After the New England Patriots defense put forth a strong 2019 campaign, the combination of player departures and opt-outs led to an undermanned front seven in 2020, that was often gashed on the ground by opposing offenses, and failed to generate enough consistent pressure on opponents’ quarterbacks.

Without the likes of nose tackle Danny Shelton (Detroit Lions), EDGE Kyle Van Noy (Miami Dolphins), and linebacker Dont’a Hightower (opt-out), New England finished this past season ranked 26th in run defense (131.4 yards per game allowed) and 26th in sacks (24), and Pro Football Focus listed the team’s pass rush as the 23rd-ranked unit in their year-end ranking of such units.

With most focusing on the Patriots’ pressing needs on offense, such as quarterback, wide receiver and tight end, there’s certainly work to be done on a defense that also ranked 26th in Football Outsiders‘ Defensive DVOA metric.

In helping to fix the defense, New England should look to add at the EDGE position. We’ve already seen J.J. Watt sign with the Arizona Cardinals, and there’s a chance Von Miller becomes available if the Denver Broncos decide not to exercise their club option. But we’ll stick with listing current impending free agents (and Van Noy’s curious case) for now. Here are six options for the Patriots.

Bud Dupree

Now, let’s get to our favorite prospect fit on this list, Steelers EDGE Bud Dupree.

Dupree acts as a stand-up EDGE in the Steelers’ 3-4 and Nickel 2-4-5 fronts. He’s a havoc-creating, strong defender with size (6-foot-4, 269 pounds), which is an ideal fit for an outside linebacker/defensive end hybrid that Belichick usually covets.

Some question Belichick for his team-building methods, but when he’s truly backed into a corner (like this offseason), he usually becomes aggressive.

Think of this as a possible second-coming of Belichick’s going after (and signing) EDGE Adalius Thomas (6-foot-2, 270 pounds) back in the 2007 offseason. When Thomas signed that 5-year, $35 million ($20 million guaranteed) deal with the Patriots then, Belichick once joked at practice months later that they “backed up the Brink’s truck” to pay Thomas what was a hefty contract back then.

Dupree, 28, is expected to be offered a ton of money in free agency —even after suffering a torn ACL in the back half of last season — unless he’s somehow tagged by the cap-strapped Steelers.

If he’s available, New England should consider him as their marquee free agent.

Recently, former Patriots defensive end Chris Long entertained a Dupree-to-Patriots fit on Mina Kimes’ podcast.

“I think of Bud Dupree…when you look at Pittsburgh, he was such an engine for them, and there’s not one thing that he does in the top five in the league, but he does so many things in the top 10 or 15, and that’s what makes guys money, or makes guys valuable in New England,” Long said.

“He’s not necessarily the guy who is gong to win one-on-ones, but he’s going to do all your dirty work, he’s going to push the pocket, he’s going to be a tone setter.”

Many might chalk up some of Dupree’s production to being opposite T.J. Watt in the Steelers’ defense, but the former first-round pick is a complete player rich with talent, and is a perfect fit as both a run-setting and pass-rushing EDGE in the Patriots’ scheme.

Kyle Van Noy

The next best splash after Dupree would be reuniting with Kyle Van Noy, who was surprisingly notified on Tuesday that he will be cut by the Dolphins (unless he’s miraculously traded), just one year into his four-year, $51 million deal signed last offseason.

Van Noy, who will soon turn 30, had already revived his career playing a lot of off-ball linebacker for Belichick from 2016 to 2018, but in 2019, he moved to the EDGE spot full-time, and became a force in both pass-rushing and run defense.

A return to New England as an edge-setter in Nickel 2-4-5 and 3-4 looks makes sense for Van Noy, who flourished when New England shifted it’s defensive approach in 2019.

Of course, the team struggled to set the edge in the run game in 2020 with John Simon, Chase Winovich and others attempting to hold the fort.

Inputting Van Noy right back into a defense that also projects to return Hightower and Chung, would be a major step toward reviving this unit.

Of course, Belichick and Van Noy would have to agree on a price, but NESN‘s Doug Kyed reports that a source said “everything is on the table” when a return to New England for Van Noy was brought up.

Melvin Ingram

After Dupree and Van Noy, there’s other high-profile EDGE guys available like Matt Judon of the Baltimore Ravens, but a better fit for New England may be veteran Melvin Ingram of the Los Angeles Chargers.

Due to injuries, Ingram, 31, played in just seven games in 2020. He failed to register a sack last season, but was ranked 19th out of 99 EDGE pass rushers by PFF.

Ingram also tallied 24 sacks in his previous three seasons, and remains a pass-rushing threat if healthy.

Spotrac projects Ingram’s market value at $11.4 million per year for three seasons, which seems a bit steep for him.

If Belichick can convince Ingram to come to New England at a slightly lower price to play 3-4 outside linebacker, the Patriots may play ball. He seems like the type of veteran move New England is accustomed to making.

Carl Lawson

Carl Lawson has had an underrated four-year start with the lowly Cincinnati Bengals, and could be looking for a new home, as long as the money is there.

Spotrac projects Lawson’s market-value deal as a 4-year, $35 million ($8.8 million annually) contract.

Like Dupree, Lawson could be franchise-tagged by the Bengals, and considering Cincinnati’s cap space, they may be willing to pay Lawson to a long-term deal outright.

But if he slips through the franchise tag window without being tagged, the Patriots should inquire.

Lawson is a so-so run defender, but would be a step up from Chase Winovich and John Simon there.

As a pass rusher, he’s one of the league’s brightest, with his best yet to come.

Jadeveon Clowney

Many have long speculated that Jadeveon Clowney would be a perfect on-field fit for the Patriots as a stand-up EDGE defender that could also play on the line in Bill Belichick’s defense.

The only issues with Clowney seem to be inconsistency. He didn’t provide the Tennessee Titans with anything substantial last season, playing just eight games and notching zero sacks. (Although, he and Chargers EDGE Melvin Ingram tied for the league-lead in most QB pressures without a sack (28), according to PFF).

He could be looking at another one-year bargain deal for a player of his talent, to play himself into a bigger contract with a possible increased salary cap in 2022.

The Patriots would be an ideal place for the 28-year-old Clowney to have a bounce-back year.

Spotrac projects just a 1-year, $6.5 million deal as his market value.

Derek Wolfe

Whether or not New England is able to retain Lawrence Guy should have no bearing on the Patriots inquiring on other defensive end/defensive tackle hybrids for their defensive front.

Someone like New York Giants EDGE/DI hybrid Leonard Williams (who should get tagged or signed by the Giants) is probably a less likely scenario for New England, leaving them with options like Derek Wolfe, who they reportedly were interested in last offseason.

Wolfe is a solid veteran and prototype signing for the Patriots. He recently turned 31, is certainly in the final years of his career, and wasn’t all that great for the Baltimore Ravens in 2020, but he could supply the Patriots with an upgrade over some of the practice squad-level defensive lineman New England often used last season. Wolfe would mostly be an asset in run defense at this point.

Schematically, Wolfe, a 3-4-style defensive end, would play both inside and outside along the defensive line. This is a classic veteran signing for New England, if it were to happen.