Dating back to the NFL Scouting Combine, the Patriots top brass has highlighted edge rusher as a position of need for New England this offseason.
In free agency, the Patriots swapped K'Lavon Chaisson for pass-rusher Dre'Mont Jones. Along with the 29-year-old Jones, Harold Landry III is rehabbing a knee injury that altered his 2025 season and will turn 30 in 2026. Behind their two vets, the Pats depth chart consists of Elijah Ponder, who showed promise as an undrafted rookie, 2025 fifth-rounder Bradyn Swinson (27 defensive snaps as a rookie), and fourth-year pro Jesse Luketa.
Based on the current state of things, an infusion of youth and upside is needed on the edge of the Patriots defense. Luckily, it's a loaded class, with the need lining up with one of the strengths of the 2026 NFL Draft. By my count, as many as 16 edge rushers could go inside the top-100 in this month's draft (including top prospects Rueben Bain and David Bailey). Therefore, who New England might target comes down to what body type and skillset the Patriots covet at the position. Back in February, personnel chief Eliot Wolf outlined what the team looks for in its edge rushers.
"Pass rush, speed and violence, explosiveness, first step quickness, and the ability to win in multiple ways," Wolf said. "Everyone's looking for pass rushers in the league."
Although their top free-agent signing, Jones, breaks slightly from their usual size mold at 6-3, 265 pounds, most of the Patriots pass-rushers are in the 255-pound range (Landry - 6-2, 252, Ponder - 6-2, 258, Swinson - 6-4, 255, Luketa - 6-3, 253). Jones might be slightly bigger than the others, but he's still best known for his explosiveness off the edge in the pass rush, so he's not a total departure. With that in mind, the speed-rushers will mostly take priority within our tiers.
Here are my rankings of this year's edge rusher class in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Note: I base pro comparisons on playing style. When you watch this guy play, who does he remind you of and why? Don't look at them as setting expectations for career production.
Tier One - Top First Round Targets for the Patriots
1. Akheem Mesidor, Miami (6-3, 259)
Consensus Ranking: 19, Pro Comparison: Byron Young