But is there a guard that they could have taken there that is doing anything right now?
We have seen from our AFC East competitors how hard it is to get a franchise QB (Miami has been looking for one since Marino, the Bills since Kelly, and the Jets since Namath). If Garoppolo is a franchise QB, I think he is far more important than any guard short of John Hannah reincarnated that you could have taken. Again, that is if Garoppolo becomes the Pats' starter and is good some day.
And prior to this year, the Pats have done a great job getting o-linemen late in the draft or UDFAs or just off the street and make them serviceable to good.