Inside the New England Patriots Draft Room: Who Will Join the Super Bowl Champions

Outside Linebackers

Similar to the defensive end position, the Patriots can also improve the pass rush with the addition of an outside linebacker. Based on the NFL team, some players will be viewed as an end by some teams and a linebacker by others. New England doesn’t have a prototypical edge defender besides Rob Ninkovich. At 33-years-old and entering the final season of his contract, drafting an outside linebacker is more of a necessity than a luxury for the Patriots.

Highly-valued skills:

height, weight, arm length, hand size, 40-yard dash, bench press (141 graded)

1. T.J. Watt (Wisconsin) – 47%

2. Takkarist McKinley (UCLA) – 29.4%

Fell below the minimum threshold in one category, but still finished with a positive score:

1. Alex Scearce (Coastal Carolina) – 47%

2. Alex Armah (West Georgia) – 23.5%

3. Jimmy Herman (Purdue) – 17.6%

4. Ukeme Eligwe (Georgia Southern) – 11.7%

5. Cameron Rosser (Kansas) – 5.8%

5. Haason Reddick (Temple) – 5.8%

With only eight players meeting the typical standards the Patriots set at the position, this is where a move could be made. T.J. Watt, Takkarist McKinley and Haason Reddick will not be available at pick 72, and none of the other five prospects are expected to be drafted. So if New England is going to add an outside linebacker in the draft, a trade will have to be made.

New Orleans is the obvious trade partner. The Saints hold picks 32 and 42 and have already made a deal with the Patriots this offseason. If Watt or McKinley are available with either pick, do the Patriots pounce? The trade would almost certainly send cornerback and Super Bowl XLIX hero Malcolm Butler to New Orleans in exchange for the rights to draft either Watt or McKinley. A slight edge goes to Watt if both are available, but either one would be an upgrade off the edge.