At the beginning of the year, I wanted Konz in the late first. After seeing us go through four centers and still win, I am not as insistent on an early-round talent as center; I'd prefer to go defense.
Still, if Konz is somehow available in the mid-late second, I think we should add him to the squad.
That's kind of my feeling, too. The Pats #2, #3 and #4 all seemed at least competent in passpro while the #2 guy for a couple other teams that had injury issues with their #1 OC didn't seem to perform even as well as McDonald.
OTOH, the Pats' ground game up the middle seemed relatively weak and inconsistent after Koppen went down (which probably hurt BGE's performance more than that of any other Pats' RB), so it's possible that Connolly, Wendell and McDonald don't quite have the run-blocking chops.
McDonald could develop in that department, I suppose - though he DID miss more than a couple key run-blocks at the LoS that I saw, he's relatively green and may have more upside in Dante's eyes than we know. At 6'4"+/316, he also seems built a bit stouter than Koppen and Wendell - he's probably about the same size as Konz, a bit taller than Ben Jones and a bit heftier than Brewster.
But both Connolly and Wendell have been around for awhile, so, if they're not up to Koppen's level in run-blocking up the gut by this point, perhaps they aren't destined to get there. Both Connolly and Wendell are UFA, AFAIK, as is Koppen. I think it's entirely possible that Connolly gets offered a disproportionately large contract to start elsewhere, so I'm leaning toward the OC/OG ranks being thinned by him leaving. There may even be a better chance that Koppen sticks for one more contract.
Leaving aside, for the moment, potential constraints regarding blocking-scheme differences (Dante apparently runs a significantly different scheme than what Wisconsin does and I don't know about Ohio State and Georgia) . . .
Konz, based on scouting write-ups, seems like the best prospective overall addition to the group, BUT - I, too, am not thrilled with the possibility that the Pats might have to spend a first-rounder to get him. After all, Dante has done pretty damn well for the OC position with a 5th-rounder (Koppen) and 3 UDFAs. Also - and I do NOT intend to start some Dowling-like mythology about Konz being "injury prone" - Konz apparently has had some chronic ankle issues (which, could, of course, also drop him into the 2nd round).
Jones is rated as a somewhat more solid OC prospect than Brewster by NFP, although, from what I've read, Jones has played mostly OG, so Center would represent a position change for him. If he's successful, OG/OC versatility would be a major plus, though I'd want to wait until I read reports rating his transition from observers at his all-star game practices. Another factor, though, is that BB/Dante might not be keen on spending even a (currently projected) 2nd/3rd-round pick under such circumstances. They might be just as happy with someone like, say, OG/OT Kelvin Beachum (6'3"/306, Southern Methodist) in the 4th round or later if they're going to take a "transition" player. Bunting give Beachum a nice report and we may get a chance to see him in the Shrine Game.
Brewster, then, seems a very acceptable selection - smart/aware, technically very sound, sufficiently athletic, good size/strength and currently projected as a late-2nd to late-3rd.
Assuming that BB doesn't finish draft weekend having made only six selections, there may be some "high-value options" beyond Konz.
