The Patriots have done a lot of work to upgrade their roster this offseason, particularly on offense, but their defense still has a big weakness that needs to be addressed: the pass rush.
Although it was upgraded for the 2025 season, they just watched one of their leading sack-getters, K'Lavon Chaisson, walk in free agency and sign with the Commanders, creating an even bigger void on the defensive line that will need to be fixed as soon as possible.
There has been plenty of chatter suggesting that Mike Vrabel and Eliot Wolf will fully prioritize the position early in the draft, as the incoming class is said to be uber talented and deep, but there might be a chance to add a veteran presence to enhance their already stellar defense, while also giving the younger players a mentor to learn from.
That's why NESN's Aaliyan Mohammed believes Jadeveon Clowney would be the right one for the job, and because he's still available and is a former first-round pick, perhaps the Patriots should seriously consider him.
Jadeveon Clowney could be the right pass rusher for the Patriots' 2026 defense
Clearly, Clowney's age isn't his biggest selling point, especially for a coach like Vrabel, who has emphasized building a roster through the draft. But his experience as a pass rusher is invaluable, and he's coming off another excellent season in which he recorded 8.5 sacks in just 13 games.
Mohammed believes he could be the right fit for what the Patriots need and could increase their chances of reaching another Super Bowl sooner rather than later, and he might not be wrong.
"Clowney is a three-time Pro Bowler and has 66.5 career sacks. He has not really lived up to the expectations set for him as a No. 1 overall pick in 2014.
However, he has carved outa a nice career and is still looking for his first Super Bowl win. He would be an inexpensive signing and could serve as part of the Patriots' pass rush rotation."
Besides his experience as a 12-year veteran, Clowney is also versatile on the defensive line, and that is something the Patriots could benefit from, as well.
On top of that, he's fairly consistent with his production and is only two seasons removed from logging 9.5 sacks, which would have been a team-high for the Patriots last year.
Given the remaining options, it wouldn't be a bad idea to look into all of what Clowney could bring to the team, on and off the field. It's clear they're going to take an EDGE early in next month's draft, maybe even with their first-round pick, and Clowney would be an excellent teacher to learn from and set the tone for the defense moving forward.
At the very least, he's worth considering at this point, especially for the price.