Patriots' Keion White 'Perfect Fit' in New England?

New England Patriots pass-rusher Keion White could play right away in his rookie season.

Jeremy Brener | May 9, 2023

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New England Patriots

The New England Patriots are hoping to fortify their pass rush with second-round rookie Keion White.

White was taken by the Patriots with the No. 45 pick of this year's NFL Draft, and it's possible that he may be considered a steal. ESPN believes White is the "perfect fit" for Bill Belichick and the New England defense.

"White's versatility is a positive fit for a Patriots team that will use a variety of fronts on defense," ESPN writes. "Bill Belichick can play White at defensive end, widen him as a stand-up edge or loop the rookie off the traditional New England stunts to create A-gap pressure.

"Given White's physical profile at 6-5 and 285 pounds, we could also see the Patriots bump him inside in pass-rushing situations. Coming off a 7.5-sack season, he is a matchup option for one of the league's most multiple defensive systems."

The Patriots ranked third in the NFL in sacks last season with 54, trailing only the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles. There are already capable pass-rushers in the Patriots' defense in Matthew Judon and Josh Uche, which give Belichick and the rest of the defensive staff a lot of options when it comes to White's placement in the front seven.

On top of his on-field fit, White explained in his post-draft press conference that he also subscribes to the Patriots' off-field mentality as well.

“No more than before,” White told reporters via conference call when asked about any added motivation. “But, the goal is the same. No matter where you get drafted, the job is not finished … you have to put the work in.“

White is expected to put the work in and play often during his rookie season, with hopes that he can live up to this "perfect fit" claim.

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Published May 9, 2023

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.