The NFL draft is nearly here, meaning we're one step closer to football returning. One of the more surprising teams last season was the New England Patriots. Following consecutive 4-13 seasons, new head coach Mike Vrabel helped turn the team around and finish the regular season with a 14-3 record.
In the playoffs, the Patriots made it to the Super Bowl, but ultimately fell short. Though it was a disappointing conclusion, the season was a step in the right direction.
So far in the offseason, the Patriots haven't made a ton of moves, the biggest being the signings of former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs and Chicago Bears safety Kevin Byard. Heading into the draft, the Patriots could look at a couple of positions, but would be fools not to select a tackle if one player falls to them.
Patriots Can’t Pass Up on Max Iheanachor
One position the Patriots need to fill is right tackle. While Morgan Moses stayed healthy this season, he will be 35 next season and will be retiring sooner rather than later. New England needs to look for a replacement for Moses in this draft, so they are prepared when he hangs up the cleats.
Enter Max Iheanachor. The 22-year-old has been a starter on the Arizona State offensive line the past two seasons, being named to the second-team all-Big 12 this past season.
A reason for Iheanachor rising up the draft board is due to his physical upside. At the NFL Combine, he was one of the better athletes among the offensive linemen there, with a 4.91 40-yard dash time. On the Relative Athletic Scale (RAS), Iheanachor received a grade of 9.86 out of 10.
The biggest downside for Iheanachor is that he may not be ready to start day one, as he is still relatively new to football, having only played it since 2021. Given New England's current situation, Iheanachor would be a great selection at pick 31.
Adding Iheanachor would make sense, as you can let him learn for a season under Moses and prepare him to take over as a full-time starter in the following season. It's also worth mentioning that Vrabel was hands-on with Iheanachor at Arizona State's pro day.
While some might be against the idea of using your first round pick on someone who may not be a starter this season, the potential of Iheanachor is too good to pass up for New England. Instead of kicking the can down the road on a Moses replacement, you can grab a high-upside player this draft instead.
It won't be long til we know who the Patriots will select, with the NFL draft commencing on Thursday.
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