2026 Draft: RT

upstater1 said:

Every mock simulator I've tried, all the good tackles are gone at 40. There's literally no one else left except for the likes of Tiernan, Crownover, Davis.

But if you're looking for an edge player and pass rusher, many of them are showing Derrick Moore and Denis-Sutton available at our 2nd round pick, and even more eye-popping -- for me anyway -- LT Overton is available where we pick in the 3rd round.

This means that even IF TJ Parker is there at 31, you should go with the tackle and wait on players like Moore, D-Sutton, Height and Overton, among others.

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manxman2601 said:

We need a starting EDGE, we don't need a starting RT. I don't mind us drafting a RT at 31, but I still have EDGE ahead as a need.

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manxman2601 said:

We need a starting EDGE, we don't need a starting RT. I don't mind us drafting a RT at 31, but I still have EDGE ahead as a need.

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dliverey44 said:

check

So you are confirmed for drafting need over BPA.

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upstater1 said:

Every mock simulator I've tried, all the good tackles are gone at 40. There's literally no one else left except for the likes of Tiernan, Crownover, Davis.

But if you're looking for an edge player and pass rusher, many of them are showing Derrick Moore and Denis-Sutton available at our 2nd round pick, and even more eye-popping -- for me anyway -- LT Overton is available where we pick in the 3rd round.

This means that even IF TJ Parker is there at 31, you should go with the tackle and wait on players like Moore, D-Sutton, Height and Overton, among others.

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Rdforty2 said:

Or you can just take the RT in '27, when its actually a need. Not every position needs a future solution at the present.

If we can fill more needs in FA and OT is clear BPA, I can understand it. But, drafting a guy in the 1st round to potentially sit all year(thus providing no benefit to a contending team AND wasting a year of his rookie deal) generally isnt the best use of resources. If were still looking at needs at edge, WR, S, and even potentially LB, it would be hard to draft a tackle to redshirt.

Campbell, AVT, Wilson, and Onwenu(extended) would be a totally fine situation to plug a rookie RT into in '27.

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mayoclinic said:

Teets not a Freeling fan, he has previously made that clear.

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mayoclinic said:

If we don't take a projected 2027 starting RT in 2026, we pretty much have to in 2027, and that ties us down. There are good OT prospects, but it is riskier to need to fill a need with an immediate.

I'd personally like to address OL in both 2026 and 2027: 1 pick used on a RT, 1 on an IOL.

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upstater1 said:

Throwing a rookie tackle out there doesn't seem to be the best plan either. To quote Mike Vrabel, they'll get better and stronger [after their first season out of college].

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Rdforty2 said:

Rookie tackles are thrown out all the time. Especially 1st rd picks.

You may want to get them year to learn but for a 1st round pick? Just can't afford to waste the year of the contract and no on field production. Especially when you are a team with multiple current holes.

If youre in year 5 of Vrabel with multiple years of building, multiple division championships, multiple playoff runs and are a well oiled machine, you might be able to redshirt your 1st round pick.

The current Patriots arent there. They have 3 or 4 needs for starters and 3 or 4 secondary needs that need addressing. You can't use a premium pick on a position thay isnt a current need, and not play them.

What if Moses plays 17 games of above average football again and wants to play in '27? Tackles have been able to play in their late 30's. His contract would be a steal for '27. Youre creating a meed that isnt there because you think there will be one. Meanwhile ignoring an actual current hole. Is it likely that Moses does that? Probably not. But its possible. And its a hole that can be plugged immediately with a draft pick if not.

Now of course, I have said if we plug many more of the needs in FA and the draft plays out a certain way, you can justify taking a tackle early. If a rookie can provide versatility and truly be the LT and RT backup, it could make sense. Im not closing off the idea. I just dont think that should be the gameplan. If solving the RT of the future is a '27 draft pick, I see no problems.

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manxman2601 said:

I agree on the whole. The one thing is that there is a nice confluence of draft position and two quality RTs in Miller and Iheanachor. It makes some sense from that perspective although I'm still edge rusher first. Mesidor, TJ Parker and Zion Young are either better or equal in terms of grade.

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Rdforty2 said:

One thing I struggle with is, what type of edge are they looking to add? Evan Lazar seems to think the Patriots want the leaner, pure speed off the edge. Theyll sacrifice is the run to attack off the edge.

Then they prioritize Jones over Chaisson. And it seems like they kind of sat out the Chaisson talks because he didnt sign a bad deal with Washington. Seems like we couldve had him back if we wanted.

Is that because they are looking for a little more of a complete player? Or do they think a pure speed guy is cheaper to acquire in the draft? Does that limit the type of player they might take?

So even if edge is BPA like a Parker, do they go that route? Or could they trade down and take R Mason Thomas? Or just take the RT? Id be in the trade down camp, but thats just me. If theres a way to get an extra 3 or an extra day 2 pick in '27, that would be great for depth/hole plugging/developing for future holes.

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manxman2601 said:

Eliot Wolf said they don't wat someone who wins just by running the arc against a tackle. They want someone who can win in multiple ways and plays with power. Then there's the violent hands thing we hear from their defensive coaches all the time. So my guess is they'd want someone like Young or Parker over Howell or Thomas but then I think those two would be compliments to Dre'mont Jones' game, not just copies. So I really don't know but I'd lean towards the more power guys.

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