Patriots Rumors: Is NE really focusing on offensive line in 2021 Draft?

Following their unprecedented free agent spending spree, in which they doled out north of $200 million, the conversation surrounding the New England Patriots has started shifting to the draft.

Recent rumors hinted that the Patriots aren’t done adding to their quarterback room this offseason, and that immediately prompted analysts to peg Alabama star Mac Jones as the ideal target in the first round.

He does have a little Brady in him, after all.

However, the chances of Jones falling to No. 15 shrunk significantly following the blockbuster trade between the 49ers and Dolphins, which saw the former move up nine spots to the third overall pick to presumably draft their gunslinger of the future.

Taking that into account, it would behoove the Patriots to have several contingency plans in place in the event that multiple players on their big board are taken by the time it’s their turn to pick.

Ironically enough, the latest draft buzz suggests that New England is intrigued by two of the best offensive linemen prospects — Virginia Tech stud Christian Darrisaw and Tennessee behemoth Trey Smith — in this year’s loaded class.

Could the Patriots focus on bolstering their offensive line in the 2021 Draft?

Not only are the Patriots interested in Darrisaw and Smith, but Carmen Bricillo, one of the Patriots’ co-offensive line coaches, was recently sent to work out the two prospects.

It would be quite the shocker if the Patriots drafted a ready-made blocker in Round 1 after they spent the early stages of the offseason revamping their offensive line. After all, they acquired Trent Brown via trade and unloaded Marcus Cannon, seemingly paving the way for Isaiah Wynn to start at left tackle with a decision on his fifth-year option looming.

That would leave Darrisaw without a clear-cut role as a rookie, which would make zero sense considering that he’s one of the most complete linemen in the 2021 class. Simply put, the former Hokie checks all of the boxes in terms of size, length, technique and mobility.

If it were up to us, we’d target either a linebacker, cornerback or wide receiver over Darrisaw (if he even manages to fall that far) with the No. 15 overall pick.

Smith, on the other hand, is somebody that intrigues us as a potential Day 2 pick. At 6-foot-6 and 330 pounds, the former Volunteer starter has experience at both tackle positions, but projects as a guard at the next level. That makes him an intriguing option for New England.

The Patriots could do a lot worse than adding a viable backup behind starters Michael Onwenu and Shaq Mason, and they could certainly justify doing so in Round 2. In today’s game, it’s virtually impossible for an entire offensive line to remain healthy for a full season, and Smith would serve as extra insurance if a starter went down with an injury.

Again, sending a coach to evaluate Darrisaw and Smith doesn’t confirm that the Patriots will draft either player. However, given that the aforementioned trade reduced their chances of landing one of the top signal callers in the first round, this is definitely something to monitor as we inch closer to draft night.

Trading away Marcus Cannon proves Patriots trust Isaiah Wynn

The New England Patriots traded Marcus Cannon to the Houston Texans, making Isaiah Wynn and Trent Brown their preferred tackles for 2021.