Pro Football Focus (PFF) is one of the best NFL analytical outfits in the business. Whether opining about the Patriots or any other NFL team, they are always insightful, analytically precise, and on top of the latest NFL developments.
When PFF talks about a topic, it makes sense to listen carefully. Occasionally, they are amiss, but they always present a good case. In a recent extensive article, PFF's Jonathon Macri listed his choices for the most underrated player on each NFL team.
For the Patriots, he selects third-year emerging star Keion White as his choice for the most underrated player on the roster. Jonathon may be right on target. White is a star in the making, but one thing, among others, has kept his production down and perhaps even disillusioned the player.
PFF likes Keion White's great potential ahead of third NFL season
Keion White has been used in New England for much of his time since being a second-round draft pick on the edge. White has the prototypical size for an upfield, pocket-collapsing defensive lineman. His sheer talent allowed him to have a substantial positive impact on a Patriots' defense that had traded its two best pass-rushers, Matt Judon and Josh Uche, and had few other talents around.
Macri believes the 2025 season won't yield the same results for White. He thinks he will be able to build upon the improvements he made last season, making him perhaps the most underrated and overlooked player on the current roster.
"White experienced a Year 2 breakout in 2024, playing a crucial role along New England’s defensive line, leading the team in pass-rush snaps (427), PFF pass-rush grade (76.7), pressures (45) and sacks (six).
Despite logging more than 500 defensive snaps as a rookie in 2023, White didn’t produce all that much, He stepped up in 2024 with the team trusting him in a larger role, even ranking 22nd at the position in PFF pass-rush grade while lining up in multiple spots and even dropping into coverage on occasion."
Four of White's five sacks in 2024 came in the season's first two games. This presaged an explosion of sacks akin to that of linemate Christian Barmore, who had 8.5 sacks in 2023. Unfortunately, Barmore was impacted by a health issue, playing in only four 2024 games. That negated having both him and White on the defensive front. Other than Deatrich Wise Jr., there was no one else.
Keion White was mispositioned in his first two seasons
Keion White played some tackle in 2024 but was consigned to the edge far too often. While he admittedly was the Patriots' best edge, White was positioned incorrectly by both Bill Belichick and Jerod Mayo, and it cost both dearly. Like Barmore (a superb nose tackle), White is best employed as a pocket-collapsing interior lineman. In White's case, it's in a gap.
If they're positioned correctly and healthy, both are unblockable by one offensive lineman, no matter who it is. Unfortunately, in 2024, White played many snaps as a stand-up edge, even dropping back into coverage. To drop a 6'5", 285-pound interior lineman into coverage is absurd.
The hope is Mike Vrabel is astute enough to use White and Barmore, along with Milton Williams and rookie Joshua Farmer, as they should be used, as interior upfield pocket-collapsing menaces. If he does, the sky is the limit for the almost totally refashioned attacking Patriots defense.
Macri hit the nail on the head with his observation that White is an underrated member of the Patriots. He's a 2025 breakout candidate, but it won't happen playing on his feet on the edge. Yet, as a down interior defensive lineman, White can be one of the best in the NFL. It's up to Vrabel to finally use him in his best position, inside a gap. There, as PFF predicts, he'll excel.