New England Patriots - NESN.com
The New England Patriots obviously want to protect their best asset on the field in quarterback Drake Maye.
Perhaps the easiest way of doing that is drafting an offensive tackle with the No. 4 overall pick in April’s draft. Something might be wrong with that plan, though. A franchise left tackle, capable of growing with Maye throughout the years with the Patriots, might not even exist in this draft, according to NFL draft gurus Todd McShay and Daniel Jeremiah.
That could put the Patriots in a predicament as in most years, they would have little trouble finding a premier left tackle to pair with Maye.
“I’d be pissed off if I’m a team like New England where I desperately need a tackle,” McShay told Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. “Where’s my Joe Alt? (LSU’s Will) Campbell’s a really good player, steady as can be. I think he’ll be a good tackle — I do, despite the arm length. It’s just not the prototype I’m looking for if I have a top-five pick and I got this franchise quarterback that I just unearthed last year and I really need to protect him.”
Of course, drafting a tackle isn’t the only way the Patriots can shore up their weak offensive line in front of Maye. New England could fill the need in free agency, but there’s not a ton of options available at that spot on the open market, either.
Ronnie Stanley and Cam Robinson are the top two free agent tackles, according to Pro Football Focus. They could come at a steep price, too, which the Patriots might not be thrilled with, especially with Stanley turning 31 next month and Robinson coming off an underwhelming season.
That could force the Patriots to take their chances on the draft and hope someone like Campbell turns into something McShay and Jeremiah don’t think he is.
