5 players the Patriots could have drafted over Keion White in 2023

Byron Young 

Staying in Los Angeles, the Rams drafted defensive end Byron Young from Tennessee with the 77th pick of the draft. Young is also playing as an outside linebacker in Los Angeles and is quite a bit smaller than White.

He’s nearly a year older than White, too. So he’s not a direct positional replacement for White (although White has played some snaps as a stand-up edge rusher, but he’s lined up in the middle of the line, too). 

But Young has bought plenty of pass rush to the Rams 3-4 defense. He recorded 12.5 sacks in his two years in College (and also made an interception) but never recorded eight in a single season like he did as a Ram. Young also recorded 19 QB Hits in the regular season, and he forced two fumbles and recovered one. 

Zach Harrison  

The Falcons’ Harrison is a very big man, but he’s still 18lbs lighter than White. He was drafted 29 picks after White. In 4 years at Ohio State, he recorded 11 sacks and 24 tackles for a loss; he also made an interception.  

With the likes of Calais Campbell in Atlanta, Harrison only played 32% of the defensive snaps in 2023 (White played 49% in New England). But he’s made the same number of QB Hits as White. Harrison made three sacks, though. He’s also made seven more tackles than White has and four tackles for a loss.