As the dust settles from the initial wave of free agency, the New England Patriots are turning their attention to the upcoming NFL Draft. A key component of this pre-draft process involves inviting potential draft picks to visit Gillette Stadium, and the Patriots are already making moves in that direction.
Reports indicate that edge rushers R. Mason Thomas from Oklahoma and Romello Height from Texas Tech are on the list for upcoming visits.
R. Mason Thomas had a solid four-year stint with the Sooners, appearing in 42 games and starting 20.
Standing at 6-foot-2 and weighing 241 pounds, he made his mark with 17 sacks, four forced fumbles, and three recoveries. His efforts earned him spots on the All-SEC team twice, securing first-team honors in 2025 and second-team in 2024.
Romello Height's college journey was quite the adventure, featuring stops at Auburn, USC, and Georgia Tech before landing at Texas Tech in 2025. Across 50 games, including 14 with the Red Raiders last season, he recorded 10 sacks and two forced fumbles, earning first-team All-Big 12 accolades.
The Patriots' focus on edge rushers is evident, having already met with 11 players in this category. The depth of this year's draft class at the position, combined with the Patriots' need despite signing Dre’Mont Jones, makes this a strategic area of interest.
Currently, New England's outside linebacker roster includes five players: projected starters Jones and Harold Landry, along with sophomores Elijah Ponder and Bradyn Swinson, and new addition Jesse Luketa.
Inviting Thomas and Height for visits aligns with the Patriots' draft strategy. While these visits don't guarantee any draft decisions, they provide valuable insights. Historically, these 30 visits have been telling; last year, six of the Patriots' 11 draft picks had visited Foxborough beforehand.
These visits offer an extended opportunity to assess prospects, even without on-field workouts, and can provide crucial clues about the Patriots' draft intentions.