The Patriots signed Ravens defensive end Dre'Mont Jones (right) on Monday. The 6-foot-3-inch, 281-pounder finished with a career-high seven sacks, 24 quarterback hits and two fumble recoveries last season.
The Patriots signed Ravens defensive end Dre'Mont Jones (right) on Monday. The 6-foot-3-inch, 281-pounder finished with a career-high seven sacks, 24 quarterback hits and two fumble recoveries last season.Terrance Williams/Associated Press
Headed into free agency, edge rusher was one of the biggest holes on the Patriots.
Three days after the negotiation period opened, the position group remains a need.
The Patriots on Monday agreed to terms with 6-foot-3, 281-pound defensive end Dre’Mont Jones, who will bring size and power to New England’s pass rush. Last season, Jones, playing for the Titans before getting traded to the Ravens, finished with a career-high seven sacks, 24 quarterback hits, and two fumble recoveries.
Jones, who turned 29 in January, boasts strong athleticism, physicality, and versatility that all make him a strong fit for the Patriots, able to take snaps on the interior as well. As of now, he will start alongside veteran Harold Landry.
But edge rusher is still a pressing need for the Patriots.
They let K’Lavon Chaisson sign with the Commanders on a one-year, $12 million. They released Anfernee Jennings to free up $3.8 million in salary cap space. They didn’t pursue any of the top-tier, big-money free agents.
Jones seems to be a solid addition at a favorable price (three years, $39.5 million). But there is plenty of uncertainty surrounding the Patriots’ other edge rushers. Can an aging Landry, who will turn 30 in July, bounce back after dealing with a knee injury and declining at the end of last season? Are rookies Elijah Ponder and Bradyn Swinson capable of taking on bigger roles?
Ponder, who went undrafted out of Cal Poly, showed promise with four sacks last season. Swinson, meanwhile, played just 27 total defensive snaps.
Beyond that group, the Patriots don’t have many alternatives on the roster. Last week, they also signed outside linebacker Jesse Luketa, who had three sacks in 10 games in 2024, but he didn’t play a snap in 2025 and is primarily a core special teamer.
It’s clear the Patriots need an extra boost for their pass rush. So, where will it come from?
Available free agents include Joey Bosa, Arnold Ebiketie, Jadeveon Clowney and Cam Jordan, though the list of viable candidates is dwindling.
At 27, Ebiketie is the only potentially ascending player of the group. After the Falcons drafted him out of Penn State in the second round in 2022, he has registered 16½ sacks and 41 quarterback hits in four seasons. His snap counts reflect more of a situational pass rusher, so perhaps he could follow a similar arc to Chaisson, who stepped up as a starter in New England.
Clowney, who turned 33 in January, and Jordan, who will turn 37 in July, are clearly on the older side, but boast strong pedigrees. Even last year, the two produced and posted sack numbers (10½ for Jordan; 19 combined) that would have led the Patriots. The question is: Can they keep it up for one year and at what cost?
Miami's Akheem Mesidor was one of three edge rushers the Patriots met with at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Texas A&M's Cashius Howell and Missouri's Zion Young were the others.
Miami's Akheem Mesidor was one of three edge rushers the Patriots met with at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Texas A&M's Cashius Howell and Missouri's Zion Young were the others.Michael Laughlin/Associated Press
The draft is expected to be loaded at the position, so the Patriots will likely spend multiple picks on an edge rusher. (Clowney and Jordan could also serve as mentors.) First-round options at the 31st overall pick include Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell, Miami’s Akheem Mesidor, and Missouri’s Zion Young — all of whom met with the Patriots at the scouting combine.
“I think it’s a fairly deep class at that position that’s obviously an area of need for our team, so it matches up nicely,” executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf said at the combine.
If the Patriots can take care of their void at edge rusher, then their biggest need would be a pass-catching tight end to play alongside Hunter Henry. Nearly all of the young talent has already signed elsewhere during free agency, so it’s probable the Patriots will again turn to the draft. The team signed Julian Hill on Wednesday, though he projects more as a blocker.
Otherwise, the team is off to a solid start addressing its other key areas. Alijah Vera-Tucker can start at left guard. Romeo Doubs can produce at receiver. Kevin Byard can start at safety and provide necessary leadership inside the locker room. K.J. Britt can serve as a depth piece at inside linebacker. Fullback Reggie Gilliam can offer flexibility within the run game.
The Patriots, of course, could always upgrade any of their current starters and still need additional depth at multiple positions on both sides of the ball. Those answers appear to be coming in the draft, where they have 11 picks.
For now, though, edge rusher might be their most dire area of concern.
Nicole Yang can be reached at nicole.yang@globe.com. Follow her on X @nicolecyang.