Although the Patriots defense remains a strong unit, they could use some upgrades at the LB position.
The Patriots are absolutely weakest on the offensive side of the ball. That said, if New England decides to not draft a QB, draft a WR or draft a TE, LB is the defensive position that could use the most help.
The Patriots have started to address the position in recent drafts, and have some great young players that have bright futures in the league. Ja’Whuan Bentley, Chase Winovich, Afernee Jennings and Josh Uche have all shown flashes of brilliance. They also have made a lot of rookie mistakes, and all have a lot of room to grow before Bill Belichick can rely on them for every snap.
Dont’a Hightower’s return could be a big boost for the linebacker unit, but the Patriots need some immediate help at the position. On that note, let’s check out some players that New England can pick up at their No. 15 slot.
Micah Parsons – Penn State
This is as complete a prospect as they come at the LB position.
Micah Parsons is one of the best athletes in the college game. He’s an absolute enforcer with size and speed.
As a run stopper, he is one of the NCAA’s best, and can use his speed to beat any runner to the corner. He can also use that speed to get to the quarterback lightning quick.
Parsons just holds pure football instincts, and his explosiveness and tackling will make him a great linebacker in the NFL for many years.
The one area he could probably improve is his ball production and pass breakup skills.
The Patriots LBs had difficulty stopping the run this year, and Parsons would be a great answer to that problem. This guy is a rare prospect that a guy like Belichick would covet if he was potentially available.
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah – Notre Dame
A Swiss Army Knife for the Fighting Irish, Owusu-Koramoah is a tantalizing prospect for any team looking to upgrade the athleticism and versatility of their LB unit.
As a rover for Notre Dame, Owusu-Koramoah can perform in any situation he is put into. Unlike most linebackers though – his greatest strength may be in coverage.
Owusu-Koramoah mostly covers the slot while playing man-to-man coverage but can also drop back into zone. This guy only allowed five first downs over 200 snaps covering the slot position.
Not only great in coverage, Owusu-Koramoah can also the rush the edge and can slip into the backfield when needed.
Owusu-Koramoah’s size may be seen as a bit of an issue to be as effective as a tackler in the NFL, but he is too skilled to look over.
Belichick has recently seemed to take a liking to defenders that use their athleticism to their advantage and bring different strengths to a league that is getting faster. Owusu-Koramoah is the definition of that way of thinking, and can be relied on in pass or run defense.
Zaven Collins – Tulsa
Collins is another versatile defensive weapon.
The former Golden Hurricane star had four interceptions this year while dropping into coverage – unprecedented for the LB position in college football.
Along with coverage, Collins was one of the best blitzing linebackers in college as well. This guy has no trouble getting to the QB.
Is the first round of the draft the best route for the Patriots’ search to bolster the LB position?
The Patriots defense remains their strongest unit, and with a few key opt-outs returning, expect the New England corps to remain a powerhouse next season.
That being said, Patriots fans will know Bill Belichick’s philosophy of never allowing yourself to feel you have too many defensive weapons.
There are some solid free agent LBs on the market this offseason, and with close to $60 million in upcoming cap space, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to pick up a veteran linebacker on a solid deal. Names like Bud Dupree and Shaquil Barrett are game changers when they are on the field, and would be great mentors to any of the young linebackers on the Patriots roster.
The Patriots would be wiser to spend some money on the LB position in free agency and use the draft to add some offensive weapons.
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