The Patriots' defense in 2024 lacked effective edge pass rushers, and their performance reflected it. Whether from a down lineman's position or on his feet, no one performed at a playoff level in 2024. Mike Vrabel had an imperative to address that situation, and he did to an extent in free agency.
Vrabel signed Harold Landry III and K'Lavon Chaisson; both are immediate upgrades over last season's cast. Together, they notched 14 sacks in 2024. It's a solid beginning. Though Vrabel has two other glaring needs, left tackle and wide receiver, he may give some additional attention to the edge in the draft.
We'll look at four candidates at different draft rounds who could fit. Vrabel's imperative is prioritizing needs. The "best player available" theory flops if the best happens to be at the same position every time you draft. One player who meets the "best player at a position of need" approach is first on the list.
4 pass rush options for the Patriots in the 2025 draft
Abdul Carter, Penn State
Penn State's Abdul Carter is the best edge pass rusher and a top-two two-player in the draft. Whether he or wide receiver/cornerback extraordinaire, Travis Hunter, will be available to New England at pick No. 4 is questionable. If either is, he's the choice.
Carter's draft status may be impacted by a couple of 2024 injuries. If he checks out medically, he's the best pass rusher available. In 2024, Carter racked up 68 total stops, 24 tackles for losses, 12 sacks, four passes defended, and two forced fumbles. He was a one-man wrecking crew for the Nittany Lions.
Pro Football Focus ranks the 6'3", 250-pound Carter as the best edge and the No. 2 player overall (after Hunter) in the draft. Here's their brief but poignant, overview of the explosive pass-rusher,
"It's hard not to see some Micah Parsons in Carter, who not only wears the same No. 11 but also pops off the screen nearly every play due to being a rare caliber athlete. If he can get even stronger, he has All-Pro potential as a player worthy of a top-five pick."
Princely Umanmielen, Mississippi
If the Patriots didn't take an edge in the first round, a solid second-round option with the 38th pick is top pass rusher Princely Umanmielen of Ole Miss. The 6'4", 244-pound Umanmielen's 2024 stats sheet was 37 overall stops with 14 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, and a forced fumble recovered for a touchdown.
nfl.com has this to say about the solid edge in their Overview on the Rebels' edge,
"Finesse edge defender with traits, athleticism and upside to have his sack production translate to the NFL. Umanmielen is a serious ground-gainer with burst, stride and bend to create shallow edges leading directly into the quarterback’s drop space. He’s not instinctive and takes predictable pathways to the pocket, but he’s simply hard to keep out of the pocket due to his attributes..."
Oluwafemi Oladejo, UCLA
A mid-round option for the Patriots is UCLA's Oluwafemi Oladejo. The 6'3", 250-pound Oladejo had a solid year for the Bruins. He racked up 57 total stops with 14 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and two passes defended.
thedraftnetwork.com talks about his attributes as a pass rusher,
"At 6-foot-3 and 250 pounds, Oladejo is a picture of power with the length to help harness it and deliver strikes to offensive linemen that shock them. Improving his first-step consistency will help better threaten the edge and give him more access to inside counters, but he quickly closes space. While he’s a raw pass rusher and doesn’t consistently get to counters or sequence his moves, the cross-chop is his most effective and favorite to execute..."
Tyler Baron, Miami
An edge who may be available in the fifth-round range is Miami's Tyler Baron. Baron, 6'5", 258 pounds, has excellent size and length to play on the edge. In 2024, he had 38 total stops with 11 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, and a forced fumble for the Hurricanes.
thedraftnetwork.com comments on Baron's pass-rush ability,
"As a pass rusher, he often wins with brute force and a relentless motor, consistently converting speed to power with heavy hands. He’s not the most explosive or flexible rusher off the edge and will play with a high pad level at times, but he compensates with good hand placement and the ability to collapse the pocket..."
The Patriots could add four edge pass-rushers in different rounds in the 2025 draft. If Abdul Carter is the pick, they'll get the best in the draft and a player with a Pro Bowl floor and an All-Pro ceiling. It doesn't get any better than that.