Patriots sign veteran edge rusher to 1-year contract

Ahead of next week’s free agent feeding frenzy, the Patriots bolstered their depth chart on Thursday.

The Patriots announced they have signed linebacker Jesse Lukita, along with NFL player Jordan Schultz Reporting as a one-year deal.

The 27-year-old outside linebacker has appeared in 31 career games, including three starts. He recorded 31 total tackles, three sacks and one forced fumble during his NFL career.

Those three sacks came during the 2024 season with the Cardinals – where he appeared in 10 games that season before suffering a season-ending groin injury. When the former Penn State player was cleared to return from injury, he spent the final months of the 2025 season on the Los Angeles Rams’ practice squad.

While Luketa could serve as a coaching option for New England, the Patriots could prioritize depth on their pass-rushing corps — especially in light of the uncertainty over K’Lavon Chaisson’s return as a pending free agent.

If Chaisson doesn’t return with the Patriots, New England will have to find other ways to replicate his production — especially with returning veteran Harold Landry Jr. also a question mark after being limited by a nagging knee injury last year.

Connor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.