Patriots shock the NFL with new 3-round knock-out mock draft

New England Patriots select a huge offensive left tackle in the third round.

The New England Patriots continue their offense-heavy draft in the third round in addressing one of their top needs in selecting Houston's huge offensive tackle, Patrick Paul. Bleacherreport.com has this to say about the Cougars' gigantic, 6'7" tall and 315-pound offensive left tackle,

"Patrick Paul is a four-year starting left tackle inside Houston's RPO-heavy, balanced (53-47 run-pass split), zone-based run scheme with a tall, high-cut frame, excellent arm length and good athletic ability...Paul casts a wide net with his length, utilizing a circle punch to evade the cross-chop and has good stopping power in his anchor to strain and dissipate the bull rush. He also brings a tone-setting demeanor, consistently driving his feet through the whistle looking to bury opponents."

Paul will be slated to replace the likely exiting free agent Trent Brown, who's booked a ticket out of town seemingly with his 2023 play. With his size and length, Paul will be an excellent addition to an offensive line that desperately needs fortification at the tackle position. With this pick, the Patriots have attempted to plug three glaring holes in an offense that defenses loved to see in 2023.