Patriots writer urges team to draft 12.5 sack-defensive threat

Daniel Fisher

Patriots writer urges team to draft 12.5 sack-defensive threat image

The NFL Draft is only two days away, and the New England Patriots hold the No. 4 overall pick. New England could upgrade its offensive line, but if the team decides to go in a different direction, a pass rusher could be a viable option.

Penn State's star pass rusher Abdul Carter is projected to be the best edge in the class, but if he doesn't fall to New England, Bernd Buchmasser from Pats Pulpit thinks Georgia pass rusher Jalon Walker would be a good fit.

"Walker is not a pure off-ball linebacker, and he is not a pure edge either. What he is is a good football player who fits what the Patriots are building both on and off the field," Buchmasser wrote. "Whether that will prompt them to invest a high first-round draft pick in a tweener like him remains to be seen, but he could end up being Mike Vrabel's version of Dont'a Hightower."

Walker appeared in 43 games for Georgia, recording 89 tackles and 12.5 sacks. The former Georgia star knows what it takes to play for a championship-caliber team, winning a college football title in his first season in 2022.

If the Patriots can land Walker, he could turn the defense around in one year and make the team highly competitive.

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Daniel Fisher

Daniel Fisher is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. Since graduating from Franklin University, he has covered the NFL and college football for several outlets, focusing on the Bills and Penn State. Daniel is a major sports fan and grew up rooting for the Browns, Cavaliers, Guardians, Blue Jackets and Ohio State.