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Patriots’ loss on top free agent may actually be their gain

By Sara Marshall

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - AUGUST 19: A view of New England Patriots helmets on the bench during the preseason game between the New England Patriots and the Carolina Panthers at Gillette Stadium on August 19, 2022 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - AUGUST 19: A view of New England Patriots helmets on the bench during the preseason game between the New England Patriots and the Carolina Panthers at Gillette Stadium on August 19, 2022 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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The Patriots are in the market for some offensive line help after the disaster that was the 2022 season.

Although the announcement of Orlando Brown Jr. signing with the Bengals late Wednesday night was a massive loss for them, it may actually become a significant gain come the NFL draft next month.

Since it’s so early in free agency, it’s difficult to determine what the Patriots will do in the first few rounds of the draft. Sure, you can look at all the experts’ mock drafts, but at the end of the day, they don’t really know a whole lot more than the rest of us, nor can they predict the future. But one detail you can take away from their drafts is the positions they favor the Patriots taking at pick 14 or even at pick 46 overall.

Other than wide receiver, the most commonly mocked is offensive tackle.

Because both positions are a primary need, guessing in which order they will draft is impossible. They will have their fair share of options in the first round for either position, but if they go with a receiver or a different position first, the Bengals’ signing could still be a considerable boost in their chances to land a top tackle prospect.

Cincinnati doesn’t draft until pick 28 in the first round, which doesn’t help the Patriots with their first pick. But since there are a few names said to likely slide to day two, players that could still be immediate NFL starters, the signing of Brown Jr. may take the Bengals out of the running for a tackle before New England’s second-round pick.

Like the Patriots, the Bengals have dealt with a struggling offensive line over the past two seasons. Since they’re a bit further ahead in their quest to win a Super Bowl, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them take a tackle high to ensure they dramatically improve the line’s overall performance.

However, the signing of Brown Jr. is already an incredible improvement, allowing them to explore other options for their first-round pick.

Hopefully, this is the case, especially if the Patriots won’t be making any big moves in free agency to sign a remaining top player. If it isn’t what’s set to happen, then Bill Belichick will have to think of a new plan to get the players he needs because the offense desperately needs it.

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