Why Rob Ninkovich thinks Patriots should pay Keion White early

“If he makes a lot of plays this year, his price just keeps going up and up.”

Keion White could become a pricey acquisition for the Patriots later on if he continues to impress in his second-year in the NFL. (Barry Chin/Globe Staff)

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After trading away Pro Bowl pass rusher Matthew Judon ahead of the 2024 season, the Patriots turned to second-year rusher Keion White to play a prominent role in New England’s defense.

In Week 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals, White proved more than capable of taking over for Judon, posting 2.5 sacks in a promising start to his season. Following that performance, one former cornerstone of the Patriots defense suggested New England shouldn’t wait long to lock in White for years to come.

Rob Ninkovich, a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Patriots, spoke highly about White in the latest episode of his podcast, The Dan and Ninko Show.

“You’re going to have to pay him early. You try to pay Keion White early,” Ninkovich said. “If he has another 2.5 [sacks], then he’s at five … as long as he keeps playing, and if he makes a lot of plays this year, his price just keeps going up and up.”

Rob Ninkovich thinks the #Patriots should “pay Keion White early” to avoid his price increasing.

“You’re gonna have to pay him early. You pay— you try to pay Keion White early… if he has another 2.5 (sacks) and then he’s at 5 (sacks)… it’s hard to pass up 100 million bucks… pic.twitter.com/F7Z5s6kN4W

— Carlos Talks Pats (@LosTalksPats) September 13, 2024

In White’s rookie year, he played in 16 games but only started four. Over the course of the season, he managed just one sack, five quarterback hits, and three tackles for loss. In just one game this year, White has already managed three QB hits, two TFL, 2.5 sacks, and a forced fumble.

Ninkovich also pointed to White’s versatility as a potential weapon for New England’s defense.

“There’s multiple plays he’s at defensive end, he’s on the right side, he’s on the left side, he’s inside, he’s at the nose, he’s off the ball,” Ninkovich said. “So, it’s really hard for an offense to pinpoint, ‘where’s this guy going to go?’.”

Suggesting to work on an extension for a player who only has 17 NFL games under his belt might seem like a stretch. However, if the young defensive lineman continues to make a mark on the Patriots, Ninkovich’s suggestion may not seem so far-fetched.

The Jacksonville Jaguars inked their star pass rusher, Joshua Hines-Allen, to a $150 million contract this offseason, paying him over $28 million annually. The three highest-paid pass rushers in the NFL are all 27 years old or younger.

So, if the 25-year-old White can play his way into the conversation among the NFL’s best young linemen, he could become a far pricier acquisition for the Patriots to re-sign later on.