Keion White isn't trying to fill Matthew Judon's shoes

Judon was traded to the Atlanta Falcons, opening the door for White to play a larger role in the Patriots’ defense.

Keion White recorded a sack and was one of the highest-graded Patriots players in preseason action against the Eagles. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Patriots second-year edge rusher Keion White looks like he’ll be playing a much larger role in New England’s defense now than he was this time a week ago.

When the Patriots struck a deal that sent Matthew Judon to the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for a third-round draft pick, it opened a pretty sizable hole in New England’s front seven. White may be in line to fill that hole, but he made it clear on Saturday that he’s not necessarily looking to fill the former Pro-Bowler’s shoes.

“Personally, I didn’t really see it like that,” White told reporters. “I just see me doing my own thing. I don’t see me trying to fill anybody’s shoes. I just make my own position.”

Judon spent three seasons with the Patriots, earning a Pro Bowl nod in each of the first two, with 12.5 sacks in Year 1 with New England and 15.5 in Year 2. He spent the majority of the 2023 season sidelined with an injury and was traded in the final year of his contract.

As a rookie, White didn’t get a chance to experience Judon at his best in 2023, but he still had plenty of praise to heap on the outside linebacker.

“[Judon] taught me a lot. Coming in as a rookie he was a big help,” White said. “He wasn’t with us the whole season last year, but when he was, and what he was, his presence was felt for sure. Wish him all the best.”

White’s focus remains on getting better ahead of his sophomore season professionally, and Thursday night’s preseason game against the Eagles showcased some of his potential.

White recorded a sack and was rated as the third-best Patriots player in the second week of preseason action, per PFF. He received a 79.0 grade from PFF, trailing Josh Uche (82.9), and Chukwuma Okorafor (82.0).

Highest-graded Patriots vs the Eagles in Week 2 of the preseason:

🥇 Josh Uche – 82.9
🥈 Chukwuma Okorafor – 82.0
🥉 Keion White – 79.0
🥉 A.J. Thomas – 79.0
🏅 Oshane Ximines – 77.3 pic.twitter.com/4uszutWaqA

— PFF NE Patriots (@PFF_Patriots) August 17, 2024

“I went back to my roots a little bit in the Eagles game, used a little bit more power,” White said. “Still working through some things, gotta work some things out. But, it’s coming along, day by day.”

White was still critical of some aspects of his game, namely outside rushing, which he wants to improve more on. When a reporter noted that White recorded his sack while rushing from the outside, White wasted no time deflecting much credit for it.

“Yeah, I didn’t have to do much,” White said. “I just ran straight.”

White and the Patriots have one more tune-up game next week against the Washington Commanders on Aug. 25, before kicking off the regular season against the Bengals on Sept. 8.