The New England Patriots have pulled off one of the most remarkable turnarounds in recent memory. After finishing at the bottom of the AFC East just a season ago, they surged to a 14-win campaign, secured their first division title since 2019, and locked up the No. 2 seed in the playoffs.
And they did it with a roster featuring 15 rookies-yes, 15. That’s not just a youth movement; that’s a full-on rebuild on fast-forward.
What’s made this run even more impressive is how the Patriots have squeezed production out of players who, frankly, weren’t even on most radars coming into the season. It’s been a masterclass in roster development and coaching adaptability.
But even with a legitimate shot at a Super Bowl, the Patriots are already positioned to reload. They’ve got 12 picks in the upcoming draft, including three in the top 100.
That’s a war chest of draft capital for a team that’s already ahead of schedule.
But let’s not pretend the roster is flawless. If there’s one area that still needs work, it’s the edge.
The defense has been lights-out lately-allowing just 16.3 points per game since the bye and a stingy 9.5 points per game through two playoff wins-but much of that success has come from creative blitz packages rather than dominant edge play. And that’s where things get interesting.
K’Lavon Chaisson has been a revelation this postseason, turning in strong performances against top-tier competition. It’s the kind of stretch that can shift front office thinking when it comes to offseason decisions-like whether he’s earned a long-term extension.
But on the other side, Harold Landry hasn’t delivered. After missing time with a knee injury, he’s struggled to make an impact-no sacks and just an 8.7% pressure rate in the playoffs.
For a player brought in to be a game-changer off the edge, that’s not going to cut it.
Enter Matayo Uiagalelei.
The Oregon edge rusher is starting to generate real buzz as a potential first-round target for New England. A former four-star recruit and one of the top players out of California in the 2023 class, Uiagalelei brings the kind of physical profile that translates to Sundays. At 6-foot-5, 272 pounds, he has NFL size and has been productive at the college level, notching 18.5 sacks over three seasons.
While his sack total dipped this past year, he still posted a career-best 13.6% pressure rate-suggesting he’s affecting the quarterback even when the numbers don’t pop. That’s the kind of disruption the Patriots could use, especially if they want to rely less on schemed pressure and more on pure edge talent.
There are concerns, of course. Uiagalelei’s 31.8% missed tackle rate this season is a red flag, and it’s something that will need to be cleaned up at the next level. But the Patriots have the kind of linebacker depth-think Robert Spillane and others-that can help mask some of those deficiencies by allowing a player like Uiagalelei to focus on what he does best: getting after the quarterback.
In recent mock drafts, Uiagalelei has been projected to land with New England at No. 30 overall, as the sixth edge rusher off the board. Just a few picks earlier, the Bills are pegged to take Keldric Faulk-another edge defender who could also be in the Patriots’ sights if the board breaks differently.
Whether it’s Uiagalelei, Faulk, or another pass rusher, the message is clear: if the Patriots want to take the next step from contender to consistent powerhouse, bolstering the edge should be a top priority. They could look to free agency, sure, but with their draft capital and a strong scouting department, the smart money might be on them finding their next defensive star on Day 1 of the draft.