The New England Patriots are among the NFL's top contenders for good reason. After losing in the Super Bowl in February, the team made significant additions both offensively and defensively.
A.J. Brown was, of course, the most notable player acquired, but Romeo Doubs was added to be his running mate. Alijah Vera-Tucker could prove to be a vital piece to New England's offensive line after signing a three-year deal.
Dre'Mont Jones will replace K'Lavon Chaisson, while 2025 league interceptions leader Kevin Byard takes over for Jaylinn Hawkins as the deep safety. In the draft, the team traded up in the first two rounds to select Caleb Lomu and Gabe Jacas.
Despite the significant moves the team made in free agency, one position continues to be of concern: the edge. Chaisson departed after recording 10 sacks across the regular season and playoffs, while Anfernee Jennings was also released.
Jones was signed to replace Chaisson, but he's never recorded more than seven sacks in a season. Jacas was selected in the second round to add to the stable of pass rushers, but he remains unsigned and is reportedly dealing with or recovering from multiple injuries. With the edge position looking thin, it may be time for the Patriots to look to the free agent pool for support.
UFL pass rusher Derick Roberson could be exactly what the Patriots need
The Patriots' pass rush wasn't bad last season, but it could certainly stand to improve. They ranked 22nd in sacks during the regular season and 13th in blitz rate. Harold Landry remains their top edge defender, while Jones is projected to start opposite him. Jacas's contract dispute will likely be resolved before the season, but given injuries and lost reps, he's likely to be behind.
Elijah Ponder is the third edge defender as things stand, while Bradyn Swinson is the fourth option. Swinson has had a strong offseason, according to most reports, but he played just 27 defensive snaps last year.
The team also rosters seventh-round selection Quintayvious Hutchins, Jesse Luketa, Amari Gainer, and James Madison UDFA Xavier Holmes. Other than Luketa, no one from that group has recorded an NFL sack. While the top-end talent could be improved, the depth is also a concern. This is where DC Defenders' edge defender Derick Roberson could come into play.
Roberson is coming off a UFL season in which he totaled seven sacks and 40 tackles with a 15 percent pressure rate. His missed tackle rate of 12.5 percent was lower than Jennings' was last season, and he has nearly identical size: both are 6-foot-3, with Roberson weighing in two pounds heavier than the former Alabama player.
Derick Roberson's connection to Mike Vrabel shouldn't be ignored
Aside from New England's need on the edge and Roberson's 2026 success in the UFL, the 30-year-old standout's connection to Mike Vrabel makes him a more than reasonable addition to the front seven.
After spending his first two seasons at Texas, Roberson transferred to Sam Houston State, where he totaled nine sacks and 55 tackles across two seasons. As a UDFA in 2019, he signed with Vrabel's Titans. While he bounced between the practice squad and active roster during his rookie season, he recorded three sacks in the final two weeks of the regular season.
He was with the Titans until the end of the 2021 season, playing in 16 games across three years. He spent a month with the Texans in 2022, but has been in the UFL ever since. He had 26 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and a 16.7 percent pressure rate during his NFL career.
If Roberson were to find his way to New England and be a 4-5 sack rotational piece, it would be a very worthwhile signing. He'd likely compete with the aforementioned Swinson for the last roster spot at the position, but given his proven (albeit minimal) NFL success, earning a practice-squad spot seems like a realistic possibility.
After the signing of Yasir Durant last summer, signing Roberson would mean securing the services of a DC Defender for the second season. Inking the ex-UFL star could be a wise move for the Patriots.
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