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Making case for Patriots taking OT in first round of 2025 NFL Draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The New England Patriots have a lot of roster weaknesses to address early in the 2025 NFL Draft next April. Wide receiver is one of the most obvious examples. Cornerback and edge rusher need to be bolstered, too.
But a strong case can be made for targeting a left tackle in the first round, because without a good offensive line, it might not matter how talented the wide receivers are, or if the tight ends are capable of getting open. If franchise quarterback Drake Maye isn’t protected on a consistent basis, the offense falls apart, which we’ve seen too many times this season.
On a new episode of NBC Sports Boston’s Next Pats Podcast, CBS Sports’ NFL Draft analyst Mike Renner talked to Phil Perry about several topics, including the top-rated offensive lineman in the class, LSU’s Will Campbell.
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Campbell is a top-five pick in a lot of mock drafts and could be an option for the Patriots, who own the No. 4 pick entering Week 14. What position will he play in the NFL?
“I think you have to start him at tackle. Will Campbell, the LSU offensive tackle, shorter arms but not so short that — there are guys, I think, with shorter arms around the NFL getting it done at a high level,” Renner said. “Braden Smith, Bernhard Raimann, the two tackles with the Colts — who have one of the best offensive lines in the NFL — both under 33-inch arms. It’s not the death knell it once was. To play tackle, especially in today’s NFL, you just have to be able to move, right? The stunts you see, the slants you see, the blitzes you see — can you pick up a guy who’s 240 pounds that runs a 4.5 40?
“You’ll see way more of those guys in the NFL nowadays than guys who are 6-foot-5, 285 pounds with 35-inch arms that give you the worry about playing tackle in the NFL…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/making-case-patriots-taking-ot-232639637.html
Author : NBC Sports Boston
Publish date : 2024-12-05 02:34:00
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