The New England Patriots signed several top available free agents this offseason, inking both Romeo Doubs and Alijah Vera-Tucker to large multi-year deals. Defensively, the name of the game for Vrabel and Co. was replacing contributors from 2025, like Jack Gibbens and Jaylinn Hawkins.
One position that most fans agreed needed improvement was on the edge. Harold Landry didn't have a sack after the bye despite having 8.5 before the week off, while K'Lavon Chaisson, who had 10.5 sacks across the regular season and playoffs, left for the Commanders on a one-year deal. Anfernee Jennings was released, and while rookie Elijah Ponder recorded four sacks, relying on him as a starter seems foolish.
The Patriots signed Dre'Mont Jones as free agency opened. Jones had a career year after being traded to Baltimore from Tennessee last season, recording 7 sacks with subpar defensive tackle play to his inside.
The 280-pound edge defender offers something different from what Chaisson might in terms of edge setting, and his missed tackle rate is 30% lower. While stylistically different, it isn't ridiculous to think the two will have similar production.
If Jones can replace Chaisson's production, however, New England's edge defenders still aren't good enough. The defense ranked 22nd in sacks during the regular season and relied heavily on blitzes to generate pressure. It shouldn't come as a surprise, therefore, that selecting an edge defender in the first round has been a popular trend in recent mock drafts.
Cashius Howell could be the best pick for the Patriots in the first round
New England has several options in the first round should they want to add an edge rusher. A pure speed rusher like Oklahoma's R Mason Thomas is a possibility, but concerns surrounding his ability to play all three downs are legitimate at under 250 pounds.
The draft also offers more traditional players, like Illinois' Gabe Jacas and Missouri's Zion Young, who have sturdier 260-pound frames to ensure their ability to stay in the field no matter the situation. If Vrabel wants another player in the Dre'Mont Jones mold, Alabama's LT Overton could be an option at some point in the top-100.
Among all options, though, Texas A&M's Cashius Howell could be the best. He has an argument to be the best pure pass rusher in the entire class, but he's projected to be selected after Miami's Rueben Bain and Ohio State's Arvell Reese.
In a recent mock draft, ESPN's Jordan Bain suggested the Patriots nab Howell at the end of the first round. Bain states, "[Howell] has an advanced repertoire of pass-rushing moves, and his 11.5 sacks last season ranked seventh among all FBS defensive linemen."
The Aggie is an impressive player, but his combine measurables will no doubt raise eyebrows.
Cashius Howell does come with some concerns the Patriots should consider
His 4.59 40-yard dash showed impressive explosion, and at 253 pounds, he weighed in as expected. The issue surrounding Howell is similar to New England's first-round pick in 2025: arm length. Since 1999, he and Bain have had the shortest arm lengths among edge players drafted in the first round.
However productive, it might lead teams to take Howell off their first-round radar entirely. Given Vrabel's selection of Will Campbell with the No. 4 pick last year, they may throw caution to the wind and select the player they determine to be the best football player in Howell should he be available at No. 31.
On a personal note, I'd be a huge fan of Howell being selected at the end of the first round. If he can perform at the highest level in the SEC, who'd say he won't be able to do the same in the NFL?
Arm length was a concern for Dwight Freeney (32 3/8), and he parlayed those concerns into 4 All-Pro seasons, 7 Pro Bowls, a Super Bowl ring, and 125.5 career sacks. Albeit Howell's arms are still over an inch shorter, that's not to say short-armed players haven't been productive in the NFL.
While the edge position looks average now, adding the Aggie to the ranks could pay major dividends. Adding the Bowling Green transfer to the ranks alongside Landry, Jones, and Ponder could pay major dividends in 2026.