The New England Patriots have a dilemma. They have no NFL-worthy left tackles (LT) on the roster. This was the situation in 2024. They failed to either sign or draft one at all last off-season. The result of that omission by Eliot Wolf and the Patriots personnel operation was predictable: a 4-13 record and last place in the AFC East.
Now, presumably, Mike Vrabel is the prime mover in personnel. (Note: his free agency acquisitions certainly suggest that. Top shelf.) Yet, the situation at the second most important position on the team, around which much of the offense's success lies, remains unfilled.
The top prospects potentially available in free agency were Ronnie Stanley of the Ravens and Alaric Jackson of the Rams, neither of whom became a free agent. After that, the pickings were slim. The Patriots have thus far passed. Absent a major trade for a top LT, the draft is the last realistic place to find them. We'll explore that option here.
Patriots need a left tackle and they have to draft one (or more)
Entering any NFL season without left tackles is akin to entering an automobile without an engine. You aren't going anywhere. The Patriots' 2024 front office naively thought they could shoehorn two right tackles into the position. They couldn't. Chuks Okorafor lasted two games, third-round pick Caedan Wallace hardly ever played, and Vederian Lowe was what he is, a sixth-round player.
If Vrabel isn't cognizant of that basic factoid of NFL offseason team construction, all hope is lost. Instead, the thought here is that Vrabel is acutely aware, and he'll take multiple steps to remedy this deficiency in the April draft.
What are the options and opportunities for Vrabel to fill the second-most-important position on his football team? He needs both a top starter and competent backups. Let's look at his best draft options and the players who might be a fit for the ultra-needy Patriots at left tackle.
The Patriots have solid left tackle draft options
The Patriots currently hold the No. 4 pick in the NFL draft. LSU's Will Campbell is the best left tackle available. Campbell's critics harp on the fact that his arms are too short and that he's not an "NFL-ready" tackle. They're 3/8ths of an inch short.
Because of that "deficiency," Campbell has been projected to only be "guard-worthy" to prospective drafters. This is a phony "combine stat". The main question is whether Campbell can block NFL pass rushers on an island, as he did well in the SEC.
If the Pats draft Campbell, he will immediately start and likely remain there, absent a major injury, for a decade. He's a lock and will be their best left tackle immediately. Take that to the bank. Conversely, if the Patriots address another major need, e.g., and draft the draft's best player, wide receiver Travis Hunter at pick No. 4, they'll have to pivot to option B. That would be to either trade up to secure a left tackle or wait and use pick No. 38 in the second round and other picks to do so.
Patriots' left-tackle options after a trade back into the first-round or later
The Patriots have the draft capital to trade back up into the first round if they pass on Campbell or another option like Pro Football Focus' fourth-rated tackle, Kelvin Banks of Texas, with that fourth pick overall. It will take their second-rounder, No. 38, their third-round pick, No. 69, and maybe more to move up. If the guy they want is available, then make the deal.
Additional PFF top-five tackle options are Armand Membou, a combine star from Missouri, Josh Simmons of Ohio State, and another riser, the versatile Gray Zabel of North Dakota State, who's also plagued with "short-arm-itis". With no trade, there are also possible second-round options at pick No. 38.
Aireontae Ersery, a 6'6", 331-pound left tackle from Minnesota, may be available at pick No. 38. Another is Oregon's left tackle, Josh Conerly Jr. Any of the above-mentioned left tackles would improve the Patriots' left tackle situation. All are immediate starters.
Another later draft option is North Carolina State's massive Anthony Belton. Belton is a 6'6", 345-pound mauler. He fits the profile and, again, would be an improvement over anyone currently available to Mike Vrabel.
Those are solid left tackle options in the NFL draft for the New England Patriots and Head Coach Mike Vrabel. If he has aspirations to win now, he needs to land, preferably, two of the suggested players. Failure to do so will again consign the Patriots to last place in the AFC East. Vrabel can't afford not to be aggressive in drafting left tackles in April.