At the South Carolina Gamecocks Pro Day, the New England Patriots were very aware of the defensive lineman. Edge rusher Kyle Kennard and the Patriots met, and the Patriots also met with another South Carolina defensive lineman.
According to Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda, the Patriots "met at length" with South Carolina defensive tackle DeAndre Jules. New England needs more defensive line help, even after their free-agent additions.
Jules had a tough 2024, as he was fighting injuries during the second half of the season. But at the South Carolina pro day, Jules "looked healthy and athletic on the field." according to Pauline.
After four years in Pittsburgh, Jules came to South Carolina in 2024, where he played just 141 snaps. 2023 saw Jules play 474 snaps, more than half the total snaps he's played in his collegiate career.
In 2024, Jules had three pressures on 69 pass-rushing snaps according to Pro Football Focus. He didn't sack the quarterback, nor hit the quarterback. 2023 saw Jules get two sacks and nine pressures, the most in his career.
As a college defensive tackle, Jules has five total sacks, and 20 total pressures according to Pro Football Focus. Jules calling card isn't his pass-rush repertoire, but rather his run-stopping ability.
After signing Milton Williams, the Patriots added a dynamic pass-rushing defensive tackle. But, there are some concerns over his run-stopping ability. Jules could be a solution to the run defense, and would likely be a day-three pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Patriots meeting at length with Jules creates a connection to monitor heading into the 2025 NFL Draft. The 2025 NFL Draft starts on Thursday, April 24th, and ends on Saturday, April 26th.
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This story was originally published March 19, 2025 at 3:00 PM.