3 Most Likely Patriots Targets After Jerod Mayo's Latest Comments

Despite the New England Patriots' rapidly approaching season opener on Sept. 8 in Cincinnati, there could still be time for some intriguing roster shake-ups for the squad that the Patriots will trot out for Jerod Mayo's first career regular season game as head coach.

By 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, NFL teams must cut down their roster to 53 players from the 90 roster spots each team was allotted during the preseason. With each team forced to nearly halve their roster, there will undoubtedly be some intriguing names available - either once they are released or via trade.

New England's front office was already busy trimming down their own roster, releasing 14 players on Monday. Speaking Monday, Mayo acknowledged that upgrades to the roster could come via both trade or the waiver wire. As a result of the Patriots' dismal 4-13 2023 season, they have third priority on the waiver wire.

"We have an opportunity to improve our team through the waiver wire, and we're in a very unique situation right now where we're third on the waiver wire, and there'll be some good players that get released, and we're going to try to take advantage of that. The starting guard or the starting tackle may not be in our team today."

- Jerod Mayo via WEEi

Now, it is highly unlikely that blue chip NFLers will be moving so close to Week 1, but some under the radar signings could prove pivotal to improving New England's roster heading into the 2024 season.

The Patriots played their preseason finale on Sunday, losing 20-10 to the Washington Commanders. New England's offensive line has been at the center of criticism this offseason, and once again on Sunday that unit displayed inadequacy that bordered on comedic at times.

Despite taking eight offensive lineman in the last three drafts, New England has been unable to field a reliable five-man combination in the trenches over the last two seasons. The Patriots failed to truly address the need for a left tackle this offseason, instead opting to bargain shop and sign natural right tackle Chukwuma Okorafor to play one of the most important positions in football.

As Mayo himself alluded to by stating that the "starting guard or the starting tackle" may not currently be on New England's roster, the o-line will likely be a point of emphasis as Eliot Wolf and co. scramble to upgrade their roster.

Here are three players that the Patriots could target as part of their late push to enhance their Week 1 line-up.

1. Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The only non-offensive lineman on this list, Tampa Bay's first-round pick in 2021 has posted at least four sacks in each of his first three pro seasons.

Tryon-Shoyinka is only 25 and has shown flashes, but he has stopped short of fully developing into a first-round talent. He had five sacks and 48 tackles in 2023.

Tampa Bay declined to pick up Tryon-Shoyinka's fifth-year team option for next season, adding some doubt to his future with the Bucs. With questions swirling over his future in Tampa, a change of scenery could be mutually beneficial to both parties.

The Patriots invested at edge this past offseason, re-upping both Josh Uche and Anfernee Jennings, but New England didn't operate with the assumption that star edge rusher Matthew Judon would be traded. Judon was dealt to the Atlanta Falcons on Aug. 14 after a public contract dispute with New England. Judon's 11th-hour departure could force Eliot Wolf to counter with an addition at the position.

New England will be hoping to see a strong sophomore season boost from 2023 second-rounder Keion White, but it remains to be seen whether new defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington will utilize White as a traditional three-point stance defensive end or as an off-ball edge rusher.

Regardless, Tryon-Shoyinka's upside as a former first-rounder and the vacant spot left by Judon could persuade Eliot Wolf to pick up the phone.