Patriots draft profile: Kaleb Elarms-Orr fits the mold of a Mike Vrabel linebacker

Accolades: First-team All-Big 12 (2025), Alamo Bowl Defensive MVP (2025), Second-team All-Big 12 (2023)

A two-way player who saw action at both linebacker and tight end, Elarms-Orr was rated as a three-star recruit out of Moreau Catholic in Hayward, CA. He received several scholarship offers from FBS programs starting his junior year, and eventually agreed to play college ball at Cal, less than 20 miles from his hometown.

Elarms-Orr redshirted his first year due to an ACL tear suffered his senior year in high school, and in his second season played exclusively on special teams. By Year 3, however, he had become a starter on the Golden Bears’ defense and finished 2023 as the team leader in tackles. Despite his promising trajectory, he opted to enter the transfer portal and spent the final two seasons of his college career at TCU.

A backup his first year with the Horned Frogs, he started all 13 games in 2025 and as the team leader in tackles and sacks was voted to the first All-Big 12 team. In total, Elarms-Orr registered 184 tackles and six sacks during his 26-game stint in Fort Worth.

Draft profile

Projected round: 4-5 | Consensus big board: No. 134 | Patriots meeting: N/A

Strengths: Very much fitting the mold of the modern-day off-ball linebacker, Elarms-Orr is an explosive player who combines true sideline-to-sideline speed (95th-percentile 40-yard dash) with some impressive agility and a quick downhill trigger. He can chase down ball carriers in pursuit even from the backside of the play and also run with tight ends or running backs in coverage. He maneuvers well through traffic and has shown some proper contact balance to finish tackle attempts. He meets blockers head-on and is effective as a blitzer from the second level or the edge.

Weaknesses: Elarms-Orr is on the smaller side, with his weight and arm length in the 32nd and 27th percentile among linebackers, respectively. He doesn’t always play as fast as his athletic skill would suggest and at times is a step slow to react to plays; he has room to grow as an instinctual player and his lack of experience shows up from time to time. Adding to that is his angles to the ball sometimes being insufficient; he can be moved from the play by not properly using leverage to his advantage. He also has a tendency to overcommit on misdirection or play action concepts, and has not had the most impressive ball production.

Patriots preview

What would be his role? Elarms-Orr is an off-ball linebacker best suited to serve as a classic Mike in the heart of the formation. In New England, he would join a room also featuring projected top two Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss, and potentially start out as a rotational late-down/passing game sub as well as a core special teamer.

Does he have positional versatility? Even though he played most of his defensive snaps in college off the ball (80.4%), Elarms-Orr did move down around on occasion. He has experience playing on line of scrimmage as an edge linebacker and also kicking out into the slot. In addition, he was used on five special teams units — the core four units plus field goal/extra point block — albeit irregularly and depending on his defensive exposure.

What is his growth potential? Despite what is on paper a five-year college career, Elarms-Orr is still a relatively raw player from a processing and reactionary perspective. If he can work on that part of his game and possibly add a bit more bulk to his frame, there is little standing in the way between him and becoming a starting off-ball linebacker by his second or third season in the NFL.

Why the Patriots? The Patriots’ linebacker group experienced some changes this offseason but is still lacking some long-term perspective. Elarms-Orr would provide that, while also bolstering the position’s overall depth and athleticism from the get-go. He also could help out on special teams, and therefore effectively play a role similar to the one held by free agency departee Jack Gibbens in 2025.

Why not the Patriots? Elarms-Orr is an NFL-ready athlete, but his success in the league will depend on making some improvements to his game. There is a chance the Patriots don’t feel comfortable in his ability to make them relative to other Day 3 linebackers available; if they value readiness above all else, they might go in a different direction.

One-sentence verdict: Elarms-Orr is an athletic and violent linebacker that fits the mold of player Mike Vrabel is looking to have on his defense.

For more information about Kaleb Elarms-Orr and the rest of this year’s class of prospects, please take a look at Adam’s 2026 NFL Draft Guide.

Also, what do you think about Elarms-Orr as a potential Patriots target? Do you like him? Where would you pick him? Please head down to the comment section to share your thoughts.