles (8.2%), 26 TFLs, 2 FF, 1 FR | 78 QB pressures (16.0 sacks, 8 hits, 54 hurries) | 2 PBUs | 1 target, 1 catch, -4 yards | 5 penalties (incl. 1 declined/offsetting)
Accolades: Southland Player of the Year (2025), First-team All-Southland (2025), Second-team All-Southland (2024)
Despite being an All-State linebacker at Oak Grove High School in his Louisiana hometown, Proctor flew under the radar as a college recruit. Receiving a no-star rating, he did receive a handful of FBS offers but eventually decided to join Division I’s Southeastern Louisiana — the first school to provide him with a scholarship opportunity. There, he quickly made the move from linebacker to the defensive line.
Proctor spent his entire four-year career in Hammond even as higher-profile programs came knocking. He ended up playing 48 games with 35 starts, and was one of the most disruptive players in the FCS by his senior campaign. That season, he registered nine sacks and 13 tackles for loss, and was voted Southland Player of the Year. He also earned himself invitations to the East-West Shrine Bowl and the Scouting Combine, where he further proved that he is one of the top small-school prospects in this year’s draft.
Draft profile
Projected round: 4-5 | Consensus big board: No. 104 | Patriots meeting: Combine
Strengths: Proctor is an NFL-ready athlete, whose explosiveness stands out on tape. He attacks gaps with speed and slices through double teams with a vengeance, but also knows how to use his size to out-leverage his opponents 1-on-1. He is quick out of his stance and has the eye discipline to find his way to the ball, be it when plays come his way or he teleports himself into the backfield. He also is a capable player in pursuit because of his acceleration and effort. In general, he was repeatedly praised for his leadership and work ethic at Southeastern Louisiana.
Even though Proctor played in Division I, his tape against quality opposition was highly encouraging. He put on a show versus LSU in 2025 and also held his own at the East-West Shrine Bowl and, in a different setting, the Combine.
Weaknesses: At under 6-foot-2 and 291 pounds, Proctor is on the smaller side for an interior defensive lineman and might have to add mass in order to successfully compete against NFL linemen — something that could negatively impact one of his defining traits, his quickness off the ball. As is, however, he can be stymied by size while his consistency against double teams is lacking: he can be washed out when going 1-against-2. He also gets awkward in space from time to time, running himself out of position on line games or taking questionable angles to the ball.
Patriots preview
What would be his role? Proctor mostly served as a 3-technique interior defensive lineman at Southeastern Louisiana, a role he likely would resume in the NFL. What would change for him would be his exposure. While he was a starter in college, he likely would be more of a rotational and package player upon joining New England; with Milton Williams and Christian Barmore atop the depth chart, Proctor projects as a third or fourth option.
Does he have positional versatility? Defensively, Proctor was used in a fairly straight-forward fashion and hardly ever moved around the formation. That might change in the NFL, depending on where the team sees mismatches he could capitalize on. Coming out of college, however, his versatility mostly comes through in the kicking game: he played on punt coverage, punt return and the field goal/extra point blocking units.
What is his growth potential? Proctor’s lack of size could stand between him and NFL success, but there is only so much he can do about it without compromising other parts of his game. If he can strike a balance between adding mass and staying nimble on his feet, he could become a serviceable sub rusher at the next level with the upside to also add more early-down snaps.
Why the Patriots? At the moment, the Patriots have Cory Durden, Joshua Farmer, Leonard Taylor, Eric Gregory and Jeremiah Pharms Jr. under contract as depth options behind Williams and Barmore. While there have been flashes out of the group, there are questions about its long-term potential. Adding Proctor to the mix would give New England a promising player whose off-the-field demeanor should qualify him for a spot on a Mike Vrabel-led roster.
Why not the Patriots? Proctor is a promising player, but the Patriots might be turned off by his size relative to what other interior line prospects have to offer. If they want to fully commit to replacing Khyiris Tonga with a similar player, the 2025 Southland Player of the Year is not their choice. In addition, there is a chance the team is not convinced he will make the jump from Division I to the pros without some major hiccups.
One-sentence verdict: Combing small-school status and a promising skillset, Proctor is a hidden gem in this year’s draft who very well could become an impact player early in his career.
For more information about Kaleb Proctor and the rest of this year’s class of prospects, please take a look at Adam’s 2026 NFL Draft Guide.
Also, what do you think about Proctor as a potential Patriots target? Do you like him? Where would you pick him? Please head down to the comment section to share your thoughts.
