As both Executive Vice President of Player Personnel Eliot Wolf and head coach Mike Vrabel said at the NFL Combine, the edge position is one of the biggest needs for the New England Patriots.
Even after signing Dre’Mont Jones to a three-year deal on the first day of free agency, that remains true. Jones is expected to start opposite of Harold Landry, but the veteran’s ability after an injury plagued season is TBD. And after losing K’Lavon Chaisson and Anfernee Jennings in free agency, just second-year players Elijah Ponder and Bradyn Swinson remain as top secondary options on the depth chart.
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That being said, the Patriots adding to the group early in the NFL Draft seems like a foregone conclusion based on the offseason so far. And if they do, Oklahoma’s R Mason Thomas looks like a candidate to be brought aboard.
Hard facts
Name: R Mason Thomas
Position: Defensive edge/Outside linebacker
School: Oklahoma
Opening day age: 22 (8/25/2004)
Measurements: 6’2”, 241 lbs, 74 1/4” wingspan, 31 5/8” arm length, 8 7/8” hand size, 4.67 40-yard dash, 1.63 10-yard split, N/A Relative Athletic Score
Experience
College: University of Oklahoma (2022-25)
Career statistics: 42 games (20 starts) | 1,307 defensive snaps, 134 special teams snaps | 65 tackles, 25.5 TFLs, 4 FFs, 3 FR | 82 quarterback pressures (17 sacks, 17 hits, 48 hurries) | 5 PDs | 11 penalties
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Accolades: First-team All-SEC (2025), Second-team All-SEC (2024)
A football and track star in high school, Thomas flipped his commitment from Iowa State to attend the University of Oklahoma. He spent his first two seasons there as a rotational player appearing in 19 games (zero starts) and recording just 1.5 total sacks.
Earning a starting role as a junior, Thomas went on to have a career season logging 12.5 tackles for loss and 9.0 sacks en route to earning an All-SEC Second Team selection. He followed that up with another productive senior season — despite missing three games due to a quad injury he suffered while fighting his way to score a 71-yard touchdown — with 6.5 sacks in 10 games while being named second-team AP All-American and All-SEC First Team.
The 21-year old Thomas then declared for the NFL Draft and originally accepted his invitation to the Senior Bowl before not attending.
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Draft profile
Projected round: 1-2 | Consensus big board: No. 46 | Patriots meeting: 30 visit
Strengths: Despite an underwhelming 68th percentile 40 time and 55th percentile 10-yard split at the NFL Combine, Thomas is an explosive edge rusher with a lethal first step and plenty of bend to duck around the outside of tackles. He wins mostly with that speed, but can convert the explosiveness into power going through tackles with a bull rush. As he said: “Mass times acceleration equals force.” Thomas will also be very effective in the NFL on stunts.
Weaknesses: Thomas’ build is not one of a typical three-down edge as he measured in at 6-foot-2, 241 pounds (6th percentile weight with 4th percentile arms). His motor runs hot to help overcome those deficiencies, but the lack of size can allow for him to get locked onto tackles and get washed out at the point of attack in the run game.
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Patriots preview
What would be his role? With his lack of size, Thomas may be restricted to a designated pass rusher at the NFL level. That would at least be his role out of the gate in New England as he’d join a depth chart that features Harold Landry and Dre’Mont Jones at the top.
Does he have positional versatility? Thomas rushed over both tackles spots throughout his time at Oklahoma and was extremely versatile in his productive 2024 campaign where he posted 9.0 sacks and a 17% pressure rate. He occasionally appeared on punt return units but was a regular on the Sooners’ field goal block team.
What is his growth potential? Thomas’ ability to win with speed and explosiveness will likely translate to the NFL, where he again should be a productive part of line games up front (a big part of the Patriots rush plan). The main question is again his size which may restrict him from being a full, three-down edge. Speaking at the Combine, Thomas spoke against the idea of him being a primary third-down rusher while comparing his game to speedy Pro Bowl rusher Nik Bonitto (6’3”, 240), perhaps providing the potential ceiling for a player with his frame.
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Why the Patriots? Simply put: the Patriots need pass rush juice. Thomas provides plenty. The team also showed interest in the 21-year old as they hosted him for a top 30 visit.
Why not the Patriots? The pass rush juice is needed, but Thomas is undersized even compared to the ~255-pound rushers the Patriots have brought in under Mike Vrabel. While it’s hard to find an edge without an obvious flaw in this draft outside of the top-15 picks, New England may opt for a player with a bit more size or add wait until the later rounds to add someone with strictly explosive ability.
One-sentence verdict: Thomas has his deficiencies as a player primarily due to his build, but will instantly provide a spark to any pass rush unit.
For more information about R Mason Thomas and the rest of this year’s class of prospects, please take a look at Adam’s 2026 NFL Draft Guide.
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Also, what do you think about Thomas as a potential Patriots target? Do you like him? Where would you pick him? Please head down to the comment section to share your thoughts.
