Pats Pulpit
The New England Patriots made some noticeable signings during this year’s free agency period, but the first of them flew largely under the radar. Back in early March, a week before the market officially opened, they signed Jesse Luketa to improve their depth on the defensive edge.
Luketa brings the experience of four NFL seasons to the table, but he needs to make the most out of it to end up on the roster.
Name: Jesse Luketa
Position: Defensive edge/Outside linebacker
Jersey number: 42
Opening day age: 27 (1/15/1999)
Measurements: 6’2 7/8”, 260 lbs, 10 3/8” hand size, 32 5/8” arm length, 78 3/4” wingspan, 4.89s 40-yard dash, 7.29s 3-cone drill, 4.27s short shuttle, 37 1/2” vertical jump, 10’0” broad jump, 17 bench press reps, 5.98 Relative Athletic Score
NFL: Arizona Cardinals (2022-24), Los Angeles Rams (2025), New England Patriots (2026-) | College: Penn State (2018-21)
Born in Edmonton, Luketa moved from Canada to the United States at 15 in hopes of pursuing his dream of playing pro football. He joined Mercyhurst Preparatory School in Erie, PA, and quickly became an impact defender for the Lakers. As a four-star linebacker recruit, he received close to three dozen scholarship offers from high-profile schools such as Ohio State, Georgia and LSU. He decided to join Penn State, however, and spent four seasons in Happy Valley.
Seeing action in 46 games with 17 starts for the Nittany Lions, Luketa had modest production as a hybrid edge (151 tackles, 0.5 sacks, 1 INT. The one-time All-Big Ten honorable mention (2021) therefore headed toward the 2022 NFL Draft as a projected late-round option. Indeed, he remained on the board until Arizona picked him up with the 256th overall pick in the seventh round.
Luketa, who also was selected in the second round of the 2022 CFL Draft, was a Cardinal for three years. He played 31 games, including three as a starter, and notched a trio of sacks as well as a forced fumble. After leaving Arizona in 2025, he had a brief stint in Los Angeles before getting picked up by the Patriots in March 2026.
Strengths: Checking in at just under 6-foot-3 and 260 pounds, Luketa offers a filled-out frame and serviceable length. Experienced against the pass and the run, he is capable of lining up both on and off the ball as well as in a two- or three-point stance. He wins through impressive effort and active hands regardless if he is crashing down on the pocket, shooting gaps or playing pursuit, while his thick lower body allows him to set a stout edge. He has adequate burst as a pass rusher and a solid feel for attack angles. Luketa also was named a two-time team captain at Penn State, and has an extensive special teams résumé.
Weaknesses: Luketa is not a particularly impressive athlete and has no true standout traits from a size/speed/power perspective. His wins come through effort more so than having...
