New England Patriots
T.J. Parker recorded 21.5 sacks over three seasons at Clemson.
T.J. Parker could give the Patriots another potent pass rusher. AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman
March 29, 2026 | 6:56 PM
2 minutes to read
The New England Patriots addressed several needs during free agency last month.
But, Mike Vrabel’s club could still use another pass-rushing force on defense going into the 2026 season.
As such, NFL.com’s Mike Band has the Patriots using their first-round pick (No. 31 overall) in the 2026 NFL Draft on Clemson defensive end T.J. Parker in his mock draft.
“This need is apparent in New England, with Patriots.com writer Mike Dussault calling edge the biggest hole on the roster while noting the defense simply didn’t generate enough pressure last season with a standard four-man rush,” Band wrote. “Parker is a high-upside answer for a team still trying to build out a championship-caliber front.”
Parker has an established resume across three seasons with the Tigers, posting 126 total tackles, 21.5 sacks, 41.5 tackles for loss, six forced fumbles, and six fumble recoveries over 39 total games at Death Valley.
Here’s a look at Clemson DE TJ Parker, who the Patriots reportedly met with at the Senior Bowl.
Parker stands 6’3” and 265 lbs. Recorded 57 tackles, 11 sacks, and 6 forced fumbles in ‘24. Last season he posted 37 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, and 5 sacks.pic.twitter.com/SlERuSpWMG
— Jack Aylmer (@Jack_Aylmer) February 16, 2026
His best season came in 2024, when he recorded all six of those forced fumbles to go along with 11 sacks.
New England did add a pass-rusher last month by signing Dre’Mont Jones to a three-year, $39.5 million contract. But, New England could use as much help as it can get when it comes to getting after opposing QBs, especially after K’Lavon Chaisson left the Patriots in free agency and signed a one-year deal with the Washington Commanders.
Chaisson had a breakout season in 2025 with New England, but the Patriots still only recorded 35.0 sacks as a team last year, with only six teams posting fewer sacks.
Even if Jones stands as a de facto replacement for Chaisson, the Patriots have other question marks among their current personnel, like Harold Landry III.
Not only will Landry turn 30 years old before the start of the 2026 season, but the veteran’s strong start last year was undercut by a nagging knee injury that hindered him during the winter.
Targeting a pass-rushing prospect who could make an immediate impact like Parker, Missouri’s Zion Young, Miami’s Akheem Mesidor, or Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell would make plenty of sense for New England when they land on the clock next month.
“Powerful edge defender with NFL length whose 2025 tape might be closer to his pro projection than his gaudy 2024 numbers,”NFL Draft expert Lance Lance Zierlein said of Parker. “Parker’s hand work is above average in both phases. He strikes early to set very firm edges, then sheds quickly to finish tackles. Average short-area burst limits his ability to pursue the run in space and threaten tackles in a race to the top of the rush.
“He can long-arm tackles into the pocket when he catches them right, but he fails to find quick solutions when that approach stalls. His rush production will be muted until he expands his approach but improvement is likely. Parker profiles as an average to above-average starter.”
Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.
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