Previewing this year’s offensive tackle class ahead of the draft.
With only two weeks until the 2025 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots are in the process of putting the finishing touches on their board. What that board will look like is, of course, a closely-guarded secret. However, there will be quite a few offensive tackles on it given the team’s uncertainty at the position.
So, with that said, let’s take a look at some of the tight end prospects that might make sense for New England this year.
Patriots’ current offensive tackle situation
The Patriots have both of their starting tackles from a year ago on their roster for the 2025 season, but it appears that neither of them will be seeing any significant snaps this coming season. On the left side, Vederian Lowe is back after playing 79.3 percent of snaps; on the right, Demontrey Jacobs was retained as an exclusive rights free agent.
While they were the top options at their respective positions in 2024, neither proved himself a reliable long-term starting option in the extended opportunities they received. They remain signed, but their futures with the team are very much in question.
Who would replace them is not entirely clear at the moment. Veteran free agency pickup Morgan Moses taking over as right tackle seems like a safe bet, but the left side is a question mark at the moment. Lowe could remain as the starter, with 2024 third-round draft pick Caedan Wallace and maybe even guard/tackle hybrid Sidy Sow also in the mix. The expectation is that at least one OT prospect will join them in the draft.
Patriots NFL Draft fits at offensive tackle
Will Campbell (LSU): His lack of length is a concern but there is no denying the kid can play. Campbell proved as much in the toughest conference in college football by offering a rare combination of moving skills and power. His technique needs to be on point considering his smaller margin of error, but the 6-foot-6, 319-pounder has all the tools to become a quality left tackle in the NFL. | Consensus big board: No. 6
Armand Membou (Missouri): A career right tackle, who played zero snaps on the left side in his three college seasons, Membou moving over is a projection especially at just over 6-foot-4. However, his skillset suggests that he would be up for the challenge: be it his balance, power or punch, the 21-year-old is selling what NFL teams in need of tackle help want to buy. | Consensus big board: No. 8
Kelvin Banks Jr. (Texas): A starter all three of his college seasons who some teams might view as a guard rather than a tackle? Will Campbell is not the only one fitting of that description: Kelvin Banks Jr. is as well, and like his fellow projected first-rounder offers an intriguing skillset at both positions. We consider him a left tackle at this point given that he has shown he has the technique to succeed at the position in the NFL. | Consensus big board: No. 13
Josh Simmons (Ohio State): Simmons is a strong and powerful player who still moves smoothly as a run blocker. There are questions about his injury status (he missed the second half of the 2024 season after tearing his patellar tendon) and growth (he went down before facing the top defenses on the Buckeyes’ schedule), but all the tools are there. Simmons stepping in Day 1 to start and hold his own at left tackle would not come as a surprise. | Consensus big board: No. 23
Josh Conerly Jr. (Oregon): Even though he is a bit on the smaller side at 6-foot-4, 311 pounds, Conerly Jr. played big during his two seasons as a starting LT at Oregon. His movement skills are a big reason for that and helped make up for a still-developing technical foundation. If he can put it all together, he is starter material. | Consensus big board: No. 35
Aireontae Ersery (Minnesota): A superb run blocker who only has five years of competitive football on his résumé, the 6-foot-6, 331-pound Ersery is built like an NFL offensive tackle. He knows how to use his size as well, and has shown that he is nearly impossible to move off his spot through power while successfully shielding the pocket against wide rushes. | Consensus big board: No. 45
Ozzy Trapilo (Boston College): Despite his 6-foot-8, 316-pound frame, Trapilo moves well out of his stance which allows him to obtain control as both a pass protector and run blocker. He also has been praised for his leadership, and has connections to Patriots O-line coach Doug Marrone. | Consensus big board: No. 86
Charles Grant (William & Mary): Despite having only six years of football experience on his résumé, Grant has all the makings of an NFL offensive tackle and has shown massive and steady growth throughout his career. He remains a work in progress, but has the ideal frame, natural length, athletic makeup and technical foundation to develop into an NFL starting left tackle. | Consensus big board: No. 98
Anthony Belton (N.C. State): A three-year starter at N.C. State, Belton moves surprisingly well for being a 6-foot-6, 336-pound behemoth. His size is an asset he knows how to use, but his game as a whole has plenty of areas in need of addressing. Just like Charles Grant above, he would be a pick with an eye on the future more so that the present. | Consensus big board: No. 99
Hollin Pierce (Rutgers): Speaking of behemoths, let’s meet Hollin Pierce. A mountain of a man at 6-foot-8, 341 pounds with a 88 1/4-inch wingspan, he is a people-mover in the run game. His size does compromise his quickness at times, but he could develop into a Trent Brown-like figure at either left or right tackle. | Consensus big board: No. 139
Carson Vinson (Alabama A&M): If you want an experienced left tackle, you cannot go wrong with Carson Vinson. A 48-game starter for the Bulldogs, he has good size and physicality and held his own against top-tier competition at the Senior Bowl. His mechanics need work, but he has traits worth cultivating. | Consensus big board: No. 150
Chase Lundt (Connecticut): Lundt moves well and might be an option to be developed into a swing tackle at the next level. There are questions about his sub-33-inch arms and the fact that he will turn 25 in June, but he knows how to block especially in the run game. | Consensus big board: No. 171
As you can see, this list is more early-round heavy than other positional previews so far. This is not a coincidence: the Patriots are expected to invest early to fill their need at left tackle in particular. That does not mean there are no later-round guys such as Pierce, Vinson or Lundt worth considering.