The New England Patriots have numerous gaps throughout their roster. While their offense lacks talent, they could also benefit from bolstering their defense.
To improve, the Patriots will need to use both free agency and the NFL Draft in the offseason. Fortunately, they’re positioned to get a high draft pick.
But which position will New England focus on in the first round? There are many options, but Bleacher Report’s Ryan Fowler suggests a strong fit: Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter.
Fowler describes Carter as having an “elite get-off” to disrupt blockers, the ability to break through defenders, and the range to pursue ball-carriers in open space. He’s productive, versatile, and still developing his potential.
Currently, Carter is having a standout junior year at Penn State with 34 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, six sacks, a forced fumble, and three passes defended in eight games.
Since joining in 2022, he’s been a consistent playmaker, totaling 17 sacks.
The Patriots could use another edge rusher, especially after trading Matthew Judon before the season and moving on from Josh Uche last month.
With a quiet trade deadline, New England missed opportunities to add future assets, so they’ll rely heavily on a strong offseason to build a more competitive team for 2025.
It remains to be seen how they’ll approach the draft in the spring.
