Will Belichick draft O-lineman in first round?
Welcome to Potential Patriots!
Each day leading up to the NFL Draft on April 28, the Herald will introduce prospects the Patriots are likely targeting position by position. The Pats have eight picks this year, starting at 21st overall, the first domino to fall in another crucial draft. As for their other selections, the Patriots could pad their depth virtually anywhere, having plugged some roster holes in free agency and via trade.
Below is a breakdown of the Patriots’ best prospect fits on the offensive line:
day 1
OT Trevor Penning, Northern Iowa
Ht/Wt: 6-7, 325
Projected round: 1st
Scouting report: Long, mean and physical, Penning could be long gone by the time the Patriots pick at 21st overall. But if he remains on the board, they might sprint to the podium to address one of their quieter needs.
At the Senior Bowl, an annual hotbed for future Patriots, Penning proved he belonged with college football’s elite by dominating in practices and the game. He can cross the line at times after the whistle, but otherwise checks every box as a franchise left tackle. Not many prospects in any draft class boast his physical tools in any year, not even one as top-heavy as this 2022 group.
OG Zion Johnson, Boston College
Ht/Wt: 6-3, 312
Projected round: 1st
Scouting report: One of the safest prospects in the entire class, Johnson should walk into any NFL locker room as a Day 1 starter.
He’s a powerful, athletic lineman who can play anywhere on the interior and also started 23 games at offensive tackle in college. Johnson finished his time at BC as a two-time captain who regularly stonewalled some of the best defensive linemen in college football. Considering Johnson’s mature approach to the game and stellar showing at the Senior Bowl, there’s a real chance the Patriots fill one of their vacancies at guard with a kid just up the road.
day 2
Cole Strange, Chattanooga Ht/Wt: 6-5, 307
Projected round: 3rd
Scouting report: Few offensive linemen fit the Patriots’ physical prototype at guard better than Strange, an FCS prospect who acquitted himself well at the Senior Bowl. Strange is regarded as a highly intelligent and competitive prospect, who was a senior captain and firstteam All-American. With 44 career starts spread over three positions (left guard, left tackle and center) it’s all but a guarantee he’s somewhere on the Pats’ board.
Sean Rhyan, UCLA Ht/Wt: 6-5, 321
Projected round: 3rd
Scouting report: A threeyear starter, Rhyan successfully protected the blind side
from basically the moment he stepped on campus. According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed just two sacks over more than 1,000 pass-blocking snaps. Some evaluators see Rhyan as an NFL guard, and while that may scare some teams off, such versatility should appeal to the Patriots.
day 3
Braxton Jones, Southern Utah
Ht/Wt:
Projected round: 4th Scouting report: An FCS All-American last year, Jones boasts the prototypical size, length and athleticism for a Patriots left tackle. If drafted, he would likely take a rookie-year
6-5, 310
redshirt to develop, but that patience could pay off in a big way if Isaiah Wynn walks next offseason. Questions about Jones mostly pertain to his power, something the Pats could theoretically fix over a year in their strength and conditioning program.
He also competed well at the Senior Bowl.
Zach Tom, Wake Forest Ht/Wt: 6-4, 304
Projected round: 4th-5th
Scouting report: A rare left tackle-center hybrid, Tom is one of the most seasoned (three-year starter) and intelligent (three-time AllACC academic team honoree) linemen in this draft. His versatility and smarts will surely have the Patriots’ attention, particularly with
the success they’ve had drafting a swing tackle from Wake Forest (see: Justin Herron in 2020). Tom would provide immediate depth at two spots for an offensive line that battled its fair share of injuries last year.
OT Matt Waletzko, North Dakota
Ht/Wt: 6-7, 312
Projected round: 4th-5th
Scouting report: A developmental prospect, Waletzko carries every tool evaluators are seeking in a left tackle. The trouble, of course, is the jump in competition he’ll face coming from the FCS level to the NFL. But Waletzko is a former senior captain who’s reputed to be an intelligent player with a teamfirst attitude. That’ll give him a shot.