Boston sports writer crushes New England Patriots draft evaluation
The New England Patriots media is a stellar congregation of talent that ranges from Mike Felger on 98.5 The Sports Hub radio to nbcsports.com’s terrific Tom Curran and Phil Perry.
Another star is Greg Bedard, whose “Greg Bedard’s Patriots Podcast with Nick Cattles” airs on YouTube.
The journalistic integrity of these reporters is one of their most stellar attributes. Great respect here for all of them. It is and should be appreciated by Boston’s voracious and dedicated sports fandom.
Greg Bedard is one of the top Patriots observers anywhere. His pre-season observation columns are the best ever for the Patriots in this observer’s opinion. The view here is no one ever wrote them any better.
Like the other stars mentioned above, he tells it as he sees it on the New England Patriots. Recently, Bedard and Cattles aired a great show about the Patriots’ draft.
It was a solid analysis and Bedard was firing on all cylinders in this space’s opinion with his commentary. It’s well worth a look.
New England Patriots draft analyzed
Greg Bedard correctly cited two omissions in the 2023 New England Patriots draft, not drafting any offensive tackles or tight ends. Whether Sidy Sow was actually drafted as an offensive tackle was also a topic of discussion. No matter, the observation was sound.
The Patriots’ presumptive two starting tackles, Trent Brown and free agent acquisition Riley Reiff are out of contract after this season.
In addition, it has been painstakingly pointed out that the backups behind the starting tackles (both of whom are in their 30s) are poor. The room is peppered with waiver-wire-level players.
Augmenting that position this offseason should have been a top priority if not the top priority, period. They passed on it as a prime objective.
The team and Bill Belichick chose to paper over augmenting the single most influential unit on the field, the offensive line, and its most important positions, the tackles. They drafted two guards and a guard/center but not one young tackle.
There’s no other season than the present and putting your eggs in the current season is the most important priority. Yet, the New England Patriots neglected to add to the tackles room with a young solid player or preferably two.
The team decided to bet that the two starting tackles will stay on the field. That likelihood is slim. At their age, injury is to be expected. They are betting that if they do get injured, their basically average backups can do the job. It’s a lousy bet.
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A better one would have been to either sign a top tackle in free agency and/or draft one or two young talented backups. Two high picks presumably would be able to step in this season for an injured starter, as well as be potential starters next season should the starters depart in free agency.
Ironically, a similar situation exists in the tight end room. Both presumptive top tight ends, Hunter Henry and Mike Gesicki are also out of contract after the season. There’s nothing behind them. At least one and maybe two should have been added for the same reasons as noted with the starting tackles.
Injuries happen and depth is necessary. In addition, if one of both departs after this season, you have backups who are hopefully ready to step right into the starting lineup.
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Hats off to Greg Bedard and the other astute Boston sports media for pointing out the reality of these situations. Maybe the New England Patriots will be fortunate and not suffer any serious injuries at the two positions. Don’t bet on it.
This offseason, the team could have prepared for that potentiality and for the eventuality of starters leaving after this season at both positions in the draft. They passed.
We’ll see if they get lucky with injuries. If not, it will be a long season in Foxborough and the team will be looking up at the Bills, Dolphins, and Jets in the AFC East all season long.