The Patriots took a swing at Ronnie Stanley. They made a run at Dan Moore Jr. They tossed in a bid for Cam Robinson.
Try as they might, they’re still looking for a left tackle.
WATCH ANYTIME FOR FREE Stream NBC10 Boston news for free, 24/7, wherever you are.
They could be forced to invest in one during the draft, where — unfortunately for them — surefire Day 1 starters at that position are lacking.
Here we’ll be trying to identify the best fits for the Patriots to play on Drake Maye’s blind side. We’ll be factoring in what we’ve heard from coaches and scouts, what coach Mike Vrabel appeared to value during his time in Tennessee, and what executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf has valued in the past given the role he’s had in heading up the evaluation and grading of these prospects.
Get updates on what’s happening in Boston to your inbox. Sign up for our News Headlines newsletter.
Vrabel doesn’t have an extensive history of taking offensive linemen with first and second-round picks, but the ones the Titans selected with him as head coach were high-end athletes.
First-round pick Isaiah Wilson was considered to have quality movement skills despite his somewhat pedestrian 7.29 Relative Athletic Score. Early first-rounder Peter Skoronski was a better tester — he recorded a RAS of 8.89 — but had short arms and ended up kicking inside to guard. Second-rounder Dillon Radunz was the freakiest of the bunch based on his combine testing, with a 9.28 RAS and 34-inch arms.
Similarly, Wolf and other executives from the Ron Wolf tree have preferred high-end athletes at the position in early rounds. They averaged a 8.38 RAS, a 9-foot broad jump and a 1.76-second 10-yard split.
Elite athletes are required, seemingly. Long arms? Not so much. And we know football character will matter as Vrabel gets his program off the ground in Foxboro.
Who fits the bill? Let’s take a look, separating the prospects by the range in which it appears they’ll be taken…
Day 1: Will Campbell, LSU
One of the best athletes in this year’s class, Campbell’s RAS score of 9.89 was eye-popping following this year’s combine. He recorded an explosive 9-foot-5 broad jump and a 1.75-second 10-yard split. His arms were short enough (just over 32.5 inches) that some believe he’ll be a better guard at the next level.
But his three years as a starter in the SEC, his movement skills and his intangible qualities have already garnered him fans at One Patriot Place. Vrabel taking him would be reminiscent of the Skoronski pick. If he doesn’t work out at tackle, while that wouldn’t be ideal, odds are he would be a high-end guard.
Check out NFL Draft highlights from OT Will Campbell out of LSU
Day 1: Armand Membou, Missouri
Right there with Campbell athletically (9.89 RAS), Membou has had a wildly-impressive pre-draft process. Though he was sick for the Senior Bowl and couldn’t participate, he still may end up a top-10 pick for a team looking for a right tackle.
He didn’t play on the left due in part to Missouri having other options there — 2024 fourth-round pick Javon Foster was the starter there, then SMU transfer Marcus Bryant took over last season — but he looks like a ready-made starter on the right side. He’s held his own against high-end competition. He’s an NFL-caliber physical specimen. And his ceiling is, per scouts, higher than anyone else’s at tackle.
USATSI USATSI
Day 1: Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas
Banks isn’t the same type of athlete as the first two names mentioned here. But he still posted an