The first free agent signing of the New England Patriots’ season wasn’t a sexy one. NFL insider Jordan Schultz announced on X that the Patriots have signed former Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Jesse Luketa to a one-year contract.
Luketa was drafted 256th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft and played three seasons with Arizona. In those three seasons, Luketa recorded 35 tackles and three sacks. He made three starts and 31 game appearances.
Luketa did not play a snap in 2025.
He was claimed off the Cardinals’ practice squad by the Los Angeles Rams, where he spent about two months on their reserve list.
Luketa is just 27 years old, measuring in at 6-foot-3, 253 pounds.
While Luketa possesses prototype size and length, his athleticism is underwhelming.
Visiting pre-draft scouting reports, I have discovered that Luketa ran a nearly five-second 40-yard dash, with less than stellar results on the shuttle and three-cone drill.
To make matters worse, he put up just 17 reps on the bench press at his pro day. This number is in the bottom 20th percentile for participating linebackers.
He could perhaps become an elevation in a pinch, but it is unlikely Luketa makes the final roster come September.
