Vincent

Valentine

Valentine is a great athlete for his size (6'4/329), but needs to get stronger. He’s also struggled with his conditioning. Valentine might need to redshirt for a year before contributing on the interior.

Valentine (6'4/329) left Nebraska as a redshirt junior after making 24 starts, tallying 16 career tackles for loss, seven sacks, and a forced fumble. He showed plus length and athleticism at the Combine, but managed 17 bench-press reps and needs to get stronger. Valentine struggled with conditioning in college and missed time with a high ankle sprain last year, but he’s a project worth trying to develop. Long term, Valentine offers rotational nose tackle potential.

It’s an underrated blow, as Valentine is a key rotational run plugger for New England. The Patriots’ defense has struggled badly early in the season.