2024 NFL Mock Draft: Patriots Select Stud Tackle For Woeful OL

The New England Patriots need to find their left tackle of the future, and Houston's 6-foot-7 Patrick Paul just might be the guy.

This will come as no shock to fans that watched last Friday night's fiasco against the Tennessee Titans, but the New England Patriots need help along the offensive line. A lot of it. Fast.

They began the upgrade process Sunday, acquiring developmental offensive tackle Tyrone Wheatley Jr. in a trade that sends second-year running back Pierre Strong Jr. to the Cleveland Browns.

According to ESPN, an influx of more talent is also coming. But it might not get here until next season. In its latest way-too-early 2024 NFL mock draft, the network projects the Pats to select 6-foot-7, 315-pound Houston offensive tackle Patrick Paul with the 12th overall pick.

Writes ESPN: "The Patriots have taken a Band-Aid approach at offensive tackle in recent seasons, but considering how great the 2024 class appears, that should come to an end. ... Paul has ideal length, power and agility for a modern left tackle, and while he is still an emerging player who must work on his pad height and body lean, his potential is fantastic and could be harnessed in New England as he becomes a fixture on the blindside."

While starting every game for the Cougars in 2022, Paul surrendered only one sack. The Patriots' patchwork mess allowed six Friday in Nashville, three of them leading to fumbles by No. 2 quarterback Bailey Zappe.

Look, it's college football's "Week 0." We have no idea what teams will be good and which players will stand out. That said, any new player sounds like a great idea after what the Patriots trotted out against Tennessee.

Never mind that 2022 7th-round pick Andrew Stueber is a complete waste, giving up three sacks this preseason. And ignore the fact that rookies Atonio Mafi and Sidy Sow don't look anywhere close to being rotation contributors.

It's that both tackles are a problem, for this season and beyond. Trent Brown is at left tackle, and can still be a dominant player when healthy, engaged and not committing penalties. But he's an unrestricted free agent in 2024.

At right tackle it's even more bleak. In Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles the Pats will likely start Riley Reiff, who is 34 and was released by the Cincinnati Bengals because he couldn't protect quarterback Joe Burrow.

At some point soon - maybe in the 2024 draft - the Patriots need to find their left tackle for the next decade.

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