As anticipated, the New England Patriots have been major players in NFL free agency, armed with the league’s largest cap space heading into the offseason. They’ve shelled out big bucks to bolster their defense, but their offense—arguably the least talented in football last season—remains largely untouched.
The Patriots will likely turn to the NFL Draft to inject some firepower into their attack. Holding the fourth overall pick in next month’s draft, they’re in a prime position, especially since they already have a quarterback in place.
But could they shake things up by trading down for more picks? Fox Sports’ David Helman believes so, forecasting a deal with the Las Vegas Raiders that would see New England slide to the No. 6 spot (though Helman doesn’t detail what else the Pats might gain).
In his mock scenario, Helman has the Patriots using that acquired first-rounder to draft Missouri Tigers tackle Armand Membou.
“It’s a dream setup for the Pats, thanks to their old pal Tom Brady,” Helman noted. “Swapping with Vegas nets them extra picks while still landing their guy—a potential cornerstone tackle for Drake Maye. Membou’s rare blend of size and agility checks all the boxes, and he’s barely 21.”
The Patriots’ offensive line is in dire straits, with only Morgan Moses added in free agency and no other moves to shore it up. In fact, letting go of center David Andrews might have made things worse. While a flashy wide receiver could tempt them in the draft, fortifying the trenches to protect Maye might be the smarter play—and they’ve got options to make it happen.
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