The New England Patriots spent their 2024 Draft selections almost entirely on offense, as they should have done.
But what does that mean for the 2025 NFL Draft? New England should keep a watch on one candidate in particular, even if it is certainly premature to predict anything about the outcome of the 2018 Draft before any college players have ever taken a snap. Linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. plays for LSU. He is a tremendous weapon on the defensive end of the ball and has a lot to give the NFL. So what function might he have in the Patriots’ defense? When the Patriots get their first-round pick, will they be ready to choose a defensive player?
Perkins is a prime illustration of the type of player needed to play linebacker in the Southeastern Conference. a top athlete with the strength, confidence, and motivation to compete against some of the world’s greatest players.
An eagerness to cover the whole field and generate the big plays that result in highlight reels is a prerequisite for an SEC linebacker. Perkins accomplishes exactly that each time he takes the field. To appreciate his talent, all you have to do is watch the first two plays on his film. The SEC, the most competitive conference in college football, has a lot to teach the NFL. This is great news for the team that is lucky enough to choose Perkins in the 2025 Draft.
What part does Perkins possibly play on defense for the Patriots? His ability to fly all over the field gives him a great deal of freedom at the next level. On select occasions, he may line up as an off-ball linebacker like Fred Warner or as an edge defender like Micah Parsons. Perkins finds both Warner and Parsons to be very good analogies. They are both very good athletes who can win a game at any time, despite having slightly different skill sets. The Patriots defense, which is already very good, might become the best in the league with Perkins in the mix. Because they already have excellent defensive players, the Patriots would be able to deploy Perkins as their heat-seeking missile, someone they can place wherever on the field to generate plays.
If the offensive improves from 2023, will the Patriots select Perkins in the first round?
LSU product Harold Perkins (40) plays linebacker for the Patriots against Auburn. (Photo by USA Today Sports/Jake Crandall)
All of the Patriots are committed to altering the offense in the 2024 NFL Draft. With seven of their eight draft choices, they went for offensive players. Thus, if most of these players are healthy in 2024 and the attack seems to be clicking again, should New England shift to the defensive end in the first round of 2025? Perkins has a gift that may be too great to pass up. If Perkins is chosen to be brought in while he waits, he may be taken to Foxborough by New England. Perkins is a player who is slated to lead the LSU defense in 2024 and is highly anticipated. If New England fans want to witness a player who might play for the Patriots in the future, they should absolutely watch a few games in Baton Rouge this season.
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