3 top mid-round defensive line options for Patriots in 2022 NFL Draft

The New England Patriots‘ interior defensive line needs a boost in the 2022 draft, with at least one of the team’s middle-round picks devoted to the position. Though the team struck gold with a second-round trade-up in 2021 to draft star-in-the-making Christian Barmore, the rest of the interior defensive line needs an infusion of young talent.

For the purposes of this discussion, let’s leave edge players out of the equation and concentrate on the big guys up front.

While lots of attention has been placed on the offensive line, it’s important to also shed some light on how the team might improve its fortunes on the defensive interior in the draft.

Fortunately, there may well be solid options in the middle rounds that may fit the bill for the Patriots’ D-line to compete in the ever-improving AFC East and AFC in general.

Current Patriots interior defensive line projections

The current Patriots’ interior defensive line is peppered with veteran players. Last season, they took many of the snaps. This season, a couple of younger players like Barmore and late-season addition Daniel Ekuale will be taking many more if the team is to improve the defensive side of the ball.

Last offseason, the Patriots moved quickly in free agency and acquired Davon Godchaux as a free agent from their division rivals the Miami Dolphins. Godchaux received a two-year, $15M contract according to Spotrac. He was OK, but nothing to write home about and could be a candidate for cap savings if released.

Also included in the current group are steady but unspectacular Lawrence Guy, Henry Anderson, Dietrich Wise Jr., and also-rans Byron Cowart, Carl Davis, and Bill Murray. The Patriots need help and the draft’s middle rounds are where they should look for it.

The team has four middle-round picks at present: a third, a fourth, and two fifth-rounders. At least one should be allocated for an interior defensive lineman. These three potential draftees in the middle rounds could be nice additions to that defensive front.

3. Patriots can select Phidarian Mathis of Alabama

The best defensive linemen in the draft will obviously be long gone before New England selects. Pro Football Focus ranks Devonte Wyatt of Georgia, Jordan Davis of Alabama, Travis Jones of UConn, Logan Hall of Houston, and Perrion Winfrey of Oklahoma as their top 5. It’s after that list that the Patriots could strike paydirt. Next on PFF’s list is Phidarian Mathis of the Alabama Crimson Tide.

While teammate Jordan Davis has received much of the hype (and his fall into the Patriots’ lap would be nice), defensive linemate Mathis has also emerged as a prospect worthy of lots of attention. Should the Patriots be looking to add sack potential and obvious disruption to the interior of the defensive line (and why wouldn’t they?), Mathis may be their man.

The Alabama star logged nine sacks in 2021 to go along with five in 2020, a total of 14 over the past two seasons. That’s production, and the Patriots got little in sacks from the interior in 2021. Mathis may be just the fix they need to make life miserable for the Josh Allens and Tua Tagovailoas of the AFC East.

Mathis is 6-4 and 310 pounds and is described this way by NFL.com:

"Scheme-versatile wide body with long arms and solid technique at the point of attack. Mathis is a Nick Saban-style run-plugger with powerful hands and a dense anchor. He comes into the league ready for two-gapping duties. He’s more effective against downhill rush attacks than move-blocking schemes, but he’s more a piece of the front than a standout playmaker. He can push the pocket on early down passing plays but is likely to come off the field on passing downs. Mathis should compete for early playing time as a 4-3/3-4 nose or as a five-technique."

The Patriots like versatility in their linemen and Mathis has that trait. Profootballnetwork.com cites his “great energy and power” and that he’s a tireless worker. That sounds all good in this space. Let’s count Mathis as an option who may be available in the third round (or late second) if the Patriots feel he can add to the defensive front.

And, of course, he was a teammate of Christian Barmore on the Crimson Tide and that’s not a bad thing either.

2. Patriots could draft Arkansas DT John Ridgeway

Arkansas’ big defensive tackle John Ridgeway is another intriguing prospect. Listed at 6-5 1/8 and 321 pounds by Bleacher Report, Ridgeway would be a big obstacle in the middle of anyone’s defensive line. The Patriots can certainly use that size to compliment the power and speed of Christian Barmore.

Bleacher Report describes him this way:

"Ridgeway’s tall frame and long arms enable him to consistently get the first strike on his opponents. He also packs a mean punch in his hands, regularly shocking offensive linemen back a step or two upon contact… Ridgeway’s tenacity and surprising flexibility show up as a pass-rusher, too. He is not dynamic in any way, but between his initial punch, the energy to keep his legs churning and his functional flexibility, he often finds a way to free himself from blocks to help rally on late sacks. Ridgeway at least clears the bar for pass-rushing as a nose guard."

While nose tackle is not a position this space feels the Patriots need (Barmore plays his pocket-crushing best on the nose), the Patriots seem to feel otherwise, and if they seek a nose tackle, Ridgeway may be just the guy.

Right now that position is being handled by Davon Godchaux, who underwhelmed in his first season in New England in 2021.

Having Ridgeway push Godchaux for playing time is a good thing. Additionally, if he can beat out the veteran to start, it may open opportunities as noted to free up cap space by releasing or trading Godchaux.

If Ridgeway or another middle-round choice can make that happen, it’s a big plus for the Pats’ team-building and for the future of the D-line.

1. Patriots could add former LSU Tiger Neal Farrell Jr. to the D-line mix

Former LSU defensive tackle Neal Farrell Jr., listed at 6-4 and 338 pounds, would be a huge Tiger to add to the defensive line to play alongside Barmore. These two former SEC rivals could certainly team up to help wreak havoc on AFC East opponents who are loading up to crush any Patriots’ hopes for another playoff berth in 2022.

Nfldraftbuzz.com described Farrell’s progression thusly:

"2021 was Farrell’s best – by far as he started all 12 regular-season games and chalked up 45 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, a sack, and more significantly 24 total pressures. As a result, he was invited to the Senior Bowl and also was named to the All-America team by Pro Football Focus."

Some of their listed attributes for Farrell include the following:

"Ideal size for classic nose tackle space-eater at 6-4 and 330 lbs Played with good leverage, even on the nose, despite average bulk. Hustle defender with a good bull rush inside that can close and get home when quarterbacks leave the pocket. Quicker and more agile than you would expect for a player of his size Very strong hands – to keep blockers away from his pads Elite run defender – who swallows backs into his massive bulk"

Farrell’s progression is a good sign that his upside could be high as a professional. Again, the player would most likely be deployed on the nose. Yet, as mentioned, the team wants to deploy Barmore in a gap rather than on the nose, and Farrell’s ability to meet their requirements and stop the run could be a major asset. One downside is that Farrell won’t contribute much as a pass rusher, having only notched six sacks in his five-year college career.

That notwithstanding, adding a massive run-stuffer to play early downs alongside Barmore would be an asset. The Patriots’ defensive line currently is on the small side, and size should and hopefully will be a key determinant when/if the team picks a defensive lineman in the draft.

So those are three possible candidates in the middle rounds should the Patriots decide to use one of their four picks therein on a defensive lineman. Though the possibility that one of the top five at the position slips in the draft is always there, a trade-up to snag a far better talent is also always an option for the New England Patriots. Fans can never ever rule out that potentiality.

Hopefully, the Patriots will recognize their shortcomings and draft another young player to team with Barmore on the interior of the defensive line. Otherwise, expect another languid performance from that unit — excepting the indomitable Barmore, who, if he has some real help, will be an unstoppable force.

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