Mike Vrabel became the head coach of the Patriots with a clear plan in mind on how to rebuild the team immediately. He started by focusing on the defense in free agency, and then used the NFL Draft to address the offense.
The most important thing Vrabel needed to do this offseason was to protect quarterback Drake Maye in his second season. That’s done by upgrading the offensive line and by adding weapons to his arsenal that can be legitimate producers on offense.
That said, the Patriots made an obvious decision by drafting the top tackle in the 2025 NFL Draft with the fourth overall pick in Will Campbell. Then they added the top running back and the top separation wide receiver in the second and third rounds of the Draft.
Vrabel did his part to equip Maye with the necessary tools to be a successful quarterback this season. It all starts with the offensive line protecting him, and Vrabel did an excellent job adding depth to the offensive line.
A player that adds depth with tremendous upside is offensive tackle Marcus Bryant, who was drafted in the seventh round, 220th overall, out of Missouri.
Bryant (6-foot-8, 318 lbs.) started his career playing at SMU, where he was a three-star recruit when he came out of high school. He went on to start in 29 games over the next three years, playing in 42 total, and earning First Team All-ACC in 2023.
The addition of Bryant at left tackle paved the way for starting running back Ulysses Bentley IV to lead the conference in rushing with 170 attempts for 913 yards and score 11 touchdowns in 2020, Bryant’s first year at SMU.
For the 2024 season, Bryant transferred to Missouri and was the starting left tackle in every game, while his teammate, Armand Membou, who was selected seventh overall by the New York Jets, started on the right side.
As the starting left tackle, Bryant helped lead an offensive line that totaled 2,138 rushing yards and 2,926 passing yards last season. All in all, Bryant had a great college career that seems to have gone under the radar in this 2025 draft class.
Marcus Bryant Can Become a Legitimate Player Along the Patriots Offensive Line
Bryant is a strong and solid lineman. He is able to handle his one-on-one matchups with ease and protects his quarterback well. He does well in pass protection overall, but he’ll need to improve his technique as a run blocker in the NFL.
When I watched his film, I noticed that he operated out of a two-point stance and was very rarely in a three-point stance. In fact, out of the 100+ plays that I’ve watched, I’ve never seen him in a three-point stance.
I also noticed that he didn’t do many actions in the run game when it comes to pulling out and around, despite having the experience and the tools to do it, he just didn’t do much of it at Missouri last season or even at SMU.
The film also showed that once he’s engaged with his matchup, Bryant doesn’t allow that player to get around him or to the quarterback. He’s strong and will bench press defenders off of him before putting them on the ground. He searches for contact on every play and helps his teammates if they need it.
Bryant puts his matchup on his back before his running back even gets to the line of scrimmage (No. 52): pic.twitter.com/5DewKKjqPV
— Justin Trombino (@Trombino20) April 28, 2025
Bryant is a great addition if the Patriots are patient and allow him to develop. He should be part of the team in some capacity, maybe as a practice squad player, but I think with time, Bryant can be a legitimate player along the offensive line in New England.
In the pre-draft process, Bryant clocked the 40-yard dash in 4.97 seconds, which would rank fourth among offensive linemen who clocked at the NFL Combine. He also measured to have 35-inch arms, which is above the average for tackles in the NFL.
After being drafted, Bryant joined the local media for a quick interview where he said that he came to New England for a Top-30 Visit and also met with them for a Pro Day:
"They showed me interest first, out of all the teams, they showed me the most interest. During Pro Day, I met with the scout and just kept showing me comfort during the Pro Day and stuff like that. So I had a good feel for them and then they brought me up for a 30 Visit, and, going up there, meeting with all the coaches and going through the plays and stuff like that. I think it was a good deal for me and them."Marcus Bryant
If the Patriots will allow Bryant to develop and be patient with it, I truly believe that he can be a legitimate player for the Patriots sooner than later.