The Patriots had the seventh-best protection in complete yards allowed per recreation (301.6) final season and count on to be even higher in 2024 because of the emergence of certainly one of their second-year defenders.
Head coach Jerod Mayo named edge rusher Keion White when requested which participant has stunned him to this point, calling him a budding crew chief.
“Keion has sort 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 properly.”
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 taking part in rather less than half of the crew’s defensive snaps (45.8%).
Because of this, he registered simply 26 tackles (12 solo), one sack and three passes defensed. Nevertheless, with an elevated position, there may be purpose for the Patriots’ optimism.
Throughout White’s closing 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 may 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 certainly one of New England’s beginning edge rushers so long as he can keep wholesome. The 31-year-old sacked opposing quarterbacks 28 instances 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 soar many count on he’ll, he may grow to be one of many Patriots’ younger leaders and finest defenders in brief time.
