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New England Patriots 2021 defensive starters: Early projections & reactions

By Michael DeVito

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 06: J.C. Jackson #27 of the New England Patriots makes a catch during warm up before the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium on December 06, 2020 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 06: J.C. Jackson #27 of the New England Patriots makes a catch during warm up before the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium on December 06, 2020 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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New England Patriots
New England Patriots Ronnie Perkins (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

Projected starters: New England Patriots linebacker crew

This is the area of the team that may be most improved over the 2020 grouping. With the opt-out of Dont’a Hightower due to Covid-19 and the free agency losses of Kyle Van Noy and Elandon Roberts to Miami, the Patriots were very thin at linebacker and edge.

To try to remedy the situation, they added to Chase Winovich by drafting Josh Uche a former Michigan teammate and in the second round, and Anfernee Jennings from Alabama in the third.

Neither did very much to justify the selections leaving a gaping hole at the second level of the defense. Uche only played in nine games with nine tackles and one sack. He did have seven quarterback hits which were promising.

Jennings played in 14 games with only 20 tackles and no sacks. So neither made much of an impact and they certainly didn’t replace the production of Hightower, Van Noy, and Roberts.

So New England went to work. They re-signed Kyle Van Noy from Miami (a great signing) and added a two-time Pro Bowler on the edge in Matt Judon signed away from Baltimore. Both were terrific moves.

In addition, the Patriots drafted an edge player, Ronnie Perkins from Oklahoma, a player who some feel could be a huge steal in this draft. We’ll see.

Perkins had five and a half sacks in six games last season for the Sooners. If he can even come close to replicating that average per game for New England, the Patriots pass rush could be great.

So, let’s assume that Uche and Jennings as high picks will make the team. Neither should be considered a starter though.

In a 3-4 defense, expect Hightower, Van Noy, Judon at one edge, and maybe Ja’Whuan Bentley or newcomer Raekwon Mcmillan inside or Winovich on one edge with Hightower and Van Noy inside.

Hightower, Van Noy, and Judon are locks to start. Bentley had a solid season with 90 tackles and one and a half sacks. He’ll likely start inside, as well.

One thing is certain, adding Hightower, Van Noy and Judon to the weak linebacking corps of last season is a massive upgrade.

I’ll give an easy grade here of A+.

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