With all due respect to Vederian Lowe, the New England Patriots desperately need a starting left tackle, and they most likely need to use a premium pick in the 2025 NFL Draft to acquire one.
Unless…
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Las Vegas Raiders left tackle Kolton Miller currently isn’t participating in the team’s voluntary offseason program as he seeks a contract extension, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Wednesday. Fowler added that the Raiders haven’t engaged with Miller in contract discussions, and considering the 29-year-old is entering the final year of his contract — with a $15.7 million cap hit for 2025 — he seems like a prime trade candidate if the sides can’t reach a new deal.
To be clear, there have been no reports of Las Vegas exploring a trade for Miller, so for now, this is all speculation. But if Miller were to hit the trade market, New England absolutely should give Tom Brady’s Raiders a call.
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Practically speaking, the Patriots have the cap space (an NFL-leading $67.6 million, per Over The Cap) to absorb Miller’s cap hit and offer him a contract extension.
He’d likely cost a Day 2 draft pick in addition to a Day 3 selection, but that might be a price the Patriots are willing to pay to acquire a starting-caliber left tackle who was Pro Football Focus’ 14th-ranked offensive tackle (out of 141) in 2024.
Landing Miller also would give Mike Vrabel and Co. a lot more flexibility entering next Thursday’s draft. LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell is viewed as a popular selection for New England at No. 4 overall if blue-chip prospects Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter are off the board. But if Miller is in the fold, the calculus changes.
If left tackle is a lower priority, would the Patriots look to