Firstly I completely agree with the “where is our Pro-bowl standard left tackle for this year and especially for 2024 and beyond argument”, and think there is an element of playing with fire not getting the future sorted in this FA/draft.
However, I don’t get the hand-wringing about Bill drafting OL this year. There are parts of the Pats drafting that can be criticised, but the OL is absolutely not part of it. Their record of drafting OL and them sticking in the league, regardless of round, is exemplary.
This is every single OL drafted between 2021 and 2009 (where I got bored but the trend continues further back). Capital expended in those 13 years is 23 picks, x2 1sts, x1 2nd, x3 3rds, x6 4ths, x2 5ths, x7 6ths and x2 7ths. It's a rough categorisation, but there are five big time starters (Vollmer, Cannon, Solder, Thuney, Mason), Five good players with 40+ starts and counting (Onwenu, Karras, Fleming, Wynn, Larsen). A whole series of decent back-ups who stuck it in the league for years and started occasionally (Ohrnburger, Halapio, McDermott, Froholt, Herron, Cajuste) or just bounced around (Sherman, Welch). Several who got starts but injuries finished them early (Stork, Jackson), and some who just got injured (Garcia, Bussey). And that doesn’t include UDFA Andrews who belongs in the first group and Kline who belongs in the second.
Find me a Pats OL drafting failure regardless of round (well in first 6 rounds anyway) that have not had several big injuries. Even the ones that don’t make the Pats roster stick (and often start) with other teams.
So when it comes to Andrews, Sow, and Mafi, history suggests they have a great chance to stick and eventually start somewhere in the NFL if they don’t get injured, and at least one of them will be pretty good, and another decent. Does it fix the OT problem of the future, no, do the Pats know what they are doing when it comes to drafting OL regardless of round and at all OL positions, history says yes.
Below is all 23 OL draft picks from 2021 to 2009 descending according to year.
William Sherman (6) No start yet. Currently with Broncos.
Michael Onwenu (6) 41 games started. Approaching second contract
Justin Herron (6) Started 10 games. Currently with Raiders
Dustin Woodard (7) Retired in first training camp.
Yodny Cajuste (3) 5 games started. Still on Pats roster. IR x3 seasons
Froholt (4) Started 6 games. Currently has 2 year contact with Cardinals
Wynn (1) Started 40 games. Currently unsigned. Injuries leading to IR every season.
Garcia (3) injuries, never made camp.
McDermott (6) Started 12 games. Bounced around but still in league after 6 years
Thuney (3) Started 112 games and counting. 2nd team All Pro x2. Pro bowl. Huge second contract.
Karras (6) Started 65 games and counting. Decent second contract
Tre Jackson (4) Started 9 games. Injuries bounced around.
Mason (4) started 115 games and counting. Big second contract
Stork (4) Started 17 games. Retired with concussions
Fleming (4) started 61 games. 9 years in the league
Halapio (6). Started 23 games. Bounced around the league for 5 years. Injuries.
Solder (1) Started 143 games. All 2010s team Pats. Highest paid OT in the league at 2nd contract.
Cannon (5) 11 years in NFL. Started 77 games. Second team all-pro (2016)
Larsen (6) 10 years in NFL. Started 88 games bouncing around the league
Welch (7) 3 years in NFL. Bounced around the league.
Vollmer (2) 8 years in NFL. Started 80 games. Pats All 2010s team.
Ohrnberger (4) 5 years in NFL. 5 starts.
Bussey (5) Injured in first season.