After trading down from this spot in 2023, the Patriots got a bargain in Oregon's Christian Gonzalez. Offensive tackle was a common position linked to the Patriots in 2023 mock drafts, however, and they didn't target the position at all in the draft. In addition, their projected starting offensive tackles — Trent Brown and Riley Rieff — will both be free agents next offseason. Latham is a former five-star recruit who played well at right tackle in his first season as a starter.
It was surprising how little New England addressed the offensive tackle position this offseason. I anticipate the team will have issues this season leading to this selection.
I actually think Fashanu could go even higher, and he only fell to No. 9 here because teams with earlier picks have different projected needs. That isn't the case with the Patriots, who are relying on Trent Brown and Riley Reiff -- both are 30 or older -- to keep Mac Jones clean in the pocket. Fashanu has the length and quickness to develop into an elite pass-blocker, with the ability to erase speed rushers, take away inside moves and anchor at the top of his set. At 6-foot-6 and 321 pounds, he's also strong enough to move defenders off the ball in the run game. Fashanu played 520 snaps at left tackle last season and didn't allow a single sack.
Bowers is among the one-percenters who are physically ready for the NFL after their freshman seasons. He's a tad undersized for the position, but his athletic skill — especially with the ball in his hands — is outstanding.
The Mac Jones experience in Foxborough has not gone to plan, at least not yet. Should the Patriots finish outside of the playoffs again, it might be time to reshuffle the deck at the position. Under Steve Sarkisian's tutelage at Texas, Ewers has a chance to put up eye-popping statistics in 2023 and emerge as a potential top-10 pick.
We've known about Brock Bowers for two years. The explosive and versatile tight end has been incredibly productive for the defending back-to-back national champion Bulldogs. He already has 20 career-receiving touchdowns in college. It may come as a surprise the New England Patriots are picking inside the top 10 for the first time in more than two decades, but there are no more softballs in a gauntlet of an AFC East. The Patriots reload with a talented player at No. 9.
Latham was an elite pass-protector at right tackle for Alabama this past season as a sophomore. He earned an 84.5 pass-blocking grade on true pass sets, fourth among all tackles in the country. On 486 pass-blocking snaps, he only allowed one hit and didn't give up a sack.
Bill Belichick traded back from No. 14 so the Steelers could select Broderick Jones. Taking Christian Gonzalez at No. 17 suggests offensive tackle will remain a low-key need through the next season — especially with Trent Brown a pending free agent next spring. Suamataia is a space-clearing beast whose drive and effort in the run game will make him a Belichick favorite early, though his pass blocking will need to improve for him to be a Day 1 pick.
A first-team All-American in 2022, the 6-8, 315-pound Alt translates his upper-echelon physical tools into dominant performances. After putting together a patchwork plan at offensive tackle this offseason, Bill Belichick might want to come up with a more reasonable resolution for Mac Jones by letting Alt take over for free-agent-to-be Trent Brown.
