Interior OL

[PATSYLICIOUS]

I honestly don't think Stanley is leaving Baltimore he's in a fantastic situation there. So it's seemingly going to come down to us either signing another 2nd tier OT or draft Campbell...

In that case id probably still sign a lesser stopgap option. Assuming carter and hunter are gone id go LT with either the first or second pick depending on what the prospects look like. Campbell and graham the 2 likely options in that case both had less than desirable measurables this week so it’s tough to tell now. Either way right now id lean towards signing vets at both ot spots and if carter/hunter are gone probably trade down.

 

[Wozzy]

Let's pretend for a second they go the free agency route alone to fix the offensive line:

LT – Jedrick Wills, Demontrey Jacobs,
LG – Cole Strange, Sidy Sow,
OC – David Andrews, Jake Andrews,
RG – Michael Onwenu, Layden Robinson,
RT – Oli Udoh, Mekhi Becton, Caedan Wallace,

That's ^ a really good and talented line with some depth. Strange could slide over to center or Jake could take the job if David decides to hang them up.

Sidy Sow is a guy who could make a leap this year with much better coaching and scheme, he is uber talented, strong and could possibly start at guard or tackle.

This is a reasonably priced fix that doesn't even account for the draft and adding that way. If they go this route they can use the draft to bolster the defensive line.

The line has some good pieces, the coaching and scheme has sucked, there have been some unfortunate injuries... but they still have some good interior players to work with assuming health.

 

[Real fan 02]

In that case id probably still sign a lesser stopgap option. Assuming carter and hunter are gone id go LT with either the first or second pick depending on what the prospects look like. Campbell and graham the 2 likely options in that case both had less than desirable measurables this week so it’s tough to tell now. Either way right now id lean towards signing vets at both ot spots and if carter/hunter are gone probably trade down.

Agreed. What I see Campbell as is a Matt light body type wich the guys a mauler and has the attitude you want playing LT in the NFL. This is shaping up to be the draft and FA of what the Patriots NEED over the WANTS.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Agreed. What I see Campbell as is a Matt light body type wich the guys a mauler and has the attitude you want playing LT in the NFL. This is shaping up to be the draft and FA of what the Patriots NEED over the WANTS.

Right. Gotta see how fa goes. If for whatever reason we can’t get great help at either spot id like us to take a long look at the values of graham and Campbell vs the respective positions projected at the top of rd 2.

 

[Real fan 02]

Right. Gotta see how fa goes. If for whatever reason we can’t get great help at either spot id like us to take a long look at the values of graham and Campbell vs the respective positions projected at the top of rd 2.

I've just re-signed to the fact to temper my expectations.. as last season I thought for sure we'd have a better FA period. I'm certain Vrabel will be able to get talent back in Foxboro.

 

[Ross12]

Let's pretend for a second they go the free agency route alone to fix the offensive line:

LT – Jedrick Wills, Demontrey Jacobs,
LG – Cole Strange, Sidy Sow,
OC – David Andrews, Jake Andrews,
RG – Michael Onwenu, Layden Robinson,
RT – Oli Udoh, Mekhi Becton, Caedan Wallace,

That's ^ a really good and talented line with some depth. Strange could slide over to center or Jake could take the job if David decides to hang them up.

Sidy Sow is a guy who could make a leap this year with much better coaching and scheme, he is uber talented, strong and could possibly start at guard or tackle.

This is a reasonably priced fix that doesn't even account for the draft and adding that way. If they go this route they can use the draft to bolster the defensive line.

The line has some good pieces, the coaching and scheme has sucked, there have been some unfortunate injuries... but they still have some good interior players to work with assuming health.

I am mostly fine with this - I like what you did with RT, because out of Udoh, Becton and Wallace you're probably bound to get at least one decent starting RT. Things also look fine at RG.

There are a few pain points though from center over. David Andrews, Cole Strange, and Jedrick Wills all have injury history issues. Andrews is also old and near retirement, and Cole Strange may be a primary center now as well. Even if they stick with that lineup, you'd have to worry about all 3 of those starters staying healthy.

I'd personally rather start Cole Strange at center and keep D.Andrews and J.Andrews as backups, with J.Andrews being a depth C and G. Then, sign or draft a new LG, but pencil in Sidy Sow as the starting LG for time being. He was fine under McDaniels previously, so hoping last year was a weird one-off regression under different coaching. Ideally though you're signing someone else because you'll end up very thin there.

 

[JohnJH]

I honestly don't think Stanley is leaving Baltimore he's in a fantastic situation there. So it's seemingly going to come down to us either signing another 2nd tier OT or draft Campbell...

I'm off the draft Campbell for LT bandwagon. And certainly not #4 overall.

 

[Real fan 02]

I'm off the draft Campbell for LT bandwagon. And certainly not #4 overall.

He may be there at 4.. the way it's going... I think Carter and hunter will be gone by the time we pick.. unless we trade up who knows right?

 

[JohnJH]

He may be there at 4.. the way it's going... I think Carter and hunter will be gone by the time we pick.. unless we trade up who knows right?

If Carter and Hunter are gone by #4. Moving down, acquiring more assets, and still NAILING those picks may be the best course of action. And that's even if they don't get Stanley at LT for a couple or three years. If they do get Stanley, then moving down and nailing it would just be icing on the proverbial cake.

 

[mgteich]

Right. Gotta see how fa goes. If for whatever reason we can’t get great help at either spot id like us to take a long look at the values of graham and Campbell vs the respective positions projected at the top of rd 2.

If we don't sign a starting LT and a backup LT in free agency, then BPA just goes out the window. We can't play with Lowe as our LT. We would then draft Campell and another LT in the 2nd or 3rd.

Sure, I know all about the strategy of counting on getting a starting LT by trading up into the first and/or signing the best LT available in the 2nd. There is ZERO guarantee that we will be able to trade up high enough into the first to get a starter. That was the 2024 plan. Yes, we would be drafting for need as we did last year if we don't have a LT going into the draft.

IF we liked another LT almost as much as Campbell, we might trade down 2-3 spots, most likely to 7.

 

[Real fan 02]

If Carter and Hunter are gone by #4. Moving down, acquiring more assets, and still NAILING those picks may be the best course of action. And that's even if they don't get Stanley at LT for a couple or three years. If they do get Stanley, then moving down and nailing it would just be icing on the proverbial cake.

Moving down may be the likely scenario to your point of getting more picks. I just have an aurora of conf in Vrabel and his staff to get the right players here. The HC should always be the chief decision maker on the type of players we go after. I think we aren't going to get Stanley.. I read raven are looking to extend him. Dan Moore may as well be vederian lowe 2.0

Is rather take Campbell and have my 10 year Matt light at LT

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

If we don't sign a starting LT and a backup LT in free agency, then BPA just goes out the window. We can't play with Lowe as our LT. We would then draft Campell and another LT in the 2nd or 3rd.

Sure, I know all about the strategy of counting on getting a starting LT by trading up into the first and/or signing the best LT available in the 2nd. There is ZERO guarantee that we will be able to trade up high enough into the first to get a starter. That was the 2024 plan. Yes, we would be drafting for need as we did last year if we don't have a LT going into the draft.

IF we liked another LT almost as much as Campbell, we might trade down 2-3 spots, most likely to 7.

Yes, the way its shaping up the best move in that scenario is probably trade down and look at ot somewhere around pick 10. One of Campbell, banks, and membou who is making a strong case will be available . The draft is very deep at DL .

 

[mgteich]

Yes, the way its shaping up the best move in that scenario is probably trade down and look at ot somewhere around pick 10. One of Campbell, banks, and membou who is making a strong case will be available . The draft is very deep at DL .

I do think that 10 is too far. I would want us to have a choice, not the one that other teams chose to bypass.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

I do think that 10 is too far. I would want us to have a choice, not the one that other teams chose to bypass.

Depends on your preference, for me im not sure if i even prefer Campbell and banks to membou at this point, let alone to the extent where id pass up say a 3rd rder to go from 6 to 9 or 10. But if youre big on Campbell then you would probably have to stay at 6.

 

[mgteich]

Depends on your preference, for me im not sure if i even prefer Campbell and banks to membou at this point, let alone to the extent where id pass up say a 3rd rder to go from 6 to 9 or 10. But if youre big on Campbell then you would probably have to stay at 6.

Yes, you understand my concern.

I think that we might have a clear preference for whom we would want as our starting LT.

If we have one well above the others and we haven't signed a starter in free agency, I suspect that we will draft our man at 4, but I suspect that we might risk trading down to 5-7. Much depends on who badly needs a LT at the time of the draft.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

If we don't sign a starting LT and a backup LT in free agency, then BPA just goes out the window. We can't play with Lowe as our LT. We would then draft Campell and another LT in the 2nd or 3rd.

Sure, I know all about the strategy of counting on getting a starting LT by trading up into the first and/or signing the best LT available in the 2nd. There is ZERO guarantee that we will be able to trade up high enough into the first to get a starter. That was the 2024 plan. Yes, we would be drafting for need as we did last year if we don't have a LT going into the draft.

IF we liked another LT almost as much as Campbell, we might trade down 2-3 spots, most likely to 7.

Who they sign or don't sign in free agency doesn't make Campbell or anyone else more or less of a prospect is the problem. And to be honest, it's not even like any of the free agent options would make LT not a need anymore IMO. Stanley and Cam Robinson have a history of availability issues and will be in their 30s. Dan Moore Jr. is get-by JAG caliber of starter. No one else is even an actual starting caliber LT. It'd be idiotic to sign Stanley or Robinson and not have the expectation that the backup will have to start at least 1/3 to 1/2 the season while they're here or that they'll last as starters for even the duration of the #4 picks rookie contract. And if they sign Dan Moore that shouldn't be viewed as anything more than a stop gap to stop the bleeding at the position while it remaining a serious need.

What I'm saying is that if they think there's a viable long term starting LT in this draft, they need to be trying like hell to land him. IMO, they could sign all 3 of those guys with Stanley at LT, Cam Robinson moving inside to LG, and Dan Moore to RT and I still think a long term starting LT remains a need for them. So for me, the free agency options have zero to do with my draft strategy because we have a dire need for a LT whether we sign someone or not (or even multiple of the top options). And unfortunately, the assessment of the guys in the draft is totally independent from who we sign anyway. They don't get better or worse based on free agency.

 

[JohnJH]

Moving down may be the likely scenario to your point of getting more picks. I just have an aurora of conf in Vrabel and his staff to get the right players here. The HC should always be the chief decision maker on the type of players we go after. I think we aren't going to get Stanley.. I read raven are looking to extend him. Dan Moore may as well be vederian lowe 2.0

Is rather take Campbell and have my 10 year Matt light at LT

If he can be a 6'6 Matt Light, then I'd be ecstatic. But therein lies the problem; I don't know if he'll be that good at LT. And if he isn't, then we drafted a LG (even if he's a HOF LG), with the #4 or a Top 10 Pick. That's where such OG's have been found after the 3rd Round of many Drafts.

 

[Real fan 02]

If he can be a 6'6 Matt Light, then I'd be ecstatic. But therein lies the problem; I don't know if he'll be that good at LT. And if he isn't, then we drafted a LG (even if he's a HOF LG), with the #4 or a Top 10 Pick. That's where such OG's have been found after the 3rd Round of many Drafts.

Light was what 6"2 ?? He was on the shorter side for a OT.. but he had great hands and punch at the point of attack he also was tactful.. Campbell is just a straight up beast, the guys got the size and athletic ability to fend off speed edge rushers.. any OT that plays with Drake will greatly benefit from Drakes ability to break down defenses with his running even Vrabel was raving about it last week.

 

[JohnJH]

Light was what 6"2 ?? He was on the shorter side for a OT.. but he had great hands and punch at the point of attack he also was tactful.. Campbell is just a straight up beast, the guys got the size and athletic ability to fend off speed edge rushers.. any OT that plays with Drake will greatly benefit from Drakes ability to break down defenses with his running even Vrabel was raving about it last week.

Light was listed at 6'5 and 305. Although his Combine list's him as 6'4 and three quarters and 311 and with 33 and a half inch long arms, size 9 hands. Banks Jr. although an inch shorter (6'5), has 33 and a half inch arms and size 10 and three quarter in hands. Banks Jr. might be the better Pro LT prospect between the two and can be had in a trade back.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

Agreed. What I see Campbell as is a Matt light body type wich the guys a mauler and has the attitude you want playing LT in the NFL. This is shaping up to be the draft and FA of what the Patriots NEED over the WANTS.

There are no needs vs wants for the team this year because they suck at everything.

We have the worst OL in the NFL.
We have the worst receivers in the NFL.
Our RBs room is one of the worst in the NFL.
Our EDGE defenders are worst in the NFL.
Our interior DL is worst in the NFL if Barmore can't be counted on.
Our LB group is one of the worst in the NFL.
Our box safeties are good but we have no viable coverage FS.
Our CB room sucks outside of Gonzo.

Until they make substantial progress across the board there, they will continue to suck. All of those spots are needs.