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The New England Patriots took cornerback Kobee Minor with the final pick in the draft on Saturday.
The New England Patriots, among other teams, are getting ready for the NFL draft set to take place in April. Mock draft season is in full swing, and NFL.com writer Bucky Brooks has the organization taking Auburn Tigers edge defender Keldrick Faulk with the 31st overall selection.
The Patriots need help at the exposition. Faulk could be a player who could alleviate that weakness. The Patriots have several players they can draft as they look to replenish their roster for another deep playoff run. However, Brooks believes that Faulk would fit what the Patriots need in a big-time way.
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. 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.
Patriots Need Faulk’s Defensive Presence
When you look at the production that Faulk was able to put together in the SEC, it’s reasonable to consider him one of the top edge targets in the entire draft. He recorded two sacks and 29 tackles in 12 games last year for the Tigers.
2024 was a more accurate representation of what he could do in terms of his pass-rushing ability. He recorded 45 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, seven sacks, and a forced fumble. The game against the Kentucky Wildcats was one of his most notable performances of 2024. He recorded three total tackles, two sacks, and two tackles for loss. This was his third multi-sack game of the season.
Although 2024 was his best season at the collegiate level, he showed promise early. Faulk burst onto the scene as a freshman in 2023. He played in 13 games, recorded 35 total tackles, and a sack. He made the 2023 SEC All-Freshman team for his efforts.
Patriots Need Help On The Edge
The Patriots need help on the edge in a major way. The defensive unit itself was stellar, ranking fourth in points against with 18.8 points per game. They also ranked eighth in yards allowed with 295.2 yards per game, and sixth in rushing yards allowed with 101.7 yards per game.
With that being said, they did not get a ton of production off the edge. They ranked 22nd in the entire NFL in sacks on the season with 35. Faulk would be able to bring another younger element to the Patriots’ pass-rushing unit. He would also be able to replace K’Lavon Chaisson. The latter went to the Washington Commanders in free agency earlier this month. For reference, Harold Landry had 7.5 sacks off the edge last season, and would be the one with the most returning production.
There is a ton of upside with Faulk. He could fit into the Patriots’ defensive unit quite nicely. It would also allow the Patriots to reload on the defensive side of the ball. The Patriots are in a unique position where they can get younger defensively while also keeping their core intact. Staying young on that side of the footfall could benefit a team looking to maintain its success. Faulk would allow them to have a player with that pass-rushing mentality for several seasons
There’s no doubt the Patriots have a ton of needs heading into April’s draft. However, edge rusher would be a step in the right direction, and an SEC talent may be too good to pass up.