Patriots Called Best Fit For Former No. 1 Overall Pick Who Is Still A Free Agent originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New England Patriots made moves in the offseason to address their pass rush, but they could still use some more help.
The Patriots signed Dre'Mont Jones and drafted Gabe Jacas in the second round. Mike Vrabel has noted that he likes the group of edge rushers the team has, but Jacas has yet to sign his contract and underwent a small knee procedure this offseason. Adding another pass rusher would not be the worst idea, and there are still a few cheap options available in free agency.
Joey Bosa and Jadeveon Clowney are both still available. Both were very high draft picks and may be a bit past their prime. However, they can still get after the quarterback, and Bleacher Report's Alex Kay called the Patriots the best fit for Clowney.
"Clowney tallied at least 5.5 sacks in four of the last five years, including in 2025 when he contributed 8.5 sacks in just 13 games with the Dallas Cowboys," wrote Kay on Wednesday. "He's proven he can set an edge, disrupt in the backfield and play run defense at a high level regardless of the system, making him one of the best possible defensive free-agent pickups at this point of the offseason. The New England Patriots are a fantastic fit for Clowney. The team needs to bolster the edge after coming up just short of a Super Bowl last season, adding some firepower to combat the top-tier opposing signal-callers the squad is set to come up against during the 2026 campaign."
The New England Patriots made moves in the offseason to address their pass rush, but they could still use some more help.
The Patriots signed Dre'Mont Jones and drafted Gabe Jacas in the second round. Mike Vrabel has noted that he likes the group of edge rushers the team has, but Jacas has yet to sign his contract and underwent a small knee procedure this offseason. Adding another pass rusher would not be the worst idea, and there are still a few cheap options available in free agency.
Joey Bosa and Jadeveon Clowney are both still available. Both were very high draft picks and may be a bit past their prime. However, they can still get after the quarterback, and Bleacher Report's Alex Kay called the Patriots the best fit for Clowney.
"Clowney tallied at least 5.5 sacks in four of the last five years, including in 2025 when he contributed 8.5 sacks in just 13 games with the Dallas Cowboys," wrote Kay on Wednesday. "He's proven he can set an edge, disrupt in the backfield and play run defense at a high level regardless of the system, making him one of the best possible defensive free-agent pickups at this point of the offseason. The New England Patriots are a fantastic fit for Clowney. The team needs to bolster the edge after coming up just short of a Super Bowl last season, adding some firepower to combat the top-tier opposing signal-callers the squad is set to come up against during the 2026 campaign."
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