Patriots' Edge Rusher Need: R. Mason Thomas

0:00It's March 18th for the NFL. Let's get into it. The New England Patriots face a wide open slate of needs in the 2026 NFL draft. They could go after past rushers, linebackers, tight ends, offensive linemen or skill players to build depth and spark. One intriguing option is Oklahoma Sooner's Edge Russia are Mason Thomas, a athletic prospect who could help their front. Thomas stands six foot two, weighs 241 pounds, and clocked the 4.67 in the 40 yard dash at the Scouting Combine. Last season in 2025, he played 10 games with six and a half sacks, 9 and a half tackles for loss, two force fumbles and 26 tackles. Scouts rave about his explosive first step, incredible hit flexibility and ability to change speeds while darting into gaps. He's strong and pursuit with good angles and closes on the quarterback, especially late in games, bringing a scrappy style with active hands. On the flip side, his smaller size limits versatility and durability has been a concern

1:03with missed games in recent college seasons. He sometimes takes odd pass to the passer and needs to improve anchoring against the run on the front side. For the Patriots, drafting Thomas would be a projection since they lost edge depth and need three down players to pair with Harold Landry III and Dreymon Jones. He's graded to B-minus compared to Arnold E. Biketty and might thrive as a sub-packaged specialist if he stays healthy. We'd like to thank our sponsor for making this episode possible, headphones and a pillow, simple idea, surprisingly addictive, S-O-L-I-SOLYPILLOW.com.