The New England Patriots entered free agency with questions along their defensive edge, and they are leaving free agency\u2026 with questions about their defensive edge.<\/p>\n
Sure, the team of head coach Mike Vrabel brought in Dre\u2019Mont Jones on a three-year, $36.5 million contract to presumably start opposite Harold Landry, but the group\u2019s outlook as a whole remains unclear. Will Landry return to form after an injury-plagued season? How will Jones fit in? Who will replace K\u2019Lavon Chaisson\u2019s pass rush potential or Anfernee Jennings\u2019 edge-setting?<\/p>\n
The answers to those questions are up in the air right now, and they realistically will not be answered in the NFL Draft. That being said, the Patriots adding to the group seems like a foregone conclusion based on the offseason so far. And if they do, Missouri\u2019s Zion Young looks like a candidate to be brought aboard.<\/p>\n
Position: Defensive edge\/Outside linebacker<\/p>\n
Opening day age: 22 (3\/18\/2004)<\/p>\n
Measurements<\/a>: 6\u20196\u201d, 262 lbs, 79 7\/8\u201d wingspan, 33\u201d arm length, 9 1\/2\u201d hand size, N\/A Relative Athletic Score<\/p>\n Colleges: Michigan State (2022-23), Missouri (2024-25)<\/p>\n Career statistics<\/a>: 46 games (37 starts) | 1,794 defensive snaps, 179 special teams snaps | 131 tackles, 15 missed tackles (10.3%), 28.5 TFLs, 3 FFs, 1 FR (1 TD) | 110 quarterback pressures (11.5 sacks, 28 hits, 70 hurries) | 1 INT | 7 penalties (incl. 3 declined\/offset)<\/p>\n Accolades: First-team All-SEC (2025), Academic All-Big Ten (2023)<\/p>\n A consensus three-star recruit out of Westlake High School in Atlanta, Young received multiple mid-level scholarship offers heading toward college. He eventually picked Michigan State\u2019s over the opportunities that, among others, Florida, Western Kentucky and Missouri presented.<\/p>\n Young spent his first two collegiate seasons with the Spartans, playing 20 games with 11 starts and registering 47 tackles and 2.5 sacks. While his production was solid and showed improvement across the board between his freshman and sophomore campaigns, he decided to enter the transfer portal in December 2023. A month later, he reconnected with the University of Missouri.<\/p>\n Two and a half years after they originally offered him a scholarship, the Tigers brought Young in as a three-star transfer. He immediately made an impact along their defensive edge, finishing his 2024 season ranked third in sacks (2.5) and tied for first in fumble recoveries (1). A year later, he took his game to the next level: a team captain, he notched a career high 6.5 sacks, 16.5 tackles for loss, a pair of forced fumbles and an interception.<\/p>\n After the conclusion of his senior campaign, Young was invited to the Senior Bowl and the Scouting Combine.<\/p>\n Projected round: 1-2 | Consensus big board<\/a>: No. 38 | Patriots meeting<\/a>: Combine<\/p>\n Strengths: Standing at 6-foot-6 and offering both the length and power to control the point of attack, Young is built like one J.R.R. Tolkien\u2019s humanoid trees (they\u2019re called Ents, in case you want to do your own research into the matter). He knows how to use his build to out-leverage his opponents as a pass rusher, while also bringing the necessary violence to the battle: he has active hands and plays with a motor that neither runs cold as a tackler nor in pursuit.<\/p>\n Young is a true three-down defender, who will have an impact in the run game as well. He is able to set a hard edge due to his ability to stack and shed blockers, and has shown that he is a handful when going up against tight ends or undisciplined tackles. He also was named a captain during his senior year at Missouri.<\/p>\n Weaknesses: Young will not wow you with his speed, nor will he be able to use it to win 1-on-1s. He generally does not get after the quarterback well, as evidenced by posting only 11.5 sacks in four seasons. His rush plan also is a work in progress, and he needs a backup move once his bull rush fails him or he gets swallowed up by blockers able to match his length. He doesn\u2019t consistently bend around the corner either, and has some uneven pad discipline.<\/p>\n Speaking of discipline, Young also comes with some off-field concerns. He was charged for driving while intoxicated and speeding last December, and in 2023 took a plea deal on an aggravated assault charge that later resulted in him being suspended for four games.<\/p>\n What would be his role? With the aforementioned Harold Landry and Dre\u2019Mont Jones projected as the starters on the edge, Young would join a mix of Elijah Ponder and Bradyn Swinson as the next men up in the rotation. Given his relative rawness as a pass rusher, he possibly would start his Patriots career in an Anfernee Jennings-like early-down role that would allow him to use his best trait \u2014 his violent play demeanor \u2014 against top-tier competition.<\/p>\n Does he have positional versatility? Young was an attack player during his college career, who focused on playing downhill and rarely dropped into coverage. Nonetheless, he showed some flexibility moving between the left and the right edge, and also kicking inside on occasion. He also was a package player on special teams who played on the field goal\/extra point blocking squad and saw a handful of punt return reps as well.<\/p>\n What is his growth potential? Young offers a high floor, but there is still clear room for improvement particularly in the pass rush department. That will be the deciding factor when it comes to his ceiling, and makes him somewhat of an unclear projection: he can be a true three-down impact player in the NFL, or end up as a highly-drafted niche player.<\/p>\n Why the Patriots? The Patriots\u2019 need on the edge is obvious, and the team lacks both some high-upside youth as well as a true all-around player to back up the likes of Landry and Jones. Young may not be that player yet, but his foundational skillset suggests that he can become just that further down the line. With Landry no lock to be on the team beyond 2026, that is not a bad thing to have.<\/p>\n Why not the Patriots? Young has some intriguing attributes, but there are more polished players in the draft especially when it comes to rushing the passer. It is not unrealistic to think that the Patriots might be placing a higher value on just that, which in turn might make other options more attractive in the team\u2019s eyes. Add character concerns and New England might just steer clear.<\/p>\n One-sentence verdict: Young is not the flashiest of edge prospects in this year\u2019s class, but his size and play style should translate well to the next level and give him a chance to carve out a role early in his career.<\/p>\n