Boettcher: Patriots' Day One Linebacker

0:00On April 8th, the New England Patriots could grab a linebacker ready to ball out right away in the 2026 NFL draft. Oregon's Bryce Boatcher looks like a day one contributor with sharp instincts and serious range from the second level. Boatcher wrapped up his college run as a two-sports standout at Oregon from 2022 to 2025. Last season in the Big Ten, he bossed the stat sheet, leading the conference with 80 assisted tackles while backing up the defensive line. Fans and scouts see him plugging run lanes and shutting down receivers before they break loose. His quick reads let him flip and chase plays downfield or in the intermediate zone, making him a headache for offences. He snagged one interception and broke up six passes, proving he handles the pass rush two. Whether stuffing ball carriers inside or chasing scrambling quarterbacks, Boatcher stays active everywhere. Patriots brass-eying linebacker Def might lock in on this kid he's built to fill that gap and elevate the defense starting week one.

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