New England Patriots: Positions of need for the 2021 NFL Draft
By Ian Higgins
2021 NFL Draft need: Defensive Line
2020 Starters: Lawrence Guy, Byron Cowart, Adam Butler
The interior defensive line, which in New England is the home of inexpensive beef that can stuff the run. Guy has been a consistent presence since his arrival via free agency from Baltimore, Butler has been a staple of the interior ever since taking over the starting role for Alan Branch as a rookie in 2017, and Cowart is a former rotational player who has stepped up to the plate in 2020.
Two of these three starters will be hitting the open market this offseason, and with a number of players to bring back already, Belichick is likely to opt to invest draft capital in the defensive line and have cheap rookie contracts put on the books over lucrative extensions. If Belichick is to bring back one of the two, Butler is the more likely option due to his age and ceiling.
Belichick has been progressively slimming down the defense, implementing safeties into the linebacking group, so why not apply the same logic to the defensive line? Aaron Donald is currently the most dominant pass-rusher in the NFL, and Jalen Twyman is a player in the same mold coming from the same coaching staff.
Twyman is a special interior pass-rusher who has a love for going one-on-one with guards and centers, showcasing an unbelievably polished technique for the position. At only 6-foot 2, 291 pounds, Twyman isn’t the most physically imposing, but neither is Deatrich Wise (6-foot 5, 271 pounds).
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Jalen Twyman DT
