Are The Patriots Looking To The Draft For Offensive Line Help?
By Matt Dolloff, CBS Boston
BOSTON (CBS) -- The New England Patriots have been curiously quiet on the free agent front when it comes to offensive linemen. The majority of free-agent visits to Foxboro have come from skill positions, and the most notable lineman reported to meet with the team, Chris Long, is on the defensive side of the ball.
So what is the Patriots' plan to improve an offensive line that was ultimately done in by a lack of depth in 2015? The answer could likely be at April 28's NFL Draft, which really starts on April 29 for the Patriots, who lack a first round pick.
Longtime Patriots reporter Mike Reiss wrote in a Sunday column for ESPN that within the past month guard Tre' Jackson underwent knee scope surgery, which will impact his offseason workouts and preparation for his second year in the league in 2016. Jackson missed the final two games of the season for the Patriots, including the Denver Broncos' dismantling of the offensive line in the AFC Championship Game.
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According to Reiss, other teams "cited concern" with Jackson's history of knee problems as a reason that he slipped to the fourth round of the 2015 Draft. Despite those prior concerns, based on the Patriots' lack of activity on the free agent market with offensive linemen, the team appears headed for an O-line-heavy draft in 2016.
The Patriots' interest in offensive linemen at the draft actually appears to be more at the tackle position than center or guard. 247Sports aggregated a list of five reported offensive tackles the Patriots have contacted via the Combine or Senior Bowl. Bill Belichick attended the Combine on February 26 to meet with and watch the offensive linemen, along with assistant to the coaching staff Mike Lombardi and strength & conditioning assistant Moses Cabrera. According to Mark Daniels of the Providence Journal, returning offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia was also in attendance.
SEE ALSO: NFL Combine: Top Offensive Lineman Performances
As for Pro Days, the Patriots have been very active in scouting potential draftees across the country. Belichick himself attended the Pro Days for Alabama and Auburn, where offensive line and running back were among the position groups that worked out. Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio attended the Pro Day for Rutgers, long one of the Patriots' top recruiting spots.
Every team in the NFL was represented at the Pro Day for Ohio State, which boasts a wealth of potential NFL players entering the 2016 draft, including tackle Taylor Decker, who projects as a second-round pick and is compared to Sebastian Vollmer in his NFL Draft Profile. Patriots offensive line coaches reportedly attended Harvard's Pro Day, which included tackles Cole Toner and Anthony Fabiano, according to Tony Pauline of TFY Draft Insider.
Keep an eye, in particular, on Fabiano, a Wakefield, Mass. native whom Pauline describes as "a late-round pick who can play any of the three interior offensive line positions."
It's hardly a surprise that Belichick and the Patriots coaching staff would be diligent scouting NFL Draft prospects or that they would focus on offensive line help. But based on their recent flurry of scouting activity and relative quietness on the free agent market, it appears unlikely that any new linemen come in March. The NFL Draft looks to be the day that the offensive line's much-needed reinforcements arrive.
Matt Dolloff is a writer for CBSBostonSports.com. His opinions do not necessarily reflect that of CBS or 98.5 The Sports Hub. Have a news tip or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff and email him at mdolloff@985thesportshub.com.
