Defensive End · New England Patriots

Xavier Holmes

Rookie

Holmes is new to this, and he knows exactly who he's watching

Rookie seasons don't come with a roadmap. You show up, you figure out who's already doing it right, and you try to close the gap.

Xavier Holmes is an edge rusher — the player whose job is to get past the offensive lineman and pressure the quarterback — entering his first year with the New England Patriots. He hasn't played a regular-season snap yet. That part comes later.

What's clear right now is who Holmes is paying attention to. He has pointed to Elijah Ponder as someone he's actively trying to learn from and model himself after — a quiet signal that Holmes is already thinking about this the right way.

Most people remember their first year by how hard it was. The ones who come out the other side remember who they watched.

Content sourced from publicly available information. Gripd is an independent fan platform not affiliated with the NFL or any team.