
Why Patriots DL Joshua Farmer wants to ‘prove everybody wrong’
In their only trade up of the NFL Draft, the Patriots jumped seven spots Saturday to select Florida State defensive tackle Joshua Farmer late in the fourth round.
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Farmer was a projected top-100 pick according to most media experts, including the NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah, an ex-scout for three teams. Farmer believed he was destined to go in the top three rounds and even held parties at home on Thursday and Friday night anticipating his selection.
After falling to pick No. 137, and waiting for a call that never came over two straight nights, Farmer had one thing on his mind Saturday.
“Everybody in the world knows that’s not how it was supposed to go,” he told reporters via video conference. “I’m going to get (to New England) and prove everybody wrong.”
The 6-foot-3, 305-pounder was a rugged player at Florida State, where he posted six or more tackles for loss in each of his last three seasons. He was also named a team captain in 2024 and tallied a team-high four sacks.
In college, Farmer demonstrated a versatility that surely appealed to the Patriots. He can play multiple spots along the defensive front and even two-gap as a run stuffer. He has prototypical size and exceptional length for the position.
Farmer took a pre-draft visit to New England and raved about his interactions with head coach Mike Vrabel. He also expressed excitement over playing for defensive coordinator Terrell Williams, a longtime defensive line expert, and new Pats defensive line coach Clinton McMillan, whom he knew as a high school recruit.
During his pre-draft visit, Farmer said he connected with new free-agent defensive tackle Miltion Williams. He shared the two of them shared a half-hour conversation, and that he now hopes to emulate Williams, a former third-round pick who became the third-highest paid defensive tackle in the NFL earlier this spring.
In Foxboro, Farmer figures to contribute right away in a rotation behind Williams and fellow starting defensive tackle Christian Barmore, presuming Barmore successfully recovers from his recurrence of blood clot-related symptoms last December.