The Patriots observed as pass rusher K'Lavon Chaisson signed with the Washington Commanders this offseason. While New England brought in Dre'Mont Jones to strengthen its pass rush, it may still consider adding another young defensive end in the first round of the NFL draft.
With New England sitting with the 31st pick, that could be a great spot for a falling pass rusher, and NFL.com's Bucky Brooks has a player in mind.
Brooks published a mock draft on Tuesday, suggesting that the Patriots should select Auburn defensive end Keldric Faulk with the 31st pick.
"The big-bodied Auburn product displays enough versatility to enable New England to seamlessly transition from a 3-4 front to a 4-3 without a personnel change," Brooks wrote. "As a heavy-handed, run-stopping edge defender, Faulk would elevate the Patriots' early-down defense while adding a developmental pass rusher to the rotation."
Faulk spent three seasons at Auburn, finishing with 109 combined tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks over 37 games. His numbers dropped last season, when he only recorded two sacks. However, in 2024, he had seven sacks in just 12 games, demonstrating that he can effectively pressure the quarterback.
It will be interesting to see how the Patriots handle their first-round pick. If they decide to go for a pass rusher, Faulk could be the top choice.
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