The Patriots had the seventh-best protection in complete yards allowed per sport (301.6) final season and anticipate to be even higher in 2024 because of the emergence of considered one of their second-year defenders.
Head coach Jerod Mayo named edge rusher Keion White when requested which participant has stunned him up to now, calling him a budding staff chief.
“Keion has form of taken that step ahead so far as being a frontrunner,” Mayo stated, through Mike Reiss of ESPN. “Not as a lot vocally, however you see him truly main the teams and dealing effectively.”
White, New England’s second-round decide (No. 46) in 2023, was primarily a backup throughout his rookie season, beginning solely 4 video games and enjoying rather less than half of the staff’s defensive snaps (45.8%).
Consequently, he registered simply 26 tackles (12 solo), one sack and three passes defensed. Nevertheless, with an elevated function, there’s cause for the Patriots’ optimism.
Throughout White’s ultimate season at Georgia Tech, he amassed 54 tackles (29 solo), 7.5 sacks and one cross defensed. If he can have that manufacturing, and even higher, in his second season, he’ll be greater than price his second-round choice.
The Patriots have wanted an inflow of younger expertise. White might show to be among the many nucleus of gamers to be simply that, however he should first battle with veteran edge rushers Matthew Judon, Josh Uche and Anfernee Jennings.
Judon appears to be a lock as considered one of New England’s beginning edge rushers so long as he can keep wholesome. The 31-year-old sacked opposing quarterbacks 28 occasions from 2021-22 earlier than accidents hampered his 2023 season.
Uche and Jennings, alternatively, mixed for simply 4.5 sacks a 12 months in the past. If White could make the bounce many anticipate he’ll, he might turn into one of many Patriots’ younger leaders and greatest defenders in brief time.
