Patriots Predicted To Draft Strong Five-Technique Defensive End

The Patriots are preparing for their playoff matchup on Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers, but New England should also keep an eye on potential players it could bring in to strengthen its roster for the future.

One aspect the Patriots need to improve next season is generating more pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Pro Football Focus analyst Trevor Sikkema has a solution to address this issue.

Sikkema published a mock draft on Monday and has the Patriots drafting Auburn pass rusher Keldric Faulk at pick 30.

“The Patriots may prefer an edge defender with a more established pass-rush résumé, but Faulk’s combination of size, strength and athleticism makes him difficult to pass up relative to the other options on the board,”Sikkema wrote.

“At 6-foot-6, 285 pounds, he profiles as a strong five-technique defensive end, backed by an 82.5 run-defense grade in 2025. While he remains a work in progress as a pass rusher, his 10.2% pass-rush win rate provides a foundation for further growth at the next level.”

Faulk announced his decision to enter the NFL Draft on Dec. 13. Over three seasons at Auburn, he played in 37 games and recorded 10 sacks. However, this season he managed only two sacks in 12 games, which is somewhat disappointing.