New England Patriots defensive end Keion White is looking to make an impact in his second season.
He burst onto the scene last year with 12 solo tackles and a sack. The Georgia Tech product showed brief flashes of potential throughout the season. A second-year leap could position him to be a breakout candidate in 2024.
It’s fair to say his role will increase. By all accounts, White has impressed the coaching staff throughout the offseason practices. Coach Jerod Mayo has especially been impressed with White’s development, and it appears that he is taking the next step in his sophomore season.
He could have a shot to be in the conversation to start at defensive end. Right now, he shares the position with Deatrich Wise Jr., but his skill set and ability to rush the passer could allow him to see the field more frequently. White played 521 total snaps last year. That ranked third behind Wise and Anfernee Jennings.
It would be reasonable to expect him to have a large role on defense this season. Now that he has a full grasp of the system, he should no longer be eased into things.
The lingering contract uncertainty with four-time Pro Bowl linebacker Matthew Judon could play a factor as well.
Judon is currently seeking a new deal, and NFL teams typically prefer to have deals done before the start of training camp. Not having a big contract in limbo limits distractions.
If the deal does not get done, the Boston Sports Journal’s Greg Bedard reported Judon will not play under his current contract with the Patriots. For the record, Judon has denied ever saying anything of the sort.
Depending on the outcome, White could have a shot at taking over for Judon as the team’s top pass-rusher for the future. Judon is an experienced veteran, but he will be 32 years old in August. In addition to age, Judon is also coming off a season-ending biceps injury.
The thought process with White is more about future potential than the immediate results that a top-tier player like Judon would give New England. The Patriots have done reasonably well over the years in finding players that can rush the passer.
White still has some growing to do as a playmaker, but he has the intangibles and skill set to be the next great pass-rusher for New England.
This could be the year things start coming together for the 25-year-old defensive end. If things implode with Judon, the Patriots might need White sooner rather than later.