Welcome to Potential Patriots!
Each day leading up to the NFL Draft on April 27, the Herald will introduce prospects the Patriots are likely targeting position by position. The Pats have 11 picks this year, starting at 14th overall, their highest selection in more than a decade. As for their other picks, the Patriots could pad their depth at virtually any position.
Below is a breakdown of the Patriots’ best prospect fits at edge rusher:
Ht/Wt: 6-5, 275
Projected round: 1st
Scouting report: One of the most gifted athletes in the entire draft, Van Ness is bursting with potential and could play across the Patriots’ defensive line. He’s explosive, fast, fierce, powerful and plays with bend around the edge. The Pats hosted Van Ness on a pre-draft visit in Foxboro, surely with a stamp of approval from his head coach, Kirk Ferentz, a Bill Belichick confidant. Van Ness had two blocked punts last year and tallied 11 TFLs and 6.5 sacks despite not starting a single game.
Ht/Wt: 6-3, 255
Projected round: 2nd
Scouting report: A former walk-on turned second-team All-American, Anudike-Uzomah is as self-made as they come in this class. He’s a demon in the backfield, forcing eight fumbles and collecting 25.5 sacks over the past two seasons. His times in the 3-cone and short shuttle indicate the Patriots could play him more in space than his college coaching staff did. He’s raw as a run defender, but the talent, competitiveness and traits are there.
Ht/Wt: 6-5, 264
Projected round: 2nd
Scouting report: Team captain? Check?
Special teams impact with four career blocked punts? Check.
Outstanding production with double-digit sacks and TFLs his last two seasons? Check and check.
Foskey would be a seamless fit in New England in every aspect, from his physical traits down to his special teams play and intangibles. He also played all across Notre Dame’s defense, another box checked. If he’s available at 46th overall, it’s hard to see the Pats passing him up.
Ht/Wt: 6-3, 254
Projected round: 2nd
Scouting report: Hall is one of the most explosive power-based rushers in this class. He’s a former team captain who’s regarded as a high-character player with pro-ready toughness. Hall’s inexperience dropping in coverage shouldn’t be an issue for the Patriots if they see his other tools as translating immediately as a rookie when he should factor into pass-rush packages for most teams. In February, Hall starred at the Senior Bowl, an annual hotbed for Patriots prospects.
Ht/Wt: 6-3, 266
Projected round: 3rd-4th
Scouting report: A unanimous All-American, Tuipoulotu should have his best football ahead of him as a 20-year-old who won’t turn 21 until after training camp. He plays with tremendous strength, effort and solid instincts. Tuipoulotu can be hit-or-miss with his tackling, but he packs more potential than the average mid-round rusher and should be worth a flier.
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Ht/Wt: 6-2, 263
Projected round: 4th-5th
Scouting report: Wheat is an easy NFL outside linebacker projection, and especially in New England where drafted edge rushers have measured in at close to his exact height and weight. More than that, he posted consecutive 10-sack seasons in the SEC and flashes impressive read-and-react skills against misdirection and screens. Wheat isn't the most explosive rusher in the draft, but he's well-rounded and versatile AKA a perfect Patriots edge-setter.
Ht/Wt: 6-2, 262
Projected round: 4th-5th
Scouting report: A small-school prospect with elite athleticism, Incoom dominated his competition last season with 11.5 sacks and 18.5 TFLs. If he sees time earlier than expected, it will be thanks to his strong edge-setting and tackling. Incoom was a late bloomer in college (he's 24), but his stellar senior season was enough to earn an invite to the Senior Bowl, where he earned a sack during the game.
Ht/Wt: 6-3, 276
Projected round: 1st
Scouting report: The Patriots hosted Fehoko on a pre-draft visit after facing him in the East-West Shrine Bowl, where he played under the Falcons staff. Fehoko isn't quite as athletic as the Pats prefer their edge rushers to be, but he's a relentless rusher with positional flexibility. Fehoko was also highly productive in college, tallying nine sacks and 19 TFLs last year alone after blocking a field goal and snatching seven sacks in 2021.