The New England Patriots' tackle position is in an interesting spot. Will Campbell's 2025 playoff run was disastrous, while Morgan Moses turned 35 this offseason.
They selected Caleb Lomu with the 28th pick after trading up, while they took a flier on Texas A&M's Dametrious Crownover in the sixth round. Additionally, they signed James Hudson III, who has over 1,500 career snaps to his name.
Despite their additions, the team still has something of an uncertain future at the position. Campbell could be in for a position change if he can't rebound after his poor postseason, while Moses's career is nearing the end of its line. Lomu, while highly touted, has yet to prove he can be a starting-caliber player in the NFL.
Given this, it wouldn't be unreasonable for the Patriots to add another exciting young tackle to their ranks. While several options are intriguing, Mike Vrabel may have liked what he saw from a certain Browns tackle who shares his alma mater.
Dawand Jones could be a trade target for the Patriots ahead of this year's deadline
Given his injury history, it's difficult to gauge what a player like Dawand Jones's trade value might look like. The Patriots don't have a dire need at tackle, but they could look to fortify the position for the future via Jones.
The ex-Ohio State tackle is massive: he came in at 6-foot-8, 374 pounds. He played opposite Paris Johnson in college, a top-ten pick. He played 138 snaps over two games at left tackle last season after playing both tackle spots in 2024 and on the right as a rookie.
Injuries have been a major struggle. Knee and ankle injuries have cut each of his first three years short, and he's had a pair of knee surgeries since just last offseason. While Jones might normally be considered an interesting player for new coach Todd Monken to work with, the offensive line was completely rebuilt in Cleveland.
The tackle positions are now occupied by the ninth pick in the draft, Spencer Fano, and Tytus Howard, whom the team gave a three-year deal. There isn't much of a path to playtime there.
A move to guard isn't unreasonable, but Cleveland re-signed Teven Jenkins to play on the inside, while Zion Johnson and Elgton Jenkins claim the other two slots following their signings this offseason.
If the Patriots were to dangle a player and draft pick for Jones, the Browns may bite, seeing as he's in the final year of his deal and the team has little use for him. Perhaps Marcus Bryant, a 6-foot-8 tackle New England selected in the seventh round in 2025, along with a sixth-round pick, would be enough?
The Browns adding a new tackle in Bryant, who showed flashes last preseason, would reset the clock on a young piece of the offensive line, given that the former SMU and Missouri tackle has three years left on his rookie deal. GM Andrew Berry has been a very successful drafter as of late, so adding another selection to the Browns' stash after trading the No. 2 pick and Myles Garrett in back-to-back seasons could be appealing.
If the Patriots have the chance to add a player with the size of Jones to their offensive line, they should certainly pull the trigger.
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