The NFL Draft is now just a few days away. There, the New England Patriots are looking to find a way to improve their roster so that they can not just get back to the Super Bowl, but find a way to win it this time.
To do that, they’re going to need to identify and address some major concerns on both sides of the ball. That’s easier said than done, though.
Looking to help figure out what the Patriots must have in the NFL Draft are a pair of former Patriots. Brothers Devin and Jason McCourty. Recently, Mike Reiss of ESPN shared what the pair believes New England needs to do.
The McCourty Brothers Agree on the New England Patriots’ Biggest Need
GettyFormer Patriots defensive backs Jason and Devin McCourty
There wasn’t much room for debate when it came to the New England Patriots’ biggest need. That would be a true pass rush threat.
“A dynamic pass rusher, somebody that dictates defense. It’s very hard if it’s just Milton [Williams] and [Christian] Barmore in the middle, and that’s all you have to worry about,” Devin McCourty said.
“I think about guys we played — the J.J. Watts, Aaron Donalds — it was always, ‘We’re just going to slide [pass protection] that way each time and leave the tackles one-on-one.’ That showed up for me watching the Super Bowl. It was like, ‘Man, they have nothing.'”
For his part, Jason McCourty was quick to agree. Grabbing a dynamic edge rusher is going to be paramount for the Patriots.
“Edge rusher is at the top of the list,” Jason McCourty said. “Dre’Mont Jones was a nice pickup; he’s a two-way type player where he can get after the quarterback, but [is] just as good against the run and can kick inside on third down … but not an elite pass rusher. So it’s getting a young guy to come in there who doesn’t have to be the guy [right away] but can begin as a nice rotation piece.”
This offseason saw New England lose K’Lavon Chaisson, who was second on the team in sacks and tied for first in tackles for a loss. Even with a healthier Harold Landry III and the addition of Dre’Mont Jones, there is still room for improvement there.
Other Areas of Need for the Patriots
GettyNew England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel
Edge rusher might be the top priority as far as the McCourty Brothers are concerned, but that’s far from their only issue. There’s just more room for debate at those other spots.
For his part, Devin McCourty looked at adding offensive line depth and developing the players already on the roster as major needs for the Patriots. Of course, that’s a challenge that goes well beyond the NFL Draft.
“That’s when you say, ‘This is a really good coaching staff at developing guys, coming through their system in a year and picking it up, and now are off to the races running,'” Devin said of 2025 fifth-round pick Bradyn Swinson. “Everything can’t be ‘we have to go get this guy.’ It’s hard to build a team that way.”
A little less important to McCourty, but worth noting, were depth to the secondary and finding a tight end for Drake Maye to throw to. Both of those are positions that seemed a little thin at times, even when they’re playing well. Finding a player there that can be trusted would be massive to lessen injury concerns.
For his part, Jason McCourty turned his attention to the offensive line. There, he doesn’t see left tackle as an issue, but right tackle could become a problem. There, Morgan Moses is aging, and the Patriots need to be prepared to replace him.
“O-line is a tweener for me between ‘need’ and ‘must-have,'” Jason said. “I’m not on the train of ‘Will Campbell is a terrible player now’ because he had a bad playoff run. I think they found their left tackle and he’ll continue to get better. But I feel like they need the depth here; obviously Morgan Moses isn’t getting any younger, so if you can get a tackle that can potentially pair with Campbell in the years to come.”
Jason McCourty went on to mention that finding another weapon for Maye is going to be something he wants to see happen. In particular, if that addition in the draft can eventually be paired with A.J. Brown at some point in the future. It’s just less important than edge rusher or offensive line.
The New England Patriots have 11 picks in the upcoming NFL Draft. The first of those is going to come at No. 31 overall in the first round. How the team addresses some of these needs remains to be seen.
McCourty Brothers Share What the Patriots Must Have in the NFL Draft