Despite having made some significant investments along their defensive line during the 2021 offseason, the position group was still a potential target for the New England Patriots in the 2022 draft. They did indeed address it, but waited until the sixth round to do so: with the 200th overall selection, Northwest Missouri State’s Sam Roberts was brought aboard.
The winner of the Cliff Harris Award as the nation’s top non-Division I defender, Harris has an impressive résumé despite playing small-school football. Part of it is his ability to stay on the field on a rather consistent basis.