New England Patriots: 3 positions to strengthen to become a playoff contender
The New England Patriots have undergone a dramatic and virtually unprecedented transformation in personnel in the 2021 off-season. Many observers including this one have never seen its like before.
They have moved to strengthen virtually every facet of their team, including the first-round selection of a young, and quite likely very underrated quarterback in Mac Jones.
Yet, there are three positions that if the team strengthens through trade or the other teams’ post-June first cuts, could round this team into an even more formidable contender for a Division win, a playoff spot, or maybe even more.
Three positions the New England Patriots should strengthen: OT
The Patriots did not address this position almost at all during the off-season, except with one potentially team-altering trade for Trent Brown.
When healthy, an important question, Brown is a game-changing offensive tackle, especially on the left side. That’s exactly where he is needed and should be positioned by the team.
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Since Brown left after his superlative 2018 Super Bowl season the team has been deficient at the position. Ironically, it’s not for lack of talent.
Isaiah Wynn a 2018 first-round pick though not of prototypical size for a left tackle, has immense talent. Yet, he has missed more games than he has played over his three seasons.
That fact has had a major negative impact on the offensive line and the team as a whole. The left tackle position is the second most important on the entire team. It’s essential to have solidity there.
The infusion of Brown, if he is the team’s choice at left tackle, upgrades the line potentially in two places.
First, Brown is a super player at left tackle though oddly, only in New England has be been used there much at all. He rewarded their faith in him with a Super Bowl level (and winning) performance in the 2018 season, the last of the six Patriot Super Bowl wins.
Brown played an underrated, undervalued, and largely underappreciated role in that winning season. It was only really appreciated by those who pay attention to offensive line play.
He left for the Raiders thereafter, and the Patriots relied on Wynn. Unfortunately, Wynn though immensely talented, especially at his size, has not been reliable. He has not been on the field enough.
It has been argued here that moving Wynn inside to guard or to right tackle would maximize the abilities of both him and Brown. Wynn could excel at either right tackle or at guard and maybe help limit his all too frequent injuries in the process.
In addition, the Patriots when all-time great offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia was on the scene, knew Brown’s enormous potential to play the second most important position on the entire team, left tackle.
All that being said, the need for New England, no matter who plays on the left is a depth tackle who can step in for either.
The Patriots did not draft an offensive lineman until William Sherman in the sixth round. Sherman himself is an undersized player for a tackle though he played there much of his college career at Colorado. Yet, he is best suited to play inside.
So the first imperative for New England before the start of summer camp is to acquire or sign another top, young (if possible) talented offensive left tackle. It’s a key