Patriots 2026 Draft Preview: Edge
After a couple of seasons of the Patriots casting their lines into the rich, fertile fishing grounds that are the top of the draft, I'm blessed to be back in the more familiar position of trying to guess who's going to be available for them picking near the end of every round. It's much a more difficult task than just hoping and expecting that they'll do the right thing and take Drake Maye at 3 and Will Campbell at 4. But being right like I was so many times when I was being The Belichick Whisperer is its own reward.
Admittedly, I don't have the sample size when it comes to Mike Vrabel's tastes in prospects and who he tends to swipe right on. Though we can make some inferences based on his Tennessee drafts and the tape measure home run his 2025 haul was. But I'm still trying to figure out his "type" at various positions, and what he regards as system fits.
What's less hard to figure out is where the areas of need are. Which is why I'm starting this series at Edge.
Positional Overview: Addressing this spot should be Job One for Vrabel and Eliot Wolf in Pittsburgh on the 23rd. Throughout the postseason, the biggest gap between the Patriots and their opponents was the pass rush. A lot of that can be placed on the injuries to Will Campbell and Jared Wilson. But the Pats' lack of a consistent, effective pass rush was more noticeable when you saw Maye being chased like The Beatles every time he hit the top of his 5-step drop. The Pats were 28th in the league with a Hurry Rate of just 5.8%. Their Pressure Rate of 20.3% was 24th. And the were tied for 22nd in sacks with just 35, which was just 12 more than Myles Garrett had by himself. Improving this position is the Prime Directive.
And that doesn't mean you grab some situational pass rusher. Some Josh Uche 3rd down specialist type. Last year's signing of Harold Landry and this year's addition of Dre'Mont Jones are pretty good templates for the kind of versatile, every down defender Vrabel builds around. Guys who are not necessarily as big as the 6-foot-5 guys Belichick preferred. But someone who can stop the run, pursuit all the way to the sideline, set the edge, turn a ballcarrier back inside, beat a tackle with a quick twitch move, and have the speed to stunt behind Milton Williams and Christian Barmore to generate pressure. Basically? Mike Vrabel's type is ... well, a Mike Vrabel type.
Current Roster: Landry, Jones, Elijah Ponder, Bradyn Swinson, Jesse Luketa.
1st Rounders With a Chance to Still Be on the Board at 31
Cashius Howell, Texas A&M. 6-foot-2, 253 pounds, 4.59 40-time
Howell has probably been mocked to the Patriots (I'm referring to the mock draft projections, not suggesting anyone's making jokes at his expense) more than any other prospect in this draft. They met with him at the Combine. And he looks to be the best pass rusher to still be available without packaging picks and moving up. His rush game is refined, with a multi-tool of moves, hand-fighting techniques, spin moves, and a quick burst at the snap. And he ran as well as anyone at his position in the Lucas Oil Olympics. After recording 10 snaps in 2023, he took a step back the following year, before busting out with a dozen this past year. His deficiencies show up when he's asked to set the edge against the run or if a big tackle gets his hands on him, as he's not considered to have the metaphorical sand in his proverbial pants of a true 3-down option. But as a part of a rotation with Landry and Jones, he can bring pressure from Week 1.
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TJ Parker, Clemson. 6-4, 263 lbs, 4.68
The Patriots met with Parker at the Senior Bowl, and there's a lot to like about him. Beginning with the fact he had 12 sacks and 38 hurries in 373 pass rush snaps two seasons ago. Though those numbers dropped to 6 sacks and 24 hurries in two fewer games last year. He's also had some experience lining up over the tackle or moving inside as a B-gap defender. He's more of a guy who delivers punches with heavy hands to knock a blocker off balance and get separation than someone who's going to get off the ball before the protection can pick him up. But still has the physical traits to be a plug-and-play NFL starter, if not an elite double-digit sack guy.
Zion Young, Missouri. 6-6, 262 lbs, 4.75
Young didn't post sack numbers that will make your season ticket holders race to their credit cards to re-up, but that doesn't mean he's not a disruptor. He posted an outrageous 17 QB hits and 32 pressures in 326 pass rush snaps last year. Without even watching his tape, you can see how he does it just from his measurables. He's big, physical, and intimidating. A power rusher who bullies his way through blocks, crush O-linemen wills, collapse the pocket, and get into the backfield. He's also an alpha in the mold of Keion White. You'd just have to hope he's more versatile than White, who was limited by not having any moves beyond just trying to overpower blockers, many of whom proved to be unoverpowerable. The measurables on Young would also indicate he's not a straight line speed guy. And would probably be best lining up as a strong side or short side edge guy, and defy tight ends to make him move. Not many will be able to.
Day 2 Possibilities
Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State. 6-6, 256 lbs, 2.63
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You can't hate the idea of landing a guy from Linebacker U where Sutton is projected to go, which is generally around the middle of Round 3. Especially when said Nittany Lion tested so well at the Combine. Including a sub-7.00 time in that old Belichick staple, the 3-cone drill. He's got a rare size/speed combo, that drew the Pats attention enough that they met with him at the Senior Bowl. Vrabel mentioned early on last year that he was interested in relying on 3-4 fronts with a lot of 2-gapping, but only ended up playing about 20% of the time. Sutton would add that element. There are hours of tape of him holding his ground against double teams, like in the Notre Dame game. And he gets after the QB, with over 70 hurries, 30 hits and and 22 sacks over his three seasons at PSU. If the idea is to not spend a ton of draft capital and still at to the outside of the D-line, Sutton will be a nice addition.
Romello Height, Texas Tech. 6-3, 239 lb, 4.64
Given his name, I'm sure he hears the Road House, "I thought you'd be taller" line all the time. And ironically, Height's size is an issue. As is his age. He'll be 25 by draft day. But the Pats scouting department was well aware of that when they used a 30 visit on him. While most pro prospects are, well, pros by the time they're his age, he's been at Auburn, USC, Georgia Tech, and finally First Team All Big 12 for the Red Raiders with 38 tackles, 11.5 TFLs with 10 sacks, 2 FFs and a PBU, to go along with his 9 sacks and impressive 42 hurries. With some time in the weight room to add some mass to his lean, angular frame, he could bring some more power to his already well-developed variety pack of pass rush moves.
Sleeper Pick
Mason Reiger, Wisconsin. 6-5, 251 lbs, 4.78
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Whom the Patriots Will Draft: Cashius Howell. Adding him to a D-line rotation that already includes Landry, Jones, Williams and Barmore will make this a Front-7 capable of not only getting you to another Super Bowl, but winning it.