Our 2023 NFL Draft positional preview series has reached the defensive side of the ball. We’ll get started with defensive linemen, looking at the top defensive tackles and ends in this draft as well as other players to know at those positions.
Defensive end is a need for the Patriots in this draft, even if it isn’t a headline-grabbing one. Deatrich Wise returns after a career year, but behind him there are questions. Lawrence Guy is entering his age 33 season, and after him the only other players on the roster at the position are 2022 sixth-round pick Sam Roberts – who didn’t play much as a rookie, and UDFA DaMarcus Mitchell, who mainly contributed on special teams last season.
Reaches
Sep 24, 2022; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Will Anderson Jr. (31) sacks Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback AJ Swann (13) for a loss at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports
Of all of the defensive linemen in this class, these are the only two players really out of range for the Patriots. Will Anderson of Alabama may be the best overall player available, and the projections that have Tyree Wilson from Texas Tech falling out of the top eight are few and far between.
First round DTs
Nov 19, 2022; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Georgia Bulldogs defensive lineman Jalen Carter (88) celebrates during the second quarter against the Kentucky Wildcats at Kroger Field. Credit: Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports
Heading into the NFL Combine last month, Jalen Carter of Georgia was squarely in that top group, and in the running to be the first non-quarterback selected. However, off the field issues have put his draft status up in the air. On the first day of the Combine a warrant was issues for his arrest relating to an incident that involved the death of a college teammate and another Georgia staffer. After not taking part in the Combine, Carter failed to finish his Pro Day workout after coming in nine pounds heavier than expected.
While Carter is not expected to face jail time, he’s still expected to fall in the draft. The question is, how far? Multiple unnamed teams have reportedly removed Carter from their draft boards all together, yet Carter’s agent Drew Rosenhaus is declining visits with teams outside the top 10 picks, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
It’s not unrealistic to think Carter could fall to 14 for the Patriots. If so, they’d have to consider the risk of taking a player not at a position of need, who comes with significant red flags. Those red flags only become more noticeable if they cause him to fall to that point, seeing as teams in the top 10 – teams who have met with him – would view him as not worth the risk despite his talent. Given the Patriots’ recent draft history, such a significant risk may push Carter off their board.
If the Patriots do want to add an explosive pass-rushing defensive tackle in the first round, but either Carter doesn’t fall or they’re one of the teams that has removed him from their draft board, Calijah Kancey from Pittsburgh would be their other option. Kancey was one of the best testers at the Combine of any position, running a 4.67-second 40 at 6-foot-1, 281 pounds. With his explosive first step and short-space agility, Kancey piled up 14.5 sacks and 27.5 tackles for a loss in 23 games over the last two seasons.
One other defensive tackle is projected to go in the first round – Bryan Bresee from Clemson. At 6-foot-5, 298 pounds Bresee is more of a run-stopper right now, but his athleticism suggests he has the upside to be a three-down player at the position if he refines his pass rush skillset. The Patriots were at his pro day.
First round DEs
Oct 8, 2022; Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA; Clemson Tigers defensive end Myles Murphy (98) eyes a Boston College Eagles ball carrier during the second quarter at Alumni Stadium. Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Speaking of the Clemson pro day, the Patriots also got to watch defensive end Myles Murphy, another projected first-round pick. At 6-foot-5, 268 pounds Murphy can play multiple spots along the defensive line. He’s an exhausting matchup for opposing blockers with his quick first step and high motor. Even with a raw skillset he has a knack for finding his way to the quarterback, and projects as a difference-making pass rusher with the right coaching.
Lukas Van Ness from Iowa is the final defensive lineman projected to go in the first round. Van Ness was a productive pass rusher for the Hawkeyes with 13 sacks and 19 tackles for loss in 26 career games, but he only played on pass-rushing downs. The Patriots generally look for more full-time contributors with their first round picks.
Day 2 DTs
Sep 3, 2022; Waco, Texas, USA; Baylor Bears defensive lineman Siaki Ika (62) in action during the game between the Baylor Bears and the Albany Great Danes at McLane Stadium. Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
If the Patriots are going to invest a top 100 pick in a defensive tackle, Day 2 makes more sense. We’ll start with one of the most exciting players at the position in Michigan’s Mazi Smith. At 6-foot-3, 323 pounds Smith wins as much with athleticism as he does his size and/or power. His production doesn’t match what’s expected watching him on tape, but in the right scheme he has the chance to be a real problem in the NFL.
Karl Brooks from Bowling Green is another athletic defensive tackle, but is more of a pure pass rusher from the interior. He was tremendously productive over the course of his career, with 46 tackles for loss and 27.5 sacks in 39 games. He also forced five fumbles, and batted down five passes.
Then there are the nose tackles in this class. That group is led by Siaki Ika from Baylor, who moves very well at 6-foot-3, 335 pounds and is projected to go in the top 50. His ability to both defend the run and push the pocket as a pass rusher has drawn comparisons to players like Vita Vea and even Vince Wilfork. Jaquelin Roy from LSU is another pass-rushing nose tackle at 6-foot-3, 305 pounds. Less experienced than Ika, he’s expected to go later on Day 2. The Patriots met with Roy at LSU’s pro day.
As for true run-stopping nose tackles, Keeanu Benton from Wisconsin and Gervon Dexter from Florida. Both players could help spell Davon Godchaux for the early-down defensive tackle role, along with Carl Davis.
Day 2 DEs
Dec 2, 2022; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Southern California Trojans defensive lineman Tuli Tuipulotu (49) against the Utah Utes during the first half of the PAC-12 Football Championship at Allegiant Stadium. Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
USC’s offense got most of the attention last year with Heisman winner Caleb Williams at quarterback, but the Trojans’ defense was one of the best in the nation as well. And nobody on that defense made more plays that Tuli Tuipulotu, a versatile defensive lineman expected to go on Day 2 in this year’s draft. Lining up all across the line – but making his biggest impact on the edge – Tuipulotu totaled 13.5 sacks and 22 tackles for a loss in 14 games in 2022. He’s a smart, calculated, athletic rusher at 6-foot-3, 266 pounds, and his game looks like it will translate very well to the NFL.
Another hybrid defensive lineman and Patriots fit expected to go early on Day 2 is Adetomiwa Adebawore from Northewestern. He was another Combine standout, running a 4.49-second 40 with a 37.5-inch vertical and putting up 27 reps on the bench at 6-foot-2, 282 pounds. Against the run, Adebawore can play as a defensive end and set a strong edge, but he has the strength and explosiveness to kick inside and get after the quarterback on passing downs as well.
Keion White from Georgia Tech is also projected to go in the top 50. White is a converted tight end who is still learning the finer points of the position, but his athleticism at 6-foot-5, 285 pounds make him an intriguing high-upside prospect.
Later on Day 2, Isaiah McGuire is a pass rush specialist the Patriots could target. McGuire was a consistent producer at Missouri, with 17.5 sacks and 32 tackles for loss in 32 games over the past three seasons.
Early Day 3 DTs
Nov 19, 2022; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Texas Longhorns defensive lineman Moro Ojomo (98) rushes Kansas Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels (6) as offensive lineman Dominick Puni (67) blocks during the second half at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
We begin our look at Day 3 with a couple of college teammates and Shrine Bowl standouts. Both Moro Ojomo and Keondre Coburn of Texas put on a show in Las Vegas in January. Ojomo is more of an interior pass rusher, while Coburn is more of a traditional run stopper.
Zacch Pickens (not a typo, he spells his name with two Cs) from South Carolina is an attacking defensive tackle at 6-foot-4, 291 pounds. His quick first step and relentless motor, as well as his length, force teams to pay extra attention to him with blocking schemes, especially against the run. Byron Young from Alabama is another early-down tackle fitting the Patriots early on Day 3.
Early Day 3 DEs
Oregon edge DJ Johnson sacks Stanford quarterbacks Tanner McKee in the second half as the No. 13 Oregon Ducks take on the Stanford Cardinal Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. (Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard/USA Today Network)
Will the Patriots add another two-way player in this draft? If that’s something they’re looking to do, D.J. Johnson from Oregon could be the guy. Johnson was recruited as a defensive end, but during the 2020 season made the switch to tight end when the Ducks found themselves shorthanded at the position. In four games during the pandemic-shortened season he caught 10 passes for 113 yards and three touchdowns. After playing on both sides of the ball in 2021, he moved back to defense full-time in 2022 and led the Ducks with six sacks.
Johnson, who measured in at the Combine at 6-foot-4, 260 pounds, is clearly a defensive end at the NFL level. However, he showed enough at tight end that he could realistically be called on to pitch in on offense if needed in spots.
Back to purely defensive players Habakuuk Baldonado from Pittsburgh was a player the Patriots worked with at the Shrine Bowl, and appears to be a system fit. Watching on tape, he plays a bit like Deatrich Wise. Born in Rome, Italy, Baldonado didn’t begin playing football until he was in high school. The fact that he’s advanced his game this far in that relatively short time suggests he has the ability to keep improving quickly at the NFL level.
If the Patriots want to make a pure potential pick in this range, they could look to Ali Gaye from LSU. Gaye is a tremendous athlete who understands the game well and plays with good instincts, but needs to be better technically to really make an impact.
Late Day 3 DTs
Oct 30, 2021; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers defensive lineman Dante Stills (55) celebrates after sacking Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Brock Purdy (15) during the fourth quarter at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
Starting here with one of the true ‘sleepers’ in this draft in Dante Stills from West Virginia. I’ve been waiting to write about Stills for three years but he kept going back to school – and kept getting better. This year at the Shrine Bowl he showed he can be an effective pass rusher from the interior, but also spoke about how important it was to him to learn to be a better leader and teammate in his extra years in Morgantown. While more raw, Stills’ definitely has some Christian Barmore-like traits in his game at 6-foot-3, 286 pounds. The two of them together could be a nightmare for opposing offenses.
P.J. Mustipher from Penn State is another Shrine Bowl standout. At 6-foot-4, 320 pounds he’s more of a true nose tackle. D.J. Dale from Alabama is another projected run defender in this range who is a Patriots fit.
Late Day 3 DEs
STARKVILLE, MISSISSIPPI – NOVEMBER 12: Dillon Bell #86 of the Georgia Bulldogs is tackled by Tyrus Wheat #2 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs during the first half of the game of the game at Davis Wade Stadium on November 12, 2022 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
Each year, the Cliff Harris Award is given to the best non-Division I player in college football. The last two winners of the award, Kyle Dugger in 2019 and Sam Roberts in 2021 (there was no award given during the COVID season) were both drafted by the Patriots. If that trend continues this year, it would mean Ferris State’s Caleb Murphy will be making his way to New England. Murphy put up eye-popping numbers at the Division-II level this year with a record 25.5 sacks and 39 tackles for a loss in 15 games this past season. Murphy took part in the Shrine Bowl.
Tyrus Wheat from Mississippi State was also at the Shrine Bowl, and played on the team coached by the Patriots. The coaching staff seemed to like what they saw from the versatile edge defender, who is a well-rounded, technically sound player.
One more name for Patriots fans to know is Jose Ramirez from Eastern Michigan. Ramirez projects as a situational pass rusher at 6-foot-2, 242 pounds. He put up impressive numbers last year with 19.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks in 12 games.
UDFAs
Toledo DL Desjuan Johnson in a game against Ohio State. (Credit: Toledo Athletics)
When it comes to expected UDFAs, the Patriots should be able to learn plenty about Chattanooga’s Devonnsha Maxwell. Not only did Maxwell take part in the Shrine Bowl, but he had plenty of practice reps against 2022 first-round pick Cole Strange when the two were college teammates. At 6-foot-2, 296 pounds, Maxwell is an athletic interior rusher.
Maxwell is not the only Shrine Bowl participant who looks like a Patriots fit. Desjuan Johnson from Akron is a pass-rushing defensive end, who the Patriots reportedly spent extra time with in Las Vegas.
Generally, when it comes to UDFAs on the offensive line, the Patriots like to add nose tackles. If that’s the case this year, Jacob Slade from Michigan State is a player to watch. The 6-foot-4, 315 pound tackle was second-team All-Big Ten in 2021, and was expected to push for an All-American spot in 2022 but was limited to eight games due to injury.
