"DE" Weakest Link

[mgteich]

We have to talk about DE/EDGE as the weakest position on the team.
With Jacas a no-show so far, and Landry still working through his knee injury... it is time to get real about a FA DE.
We can't count on Jones & Ponder all season.

Barth mentioned the idea of signing Clowney for a 1 year lightning bottle type of role. And I'm not dismissing it.
He had nearly the exact same stats as Landry last year in half the starts in DAL.
Sure, he's way past his prime, but he's still very strong and can set the edge and still get to the QB.

If we can't figure out a big trade (Thibodeaux, Highsmith) would you consider Clowney or Bosa?

In this thread, we argue aout whether our biggrest weakness is ILB or EDGE (depends on health). It is clear to those who post here that we need an addition to one or both positions to do real damage in the post season.

In another thread, one poster thinks that anyone that thinks that we aren't the best team in the AFC is trolling. Others agree that we are the best.
============
I guess that this is normal for June.

 

[Thelonious]

I suppose the reasonable default is to take on one or two decent cast-offs or free agents for this year, then make the defense the priority next draft, as the offense essentially was in the recent one. No rebuild is ever truly "complete," and this one certainly isn't. These things take time, especially when one coach loses his reason and chucks the team into the grave out of some weird, spiteful neurosis, and his hopelessly incompetent successor shovels dirt over it.

 

[Clonamery]

I guess Jacas is the missing link.

 

[Thelonious]

I guess Jacas is the missing link.

Well, he is the missing player, but I don't think we know yet where he falls on the evolutionary scale.

 

[Huckleberry1]

This ^ makes no sense.

We’re talking “edge,” which really isn’t a position.

Landry, Ponder, Jacas, Swinson at OLB.

Milton Williams and Dremont Jones more traditional DE’s.

I don’t see the ”thin” here unless some of these guys have already been IR’d…. are you privy to inside information?

Off the Ball Linebackers play in the middle, Edge players play on the Edge, thus the designation Edge. I will however grant that you personally have the authority to redesignate the terminology you wish any position at will any time you want.

Let us know what you come up with.

 

[Ian]

Vrabel actually did talk about this today and he seems pretty happy with who they have:

On what he said yesterday about Diggs and the receiver position, and if he feels similarly with the edge with Gabe [Jacas] and Harold Landry rehabbing and that position:

“No, I like— that’s a good group. I’m glad, I’m excited about adding Dre [Dre’Mont Jones], the development of [Elijah] Ponder and [Bradyn] Swinson, added [Jesse] Luketa and some young guys. And, I think that, that, I mean, again, we’ll continue to try to look at every position and make it stronger, but that group has done a nice job. And, again, we’ll continue to look at it, but, we’ll have to see where we’re at from a numbers-wise. And then when we get into training camp, but, just how many guys you can rep, based on the practices."

TRANSCRIPT: Mike Vrabel Press Conference 6/11 | PatsFans.com

Here's the full transcript of what New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel had to say during his press conference on Thursday, June 11th, 2026.

www.patsfans.com

 

[Huckleberry1]

This ^ makes no sense.

We’re talking “edge,” which really isn’t a position.

Landry, Ponder, Jacas, Swinson at OLB.

Milton Williams and Dremont Jones more traditional DE’s.

I don’t see the ”thin” here unless some of these guys have already been IR’d…. are you privy to inside information?

You responded to my post, which was agreeing with Tommy that IOff the Ball linebacker is the thinnest position. If you wanted to discuss edge you should have responded to someone discussing edge. Your inability to understand what you are responding to is your issue.

 

[Wozzy]

Off the Ball Linebackers play in the middle, Edge players play on the Edge, thus the designation Edge. I will however grant that you personally have the authority to redesignate the terminology you wish any position at will any time you want.

Let us know what you come up with.

You wrote OTB and I read it as OLB, my mistake.

 

[rkarp1]

we were all excited with Jacas.
but as a rookie, he needed to be here on day 1, stacking practices and improvements, day after day.
I was hoping game 1, he was a strong contributor.
now we hear "recovering from a procedure" and as of yet, not signed. until he is out there at 100%, he is a question mark.

Swinson apparently is in better shape and could have a chance

Landry is the key. If we get back pre injury Landry, and there is enough depth to keep him fresh.

I like the group, but everyone needs to be available and 100% ready/healthy

 

[Wozzy]

we were all excited with Jacas.
but as a rookie, he needed to be here on day 1, stacking practices and improvements, day after day.
I was hoping game 1, he was a strong contributor.
now we hear "recovering from a procedure" and as of yet, not signed. until he is out there at 100%, he is a question mark.

Swinson apparently is in better shape and could have a chance

Landry is the key. If we get back pre injury Landry, and there is enough depth to keep him fresh.

I like the group, but everyone needs to be available and 100% ready/healthy

Not if he’s coming off getting a knee scoped, a bone spur removed or some other minor cleanup procedure.

Don’t be a scaremonger.

 

[BobDigital]

I am not worried yet. Way too early to be concerned about much besides season ending injuries. Personally i think our edge room is going to impress.

People are sleeping on Landry due to last year where he got injured near instantly and decided to play through it. He will be back and looking very solid soon. He is a DE1 in this league when healthy. Not an elite one by a mile... but a DE1. He has the ability to give something close to Pro Bowl level production when he is 100% right and things go well. To be clear, I am not expecting that, but it is in him.

Dre'Mont Jones is an upgrade over Chaisson. He will be a good player for us. I think Gabe Jacas will come in week 1 and make some impact. That right there is a solid 3. Swinson is a high upside guy who will we see how he does in year 2. I still have hopes. But clearly he wasn't NFL ready last year.

Ponder is the wild card. His RAS and traits are legit. Lacks in size a bit, but has the quickness and speed. He already had a few tools in his kit he could use to win. He will probably come back with some more moves this year. 4 sacks for a rookie DE is very solid. And Coaches feel he may have taken a decent leap. It wouldn't surprise me. He has the ability to be a 10 sack a year kind of guy in this league. I'm not saying he will be, but his athletic ability is that good. If he his the mind, and drive to match (and he might) we could really have something special with him. There was a reason he was one of the preimier UDFAs last year and why people were jumping up and down when we got him. He 100% clearly should have been drafted. If he takes a year 2 leap. DE isn't just not a weakness, it is a potential strength of this team.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

I read somewhere (probably somewhere that knows what I want to hear) that Ponder had an impressive minicamp. But I mean, we can't go by an impressive minicamp.

Still, he looked great according to mortgagebunny9...

 

[Brady85-23]

Sign josh paschal

 

[PatsFan2]

Vrabel actually did talk about this today and he seems pretty happy with who they have:

On what he said yesterday about Diggs and the receiver position, and if he feels similarly with the edge with Gabe [Jacas] and Harold Landry rehabbing and that position:

“No, I like— that’s a good group. I’m glad, I’m excited about adding Dre [Dre’Mont Jones], the development of [Elijah] Ponder and [Bradyn] Swinson, added [Jesse] Luketa and some young guys. And, I think that, that, I mean, again, we’ll continue to try to look at every position and make it stronger, but that group has done a nice job. And, again, we’ll continue to look at it, but, we’ll have to see where we’re at from a numbers-wise. And then when we get into training camp, but, just how many guys you can rep, based on the practices."

TRANSCRIPT: Mike Vrabel Press Conference 6/11 | PatsFans.com

Here's the full transcript of what New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel had to say during his press conference on Thursday, June 11th, 2026.

www.patsfans.com

https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/4361419/jesse-luketa

That ^ guy might surprise I am also interested to see where Bradyn Swinson is at. Love what we are hearing about Ponder nice story.

 

[Clonamery]

Sign josh paschal

Good guy, but 36 games in 4 years (missed 2025 with a back issue) and when playing a meh player.

You see something more than that?

 

[Joey007]

“I’ve got very high expectations for him. Very,” Smith said. “All these guys have done great all spring, but he really, really looks comfortable out there. It has really slowed down for him. And again, we’re June 9th or 10th, but I got high expectations for him. He’s always gonna fight. He’s not gonna say much. He’s very intelligent. When you’re very intelligent like that, he’s big. He’s as athletic. He’s done some kind of freaky stuff the spring around the edge, the top of his rush that you’re like, ‘Oh, wow, that’s pretty nice to see.’ “



The pats should add an EDGE but I think Ponder is going to be a factor. He had some nice wins vs. Tristan Wirfs & Garrett Bolles. They might’ve found a Shaq Barrett UDFA type EDGE. I won’t be surprised if he starts week 1.

He had a surprisingly nice rookie year, but I don’t feel trusting that his production will go up from there. We’ve seen undrafted/late round guys like this peak early and flatline as their career moves on. Does the other Chris Jones ring a bell for anyone?

 

[Wozzy]

He had a surprisingly nice rookie year, but I don’t feel trusting that his production will go up from there. We’ve seen undrafted/late round guys like this peak early and flatline as their career moves on. Does the other Chris Jones ring a bell for anyone?

I disagree, assuming he has worked really hard this offseason, based on his athleticism and tools he is going to become a star in this league. He is hyper athletic, has the prerequisite size and he put some really good plays on tape last year in limited snaps. His coach says he is quiet and smart... that's enough for me. I could be wrong, but I'm betting on the kid.

 

[Real fan 02]

I feel pretty good about Ponder. Doesn’t seem like the media are expecting much in the way of contributions from him.

Source: Pats Pulpit
‘Locked-in’ Christian Barmore has Patriots coaching staff excited

I like Ponder. If we can get close to the 2023 version of Barmore then this defensive front could become even more dominant... as TheRainMaker has posted perfectly regarding Barmore.

 

[Real fan 02]

He had a surprisingly nice rookie year, but I don’t feel trusting that his production will go up from there. We’ve seen undrafted/late round guys like this peak early and flatline as their career moves on. Does the other Chris Jones ring a bell for anyone?

Difference here is the current group of patiots coaches are really Difference makers.. Clint McMillan and Mike Smith are guys that are dam good coaches and are committed. They are going to BS around. Ponder has been getting alot of work with the absence of Jacas and Landry.

 

[jdlboot14]

Listen, Vrabel can rave about "his guy" Landry all he wants. The problem is, he is cooked. He was very slow before getting hurt, and only made impactful plays when the QB or RB was forced to his side because of inside push by the beasts at DT or chased by Chaisson. When he came back from injury, he was a non-factor. So, don't count Landry in the equation at all. He may take a roster spot, but that's due to Vrabes loyalty factor, not his production capability.

We have Jones and Ponder - both need to prove something about their value THIS YEAR! Not years ago, or potential a year from now. Swinson is a complete nothing yet (while he could develop). But the reason you know this is the worst position group is because NO offense will worry at all about our edge rushers when playing us right now.

We absolutely NEED Jacas to show up at camp like a cannon, or we absolutely need to make a move for a productive vet.