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The New England Patriots’ pass rush needs help, and the NFL Draft could be a good way to address that need.
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The Patriots have the 31st overall pick in this year’s draft, barring any kind of trade. There is no shortage of talented pass rushers in this draft class, and Dane Brugier of The Athletic predicts the Patriots will select Clemson edge TJ Parker with the No. 1 overall pick.
“Upgrading the pass rush (in multiple ways) is expected to be a top priority for the Patriots this offseason,” Brugier wrote. “Parker is a well-rounded player who provides a solid foundation built on leverage dynamics and consistent drive that will speak to Mike Vrabel.”
Whether the Patriots re-sign Klavon Chaisen or not, they’ll need to bring in some new faces to rush the passer. They had only 35 sacks in the regular season last season, ranking near the bottom of the league. Parker played three seasons at Clemson and was a consistently good pass rusher who could make an immediate impact.
He has 21.5 sacks in three seasons, but he can do more than just knock down quarterbacks. He had 41.5 tackles for loss and 126 total tackles. In 2024, he led the ACC in forced fumbles with six. Parker, 6-foot-4, 263 pounds, reported to the NFL combine and ran a 4.68-second 40-yard dash. Lance Zierlein of NFL Network called him a “strong” player with room for improvement.
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“A strong edge defender with NFL length, his 2025 production may be closer to his career projections than his gaudy 2024 numbers,” Zierlein wrote. “Parker’s hand work is above average in both phases. He comes out early to establish a very solid edge and then breaks away quickly to finish the tackle. Average short burst limits his ability to chase the run in space and threaten tackles in the run game. When he catches the ball properly He can get long-arm tackles into the pocket, but when that approach stalls, he can’t find quick solutions. His rushing ability will be diminished until he expands his approach, but Parker’s profile is that of an above-average starter.”
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