The difficulties In Hitting Our Two biggest Needs: EDGE and RT

mgteich · Mar 18, 2026

Rdforty2 said:
There are ready to start tackles, especially right tackles, every year throughout the top 50.

.

I agree.

What isn't anywhere near clear is whether we want to be forced to pick a RT next year from whoever is there when we pick. Perhaps there will be a couple of acceptable OT's available. We would need to forego picking someone at another position and just expect that player to be able to start on Day One.

Rdforty2 · Mar 18, 2026

mgteich said:
I agree.

What isn't anywhere near clear is whether we want to be forced to pick a RT next year from whoever is there when we pick. Perhaps there will be a couple of acceptable OT's available. We would need to forego picking someone at another position and just expect that player to be able to start on Day One.

There certainly are unknowns. But I think that's why you wait until things become clearer. What if Moses wants to return? What if Bryant ends up being the guy? What if we draft a guy in the 3rd or 4th that surprises?

More unknowns on draft day, are trades. What if we add picks in next years draft? What if come '27, we decide to move down? What if we move up from a late #2?

Since there are so many unknowns are so many thjngs that can happen until then, I think its fine to wait until the spot actually becomes a need. We have so many other holes to fill right now, Id prefer to make the team better in '26 than to try and predict what may happen 12 months from now.

Zuma · Mar 18, 2026

Rdforty2 said:
So why not just wait until '27 when RT is a need and take a RT in the 1st round or 2nd round? Then you get a '26 on field impact from your 1st rounder and you dont waste a year of the rookie contract on a tackle. Especially at RT, rookies can play right away.

Because I prefer the OT learn from Moses in 2026 and step in if he gets injured. It's easier to do that and be ready to start the season in 2027 then coming in as a rookie cold.

mayoclinic · Mar 18, 2026

Rdforty2 said:
There certainly are unknowns. But I think that's why you wait until things become clearer. What if Moses wants to return? What if Bryant ends up being the guy? What if we draft a guy in the 3rd or 4th that surprises?

More unknowns on draft day, are trades. What if we add picks in next years draft? What if come '27, we decide to move down? What if we move up from a late #2?

Since there are so many unknowns are so many thjngs that can happen until then, I think its fine to wait until the spot actually becomes a need. We have so many other holes to fill right now, Id prefer to make the team better in '26 than to try and predict what may happen 12 months from now.

I'm not willing to take that much of a chance that Drake Maye ends up in a hospital bed.

- Moses was rumored to be considering retirement for 2026
- Bryant couldn't make the active game day roster

Drake Maye is the franchise. Keeping him upright is priority 1, not a game of Russian Roulette.

mgteich · Mar 18, 2026

Zuma said:
Because I prefer the OT learn from Moses in 2026 and step in if he gets injured. It's easier to do that and be ready to start the season in 2027 then coming in as a rookie cold.

There are those who think that the 3rd or 4th rounder can learn from Bryant and Campbell.

Obviously, that is the job of coaches, but Moses will be a fine teacher even if he should be injured.

Zuma · Mar 18, 2026

manxman2601 said:
One important distinction you left out. An EDGE drafted this year will get a substantial number of snaps hopefully. A RT drafted this year won't ideally.

Yes. I'd like an OT taken at 31 to hit the weight room, play roughly 20% snaps at Tackle and be stronger for a long 17 games season or more in 2027. Campbell and Wilson did great but the Rookie wall hit them hard.

mgteich · Mar 18, 2026

Zuma said:
Yes. I'd like an OT taken at 31 to hit the weight room, play roughly 20% snaps at Tackle and be stronger for a long 17 games season or more in 2027. Campbell and Wilson did great but the Rookie wall hit them hard.

I would expect a #31 RT would be our jumbo #6 back.

I was just thinking just how better I would feel about the Offense with a RT at 31 and Munford back.

Zuma · Mar 18, 2026

mgteich said:
I would expect a #31 RT would be our jumbo #6 back.

I was just thinking just how better I would feel about the Offense with a RT at 31 and Munford back.

Maybe I am in the minority but I strongly believe he will sign once his knee passes a physical. AND we need a RT at 31.

Each day that goes by before the draft... I believe more people will lean towards RT at 31.

mgteich · Mar 18, 2026

Zuma said:
Maybe I am in the minority but I strongly believe he will sign once his knee passes a physical. AND we need a RT at 31.

Each day that goes by before the draft... I believe more people will lean towards RT at 31.

I apologize if I have misled.

For me, Munford is hopefully our backup LT.

I too still prefer a RT at 31.

Rdforty2 · Mar 18, 2026

mayoclinic said:
I'm not willing to take that much of a chance that Drake Maye ends up in a hospital bed.

- Moses was rumored to be considering retirement for 2026
- Bryant couldn't make the active game day roster

Drake Maye is the franchise. Keeping him upright is priority 1, not a game of Russian Roulette.

So then do we need to take another tackle in the 1st round in '27, after taking one in '26?

If you consider it Russian roulette with Maye by not having a 1st round pick as a backup, is it not Russian roulette again in '27?

Moses is a good starter for '26. The question is the backup.

Say you pick Blake Miller at 31. In '27, in theory, you have a good starter. Then the backup is an issue. So an injury to Campbell or Miller puts you in the same spot as '26, if theres an injury to Campbell or Moses.

Also, while I certainly am not saying the team should bank on anything from Bryant, I dont think it was as simple as that. Bryant was active for games early on. Once we got Munford, a vet with experience, we started to use 6 OL more. Its easier to use a veteran with experience in a "gadget" role than a rookie LT converting to RT. To me, it was just experience. Thats too much to put on a late developmental rookie to pickup playing a somewhat unconventional move role.

Rdforty2 · Mar 18, 2026

mgteich said:
I would expect a #31 RT would be our jumbo #6 back.

I was just thinking just how better I would feel about the Offense with a RT at 31 and Munford back.

I dont think they're using 6 OL much next year. It was out of necessity. Adding a blocking TE and a FB, i think the use of a 6th OL is going to be rare.

Rdforty2 · Mar 18, 2026

mgteich said:
There are those who think that the 3rd or 4th rounder can learn from Bryant and Campbell.

Obviously, that is the job of coaches, but Moses will be a fine teacher even if he should be injured.

I agree that having a younger player learn behind Moses would be great.

I just dont think it needs to be a 1st rounder. If there is someone in the 3rd or 4th, I would love to add a guy. I dont deny that a long term RT is a need, and I definitely cant deny it would be a great place to learn for a year. 25-30% of starting tackles have come from the 3rd round or later. Trust in Marrone and Co to develop them IMO. Is it a lower probability than a 1st or 2nd rd pick? Sure. But with other needs, this would be my preference. If a pick 95-140 can just provide depth long term, thats a fine pick. If they became a starter, its awesome. My point being, if the guy doesnt become the long term RT, but can be a swing tackle for the length of his rookie deal, its still a win. Then take an RT early in '27.

mayoclinic · Mar 18, 2026

Rdforty2 said:
So then do we need to take another tackle in the 1st round in '27, after taking one in '26?

If you consider it Russian roulette with Maye by not having a 1st round pick as a backup, is it not Russian roulette again in '27?

Moses is a good starter for '26. The question is the backup.

Say you pick Blake Miller at 31. In '27, in theory, you have a good starter. Then the backup is an issue. So an injury to Campbell or Miller puts you in the same spot as '26, if theres an injury to Campbell or Moses.

Also, while I certainly am not saying the team should bank on anything from Bryant, I dont think it was as simple as that. Bryant was active for games early on. Once we got Munford, a vet with experience, we started to use 6 OL more. Its easier to use a veteran with experience in a "gadget" role than a rookie LT converting to RT. To me, it was just experience. Thats too much to put on a late developmental rookie to pickup playing a somewhat unconventional move role.

No, that would be silly.

I understand you are not going to agree, and that's your prerogative, but you are just being childish.

From my perspective, Drake Maye is the franchise. He is perhaps the most valuable property in the NFL. Protect him - keep him upright, give him time to through,and above all keep him from getting concussed or injured - and surround him with a slightly above average team, and you have a contender. That's basically what the Bills have done with Josh Allen. Fail at that, and you've blown the chance to have the next dynasty. This team will succeed or fail with Drake Maye; trying to build the 2000 Ravens is not the strategy. If Drake Maye had had the Broncos' OL, we would all be celebrating banner #7.

The 2023-2024 Patriots had one of the worst OLs in league history. Mike Vrabel inherited an almost completely bare cupboard, and he did a masterful job of upgrading it from egregious to average with the draft and FA signings. But it would be folly to stop there, or to wait until things fall apart to say we should have addressed it sooner.

We've already moved on from stopgap Garrett Bradbury. AVT - if healthy - should be un upgrade. Will Campbell - if he recovers full from injury - and Jared Wilson should be improved. But that doesn't mean we should stop.

OT depth is atrocious. Verderian Lowe is gone, Thayer Munford is unsigned and coming off surgery. Vrabel preferred a one legged Will Campbell who couldn't plant over both, and he preferred both over Marcus Bryant. Not adequate.

In 2024 we waited and then reached for Caedan Wallace, claiming he could develop into at least a starting RT, if not a LT. How did that work out?

You see how many games your EDGE rusher will win for us with Josh Dobbs or Tommy DeVito at QB after one of our OTs goes down, and Drake Maye gets hit the way he was getting clobbered in the playoffs. Good luck with that. How many games did "generational prospect" #3 overall pick Abdul Carter win for the Giants last year? Or we could just keep spending top 5 picks on EDGE rushers like the Giants have done. Because if Drake Maye gets hurt, we will be drafting near the top of the draft.

Rdforty2 · Mar 18, 2026

mayoclinic said:
No, that would be silly.

I understand you are not going to agree, and that's your prerogative, but you are just being childish.

From my perspective, Drake Maye is the franchise. He is perhaps the most valuable property in the NFL. Protect him - keep him upright, give him time to through,and above all keep him from getting concussed or injured - and surrpund him with a slightly above average team, and you have a contender. That's basically what the Bills have done with Josh Allen. Fail at that, and you've blown the chance to have the next dynasty. This team or succeed or fail with Drake Maye; trying to build the 2000 Ravens is not the strategy. If Drake Maye had had the Broncos' OL, we would all be celebrating banner #7.

The 2023-2024 Patriots had one of the worst OLs in league history. Mike Vrabel inherited an almost completely bare cupboard, and he did a masterful job of upgrading it from egregious to average with the draft and FA signings. But it would be folly to stop there, or to wait until things fall apart to say we should gave addressed it sooner.

We've already moved on from stopgap Garrett Bradbury. AVT - if healthy - should be un upgrade. Will Campbell - if he recovers full from injury - and Jared Wilson should be improved. But that doesn't mean we should stop.

OT depth is atrocious. Verderian Lowe is gone, Thayer Munford is unsigned and coming off surgery. Vrabel preferred a one legged Will Campbell who couldn't plant over both, and he preferred both over Marcus Bryant. Not adequate.

In 2024 we waited and then reached for Caedan Wallace, claiming he could develop into at least a starting RT, if not a LT. How did that work out?

You see how many games your EDGE rusher will win for us with Josh Dobbs or Tommy DeVito at QB after one of our OTs goes down, and Drale Maye gets hit the way he wss getting clobbered in thd playoffs. Good luck with that. How many games did "generational prospect" #3 overall pick Abdul Carter win for the Giants last year? Or we could just keep spending top 5 picks on EDGE rushers like the Giants have done. Because if Drake May gets hurt, we will be drafting near the top of the draft.

Nothing you said means they need to take a 1st round OT. You just made the argument for improved depth. We all agree we need depth. It just doesnt have to come with a 1st rd pick. Pointing to Caedan Wallace, who most thought was a bad pick immediately, doesnt really make any sense. It wasnt part of the Vrabel/Marrone/Stretch group, and there are busts in the 3rd round at every position. Should we skip drafting in the 3rd round, period? Belichick took Cole Strange in the 1st rd. Should that exclude taking an OL at 31?

Its not being childish at all. Its a valid question. The starting OL unit had been upgraded. Depth is needed but again, depth is not only added at the cost of a 1st rd pick. Youre saying we need to take a 1st rd OT to back up our 2 starters. Anything less is playing Russian roulette with Maye. So how is that any different from having 2 solid starters in '27 and depth behind them being a problem again? Its the same situation as '26. Two good starters, depth a problem. One of the starters go down, and it puts Maye in danger. So how is it better to have no high value backup in '27? But its priority #1 in '26?

If you draft a mid round OT this year, trust in the staff. Maybe you have the long term RT. Maybe you just have a swing tackle. If you just have a swing tackle, then take a starting RT in '27, now you have your tackles set for 3/4 years. If its a starter, its a big advantage. Maybe you have a bust. You never know. You could take an OT at 31 and watch them be a bust too.

Clonamery · Mar 19, 2026

Rdforty2 said:
Nothing you said means they need to take a 1st round OT. You just made the argument for improved depth. We all agree we need depth. It just doesnt have to come with a 1st rd pick. Pointing to Caedan Wallace, who most thought was a bad pick immediately, doesnt really make any sense. It wasnt part of the Vrabel/Marrone/Stretch group, and there are busts in the 3rd round at every position. Should we skip drafting in the 3rd round, period? Belichick took Cole Strange in the 1st rd. Should that exclude taking an OL at 31?

Its not being childish at all. Its a valid question. The starting OL unit had been upgraded. Depth is needed but again, depth is not only added at the cost of a 1st rd pick. Youre saying we need to take a 1st rd OT to back up our 2 starters. Anything less is playing Russian roulette with Maye. So how is that any different from having 2 solid starters in '27 and depth behind them being a problem again? Its the same situation as '26. Two good starters, depth a problem. One of the starters go down, and it puts Maye in danger. So how is it better to have no high value backup in '27? But its priority #1 in '26?

If you draft a mid round OT this year, trust in the staff. Maybe you have the long term RT. Maybe you just have a swing tackle. If you just have a swing tackle, then take a starting RT in '27, now you have your tackles set for 3/4 years. If its a starter, its a big advantage. Maybe you have a bust. You never know. You could take an OT at 31 and watch them be a bust too.

"You never know." I hope you don't mind me quoting you.

mayoclinic · Mar 29, 2026

Good Barth and Hurley discussion about OT vs. EDGE strategy at 31:

mayoclinic · Mar 30, 2026

Username · Mar 31, 2026

TJ Parker is growing on me, the more I watch 2024 tape. He certainly got taken into account more by the opposition in 2025 and struggled at times to adjust his game accordingly.

I think I'd be ok with him at 31, depending on who else is still on the board.

mayoclinic · Apr 1, 2026

NFL Draft: Tight End Prospects Slide After Choosing Not to Run at Pro Day

Injuries and missed workouts are shaking up the draft board. From Ohio State to Baylor, see which prospects failed to run for NFL scouts.

www.essentiallysports.com

Username · Apr 1, 2026

mayoclinic said:
NFL Draft: Tight End Prospects Slide After Choosing Not to Run at Pro Day

Injuries and missed workouts are shaking up the draft board. From Ohio State to Baylor, see which prospects failed to run for NFL scouts.

www.essentiallysports.com

Michael Trigg is a talented player, but his attitude is a major red flag. Watch him blocking. He doesn't even really pretend to try.

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