Patriots Predicted To Add ‘Powerful’ Right Tackle To Upgrade Offensive Line

The New England Patriots faced a major challenge during their Super Bowl LX defeat, as the Seahawks sacked quarterback Drake Maye six times.

New England’s offensive line struggled throughout the playoffs, and CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards may have a solution for the Patriots moving forward.

Edwards published a mock draft on Monday and had the Patriots drafting Arizona State right tackle Max Iheanacho with the 31st pick.

“Morgan Moses gave New England exactly what they needed in the first year of the Mike Vrabel era, but the reality is that his career is drawing to a close,” Edwards wrote. “Max Iheanachor is a powerful right tackle with good athleticism and a higher technical floor than which he has been given credit.”

Last offseason, New England signed Moses to a three-year, $24 million contract, and he is set to count $10 million against the cap for the upcoming season. The Patriots could save $3 million by releasing Moses before June 1, or lower their cap hit by $4.5 million if they make the move after June 1.

The main concern with New England selecting a right tackle high in the draft to replace Moses is that it already has two young players in place: left tackle Will Campbell and left guard Jared Wilson. Adding another young piece could disrupt the offensive line’s chemistry in the short term.