NFL Writer Identifies An Unexpected Patriots Draft Priority That Could Raise Eyebrows
An NFL writer identified a draft priority that the New England Patriots should consider addressing in the next two weeks.
NFL Writer Identifies An Unexpected Patriots Draft Priority That Could Raise Eyebrows originally appeared on NESN . Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The Patriots made several significant moves to their interior offensive line this offseason, starting with the trade of center Garrett Bradbury to the Chicago Bears.
Shortly after the trade, New England signed Alijah Vera-Tucker to take over the left guard position, shifting Jared Wilson to center. However, the question remains: is there still room for improvement on the offensive line? Bleacher Report's Alex Ballentine released his surprising NFL draft needs for every team, and the Patriots need more interior offensive line help.
"The Patriots signed Alijah Vera-Tucker and probably solidified their starting interior trio in the process. Vera-Tucker should man the left guard spot with Jared Wilson at center and Mike Onwenu playing right guard," Ballentine wrote on Monday. "But that's not going to be sufficient if the Patriots are serious about protecting Drake Maye.
Onwenu heads to free agency next season, Vera-Tucker has a long injury history and Wilson hasn't quite earned the distinction of long-term starter. "Ideally, they would be able to add a tough, physical guard who can be versatile enough to be a utility option before becoming a starter in the next year or two. " If New England is aiming to bolster its interior offensive line, focusing on finding talent in the middle rounds of the draft might be a smart approach.