DRAFT Sidy Sow - Round 4 - 117th overall

[Ochmed Jones]

Michael Onwenu is definitely gone with the excessive Guard Drafting. I know they are hoping at least two of these Guards developing into Starters or solid back-ups.

Do you think bb has already reached out to onwenu’s agent and decided the numbers will not work and that is why bb loaded up with 3 draft picks that can play guard????

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Do you think bb has already reached out to onwenu’s agent and decided the numbers will not work and that is why bb loaded up with 3 draft picks that can play guard????

I would guess that is the case. So BB knows they have to replace Onwenu and Andrews (getting old) so that is two holes next year plus we have to replace Ferentz. That is a total of 3 IOL. We have Russey, Hines, Sow, Andrews, and Mafi. So 5 guys to fill 3 roles, plus a backup. I assume the Pats think that Sow, Andrews, and Mafi will not all work out or Sow might be a RT backup. It is not really too many IOL drafted if we lose 3 guys, Ferentz (thank God), Andrews (too old), and Onwenu.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

How much is the tag for a guard. If it's 10 million we can tag and trade and also get the last season from Onwenu at less than a million.trade only if you get a 2nd rounder

You will never get a 2nd for Onwenu after his rookie contract has expired. Maybe a 5th? We do not want to trade him before 2024, we need Onwenu this year so the draft picks can have a year to acclimate.

 

[mgteich]

I know but we still won't keep 6 interior only linemen and Onwenu is clearly a guy they don't want at OT based on their words and actions. Also, Tackle is in worse shape than you just described at Guard.

OK, I don't see the problem at IOL. We may need 2 new starters next year. The idea of moving Strange to LT and having only newbies at IOL next year is not a good idea to me.
=================
Strange-Andrews-Onwenu
Sow, Andrews
PS - Mafi, Hines and Russey

Does anyone think that perhaps Belichick drafted 3 OL's in the 4th and 5th because he didn't think that Russey and Hines were up to the task,
==================
And YES, I would be fine with carrying 3 OT's and 6 IOL's if Strange and/or Sow could step in at OT if needed. As is, we are fine at OT if there is health through camp with Brown, Reiff and Anderson as the swing OT. My gut tells me that Klemm will keep another RT backup on the 53.

BTW, we have an extra active player if we field 8 OL's, Would it be terrible to have an inactive backup at IOL and at OT, carrying 5 starters and 5 backups?

10 OT's isn't too many, especially if we carry only 2 TE's. Given the likely 2024 need (up to 4 starters), 10 this year just isn't too many.

 

[Toofy]

OK, I don't see the problem at IOL. We may need 2 new starters next year. The idea of moving Strange to LT and having only newbies at IOL next year is not a good idea to me.
=================
Strange-Andrews-Onwenu
Sow, Andrews
PS - Mafi, Hines and Russey

Does anyone think that perhaps Belichick drafted 3 OL's in the 4th and 5th because he didn't think that Russey and Hines were up to the task,
==================
And YES, I would be fine with carrying 3 OT's and 6 IOL's if Strange and/or Sow could step in at OT if needed. As is, we are fine at OT if there is health through camp with Brown, Reiff and Anderson as the swing OT. My gut tells me that Klemm will keep another RT backup on the 53.

BTW, we have an extra active player if we field 8 OL's, Would it be terrible to have an inactive backup at IOL and at OT, carrying 5 starters and 5 backups?

10 OT's isn't too many, especially if we carry only 2 TE's. Given the likely 2024 need (up to 4 starters), 10 this year just isn't too many.

Agree this year is a bridge year . Makes all the sense to carry 10 OL and allow them to gain experience . Most likely reiff, Onwenu and brown won't be present beyond next season.

 

[PatsFan2]

Do you think bb has already reached out to onwenu’s agent and decided the numbers will not work and that is why bb loaded up with 3 draft picks that can play guard????

Four when you think of C Hines last year. To your answer yes and I expect a Great year from M Onwenu again this year.

 

[patsinthesnow]

 

[mike_usagisan]

Why can’t the Patriots offer big dollars for at least one OL position like all 31 other teams do in order to have top tier experienced talent at a critical position?
Why do they not plan to give 2nd contracts to talent that they drafted and developed?

It's a budgeting thing, I think. It's the same with cornerbacks. We're good at drafting/developing IOL and we're good at drafting/developing CB, so it makes sense from a budget standpoint to use draft picks on those positions, because they're good players and cheap labor. We're bad at drafting WR and TE, so they focus on those in free agency and use some of the money other teams might set aside for IOLs and CBs.

 

[State]

LT is the weakest spot on the roster. There’s only one guy I’m somewhat comfortable there and that’s CA.

 

[State]

I have more hope that Hines will make the 53 than Steuber. Hines is the real deal as a multi year SEC starter. He has to control his weight like Onwenu.

How is David Andrews’s health? It now look as though we’ve got two legitimate NFL centers in Russey and Jake Andrews.

BTW, losing Coke Popovich was a big blow to this unit. Billy Yates probably had some growing pains last year, and Patricia was likely largely absent from his OL duties.

I read Popovich is back in the league. He wisely refused to take the jab. He is an up and comer.

Sidy Sow is a keeper. He can play tackle. Probably only in a pinch. But with Reiff and Wrack (Trent Brown) that will come in very handy.

 

[KDPPatsfan85]

 

[PatsFan2]

I have more hope that Hines will make the 53 than Steuber. Hines is the real deal as a multi year SEC starter. He has to control his weight like Onwenu.

How is David Andrews’s health? It now look as though we’ve got two legitimate NFL centers in Russey and Jake Andrews.

BTW, losing Coke Popovich was a big blow to this unit. Billy Yates probably had some growing pains last year, and Patricia was likely largely absent from his OL duties.

I read Popovich is back in the league. He wisely refused to take the jab. He is an up and comer.

Sidy Sow is a keeper. He can play tackle. Probably only in a pinch. But with Reiff and Wrack (Trent Brown) that will come in very handy.

OL should be much better that last years with better Coaching so Mac should feel much more comfortable back there.

 

[BritPat]

Gave up with draft-niking several years ago now so I don't watch tape of anyone other than the players we draft any more. Seen some of the Sow film out there since the weekend - more than a comparison to be made to Shaq Mason I think. Maybe not quite the run blocker early on that Shaq was, but a bit more refined in pass pro. Excited to see what he can become!

 

[BritPat]

Need to mention it as it caught my eye, one of the games I watched footage of was E.M.U's bowl-game against San Jose State. The E.M.U LT #71 was an absolute force throughout, Marcellus Johnson. Just read he transferred to Mizzou as a graduate student, has a brother in the NFL and one at Mizzou too. Father played football too. One for you there maybe @BaconGrundleCandy

 

[Nunchucks]

Looking at Sow's profile, I thought he might be a tackle, but I've never heard of a college guard being converted. If he could play tackle at an NFL level, wouldn't he play tackle in college?

 

[SlowGettingUp]

Looking at Sow's profile, I thought he might be a tackle, but I've never heard of a college guard being converted. If he could play tackle at an NFL level, wouldn't he play tackle in college?

He did play some tackle before switching to Guard when he transferred.

His athleticism scores would rank second-best at the Combine among tackles as they were among guards:

 

[hornetfb85]

My opinion, you tell Sow to be in Reiffs back pocket. When Reiff stops walking Sow should be bumping into him. Soak up as much info you can get from that guy. Reiff has been a solid OT for quite awhile now. Then hopefully next year Sow is good to go.

 

[State]

I called Stueber and Hines bad draft picks last offseason, I don’t see them adding anything.

Steuber, yes. But Chasen Hines can still show us something. I expect nothing from Andrew Steuber. So I can only be pleasantly surprised.

I don’t get the Atonio Mafi pick. I can see us try to secret him onto the PS only for another team to snatch him up. IR would work.

He may be the insurance for Onwenu. I would hate to lose him, who was clearly our best and most consistent O linemen last year.

I am hoping Cole Strange has put on muscle mass and can make the jump. He is terrifically smart and athletic.

Sidy Sow has the classic physique and superior athleticism of a LT. I am genuinely excited by this pick.

With an injury or two at the tackle position, maybe there’s the flexibility of moving him out there. He’s the more obvious candidate than someone like Cole Strange who on paper seems a more athletic Matt Light. Light had the more substantial lower half than what I see on Strange.

 

[State]

IMO Russey will be the starting center when D. Andrews is not playing. J. Andrews will back him up.

This I agree with. But don’t count out Jake Andrews who had superior coaching last year by Cole Popovich.

This deserves its own thread.

I seriously doubt if David Andrews, considering his medical blood clotting history, will play much beyond this year.

I wonder how much he’s made. That’s a big reason why I think Mathew Slater is back for another year. He just hasn’t made as much as many of his teammates have like the retired Devin McCourty.

 

[Wozzy]

Steuber, yes. But Chasen Hines can still show us something. I expect nothing from Andrew Steuber. So I can only be pleasantly surprised.

I don’t get the Atonio Mafi pick. I can see us try to secret him onto the PS only for another team to snatch him up. IR would work.

He may be the insurance for Onwenu. I would hate to lose him, who was clearly our best and most consistent O linemen last year.

I am hoping Cole Strange has put on muscle mass and can make the jump. He is terrifically smart and athletic.

Sidy Sow has the classic physique and superior athleticism of a LT. I am genuinely excited by this pick.

With an injury or two at the tackle position, maybe there’s the flexibility of moving him out there. He’s the more obvious candidate than someone like Cole Strange who on paper seems a more athletic Matt Light. Light had the more substantial lower half than what I see on Strange.

I don't see it. They are big though.