New England Patriots rumors: 3 pass rush targets with extreme edge

New England Patriots edge rush targets: Romeo Okwara

Matt Patricia back with the New England Patriots could be a good thing or bad thing when it comes to young pass-rushing free agent Romeo Okwara.

The former Lions coach would know a lot about Okwara who broke out in 2020 with a career high 10.0 sacks.  Previous to that he flourished in his first year under Patricia with 7.5 sacks.

So, that should give Bill Belichick some inside knowledge on Okwara who is just 25 and is approaching the prime of his career.

At 6-foot-5, 274 pounds, Okwara has long arms that makes him an ideal pass rusher for the Patriots as he would be an obvious upgrade from Deatrich Wise Jr who is also a pass rusher with extremely long arms.

Unless some other team overpays for Romeo Okwara, Belichick may be able to sway the young edge rusher in the $7-8 million range, which would also depend on the type of relationship he had with Patricia in Detroit.

Given the Patriots need at this position, spending on a young player entering his prime would actually change the team’s approach in the 2021 NFL Draft.  They may still draft a defensive end, but they wouldn’t need to draft one as high as No. 15.

This is a name to watch given the ties to Patricia and one of those players who could flourish under Belichick.