New England Patriots’ offseason move – Draft OT Paris Johnson Jr.
The New England offense was a big problem last season and scapegoating Matt Patricia is the easy way out. Mac Jones regressed in his second year due in part to poor weaponry to work with but the bigger issue was horrendous play from his offensive line.
The tackle spot was a major problem for the Patriots as Trent Brown didn’t recapture his old form while Marcus Cannon and Isaiah Wynn went down with injuries. Getting quality pass protection is important with a pure pocket passer like Jones and improving the left tackle position is a must if New England wants to return to the playoffs.
There are a few quality tackles available near New England’s first-round pick at No. 14, including Ohio State’s Paris Johnson Jr. The 6-foot-7 Johnson projects as a long-term starter at left tackle, but there are several tackle-needy teams ahead of New England, including the New York Jets at No. 13 and the Atlanta Falcons at No. 8.
Bill Belichick hasn’t traded up much in his tenure but going up to get a tackle would be the smart play since the odds of finding a left tackle in free agency are slim. Adding Johnson would help improve Jones’ pass protection and give him a strong chance to bounce back in a critical third year.