New England Patriots - NESN.com
It sounds like the Patriots will have a bigger need on the defensive line than previously anticipated.
New England granted defensive lineman Davon Godchaux permission to seek a trade, as first reported by NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport. The 6-foot-3, 330-pound Godchaux played every regular-season game the last four years (67 starts).
The hiring of Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and first-year defensive coordinator Tyrell Williams figured to bring an aggressive playstyle on that side of the ball. Getting after the quarterback, a key Vrabel noted in his opening press conference, means a lesser role for Godchaux. The 30-year-old primarily contributed on early downs due to his run-stuffing prowess.
You know what they say: When one aging door closes, another younger more talented one opens.
Fortunately for the Patriots, the defensive line is widely considered the deepest position group in the draft. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler recently released his top 100 prospects and nearly one third are D-linemen with 17 edge rushers and 13 defensive tackles.
“I think it’s really deep on the defensive line,” Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf told reporters at the NFL scouting combine Wednesday, per a team-provided video.
Mason Graham, a three-down beast who would be an improvement to Godchaux, could call New England home after April’s event.
Graham is not only the top defensive tackle in the class, but one of the top overall prospects. Longtime NFL draft expert Todd McShay included Graham on his top tier of prospects with edge rusher Abdul Carter and cornerback Travis Hunter. The Michigan product has been compared to another standout player at the three-technique, Christian Wilkins.
The Patriots have been heavily linked to LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell and Graham in recent weeks. It felt before the Godchaux report that New England could trim it to a two-horse race featuring those two. But with the need on the defensive line even greater now, Graham’s chances of landing in Foxboro, Mass., surely increased.
If the Patriots go another direction at No. 4, Michigan teammate Kenneth Grant, Oregon’s Derrick Harmon and Ole Miss’ Walter Nolen among the top defensive tackle prospects. It’s a position that must be addressed early on.
