New England Patriots 2015 NFL Draft and Beyond
By Hal Bent
Florida State Seminoles guard Tre’ Jackson
4th Round (111st Overall, Via CLE) – Tre’ Jackson (OL, Florida State)
Overview:
The Patriots finally went to the offensive side of the football at pick #111 overall and like in 2014 they went to Florida State to snag an impressive inside offensive lineman. This year it was Tre’ Jackson, a six-foot-four and 330 pound guard. Jackson performed well against some of the best interior defensive tackles in the NCAA during his time and more than held his own. With a late second/third round grade, the big and strong guard also has the quickness to pull in the running game and raw power to hold up in the passing game.
2015 Role:
With veteran free agent Dan Connolly still unsigned, Jackson could step in at right guard next to college teammate Bryan Stork and push Ryan Wendell to the left side. Jackson has the versatility to play on the left side as well, but New England may move him to the left side and see how he handles the switch to the other side of the line. A strong training camp should have Jackson in the starting lineup early in 2015 shoring up a key weakness at the guard position from 2014.
With big defensive tackles like Muhammad Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson, Ndamukong Suh, and Marcell Dareus in the division the Patriots need bulk up front. With Stork and now Jackson inside the Patriots have two powerful, aggressive, and tough former Seminoles for a long time on the interior offensive line. Bulking up inside is key to success in the AFC East and was one of the few weaknesses on the offense last season. Jackson should be a long time solution at guard for New England.
Similar pick in the past:
In 2003 the Patriots picked little-regarded center Dan Koppen from Boston College at #164 overall. Koppen proved his mettle quickly as the tough guy stepped in as a rookie in game one and went on to start fifteen games and win a Super Bowl ring. By 2004 he had locked up the starting role and another Super Bowl ring and started until injuries derailed his career in New England in 2011.