2023 NFL Draft Interior Lineman Prospects

The Patriots need interior lineman help. Andrews isn't the healthiest and strange is still in development. So what names are out there? Who's being mocked to the Patriots. That's what we're going to look at in no order.

1) TJ Bass, Oregon, 6'5" 320 pounds

Cliff Jackson said, "The first offensive lineman that I believe will be a steal when looking back on this class is T.J. Bass out of the University of Oregon. Bass came into Oregon as a junior college transfer, as he was one of the top ranked JUCO recruits when he was coming out of Butte College. Bass was an instant starter at left guard for the Ducks back in 2020 before being moved to left tackle for the vast majority of the remainder of his college career, mainly due to the departure of future top-10 selection Penei Sewell."

Brentley Weissman said, "Bass is best working downhill and playing in tight quarters. Explosive 3-techniques can give him trouble off the snap as he is occasionally late off the ball and will give his edges up early in the down. There are some balance issues here with Bass and he will lean and fall off his blocks at times when he is engaged. While Bass has a good overall anchor, rushers who possess good length and speed to power can cause issues for him."

2) Olusegun Oluwatimi, Michigan, 6'3" 310 pounds

Damian Parson said, "Oluwatimi’s experience should be viewed well and valued by NFL evaluators. He has seen plenty of defensive fronts and concepts. I project Oluwatimi to a more zone-oriented offense where he can work with momentum and laterally in the run game. His pass protection skills are enticing and his strength. I believe he can come in as a plug-and-play starter at the center position. His game can be elevated with improved lower body flexibility and bend. 

Ian Cummings said, "As long as Oluwatimi continues to iron out inconsistencies with his footwork and hands, he can develop into an above-average starter at the NFL level, with some versatility between gap and zone schemes. And he has the experience and necessary utility to provide quality depth in the immediate timeline."

3) Kendall Randolph, Alabama, 6'5" 300 pounds

Roletide.com said In 2022, he "played in all 13 games with three starts for the Crimson Tide … his starts were made up of two at left guard and one at tight end ... recorded 10 knockdown blocks on the year."

From 2019 to 2021 played tight end and almost every position on the offensive line. He might not be a starter but he could be a swing lineman for a savy offinsive mind that could see him useful as a sixth tackle as for schemed plays.

 

4) Andrew Vorhees, USC, 6'6" 325 pounds

Kyle Crabbs said, "Expectations for Vorhees should be that of a player who can make an instant impact up front. There are lapses in his game that come with prolonged blocks in pass protection but his abilities in the run game and in slide protection jump off the screen as winning qualities that should offer a notable boost to an NFL franchise quickly. Given his expansive experience as a Power 5 starting lineman, Vorhees should be well-seasoned to take to the NFL game quickly."

James Fragoza said, "High-floor, low-ceiling prospects don’t receive lofty draft picks but often stick around longer. That’s the mold the USC OL fits into. His lack of length, elite short-area athleticism, and overwhelming strength limit his potential, and he may never be a “set it and forget it” starter. But what Vorhees brings as a versatile and experienced depth option that can fill multiple positions in a pinch is valuable."

5) O’Cyrus Torrence, Florida, 6'5" 350 pounds

Keith Sanchez said, "Overall, Torrence’s plus trait is his physicality in the run game, but there are concerns about his range as a player due to his struggles to move laterally and his reactionary athleticism. If Torrence can be placed in the right scheme to highlight his best assets as a player, he has the upside to be an effective player in the NFL."

Josh Edwards said, "Torrence has great size and a thick lower body for an interior offensive lineman. The Louisiana native drives his feet on contact and looks for work when disengaged. He does a good job of absorbing contact in addition to being a fluid athlete capable of blocking in space. There are balance issues, at times, stemming from a wide base and dipping his head too often. Late eyes lead to defenders getting on his hip, from which he has a hard time recovering. Torrence is more of a gap scheme blocker who can rely on his physical style of play."

6) John Michael Schmitz, Minnesota, 6'4" 320 pounds

Kyle Crabbs said, "Expectations for Schmitz should be that this is a starting player on your offensive line sooner rather than later. He has the capabilities to step in and process NFL information and has the physical profile to handle A-gap defenders and maintain push or a clean pocket. "

John Vogel said, "Schmitz isn’t a player that fans will be blown away by when he gets his name called. Regardless, he has the potential to be a plug-and-play guy, especially he drafted by a team that runs a zone-blocking running scheme."

7) Steve Avila, TCU, 6'4" 335 pounds

Keith Sanchez said, "Overall, Avila is an interior offensive lineman with a lot of playing experience that appears to be best served in a gap scheme. In another scheme, Avila’s lateral movement affects his ability to be an effective blocker and may lead to penalties and negative plays."

Ian Cummings said, "Avila might not have the brand of mobility desired for outside-zone schemes, but his displacement potential can be an asset in power and gap looks. Though he may be a bit scheme-specific, Avila has the potential to be a solid starter in the right system, and he’s great depth, regardless, with his experience at multiple positions."

8) Sedrick Van Pran, Georgia, 6'4" 310 pounds

Ian Cummings said, "Hidden behind Van Pran’s explosive upside as a zone blocker, however, is his promising operational ability at the center of the line. He’s already proven to be strong enough and powerful enough. He’s also very smart and aware for his age. Van Pran looks like a future NFL starter, and a very good one at that."

Matthew Jones said, "A highly intriguing combination of athleticism, flexibility, grit and motor who has the flexibility and functional strength to mix things up in a phone booth and the quickness to reach second-level defenders in space, traits which could make him a starting center at the next level. Not quite as consistent as some of the other top centers in the class, but is the best athlete overall and could conceivably fit in either a gap-blocking scheme (like Georgia runs) or a zone one."

9) Ricky Stromberg, Arkansas, 6'4" 320 pounds

Draft Bible said, "While he must improve his weight distribution and leverage to compensate for limited lateral movement skills, Ricky Stromberg’s intelligence and rare power profile make him a potentially strong starter in the league."

Jordan Clark said, "He’s a big maul of a blocker in all facets and excels when moving around the ground for running plays. Stromberg has excellent passing sets and is an unwavering pass guard no matter the task. He has the versatility to play guard, but his future is the focus, which is likely where he’s started in the NFL for 10 years."

10) Dalton Simpler, West Florida, 6'3" 310 pounds

GoArgos.com said, "Simpler has been a solid performer at UWF throughout his career, appearing in 40 games while starting all 25 the past two seasons, playing at center in 2021 and left guard in 2022. He has been part of a unit that has been one of the best in the country, paving the way for the Argos potent ground attack while providing time for the passing game to thrive. UWF's starting line ranked 11th in sacks allowed in 2022, while ranking seventh in the NCAA in rushing offense with a school-record 233.9 ypg and 15th in total offense at 441.9 ypg. The rushing total is a school record for the second-consecutive season."

Braden Maloy said, "Wednesday, Dalton was named an All American by the D2 Sports Information Directors. He’s also All Region and All Conference. Dalton a guard and center at UWF over the years, played guard this past season, not allowing a single sack. While helping the Argo rush for a school record 233 yards per game."

11) Brent Laing, Minnesota-Duluth, 6'3" 290 pounds

Tony Pauline said, "Laing dominated the level of competition he played at and possesses outstanding measurables. He needs to polish his game and will likely start on a practice squad, but he has future potential to make an active roster."

Draft Bible said, "A versatile offensive lineman that has good athleticism and agility but will need to develop his technique to stick at the next level."

12) Joey Fisher, Sheperd, 6'5" 290 pounds

Draft Bible said, "His size, strength and aggressiveness (plays through the whistle) is going to endear himself to coaches but there is some development needed here. He is viewed strictly as a right tackle prospect, which is where he started all three years at Shepherd. The allure with Fisher is his upside. Should he maximize his potential, there are starter traits that flash on film."

13) Mark Evans II, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 6'4" 300 pounds

Draft network said, "Evans has functional strength and does well in combo and down blocks, where he is given a natural advantage in his angles and can get his hands on quickly. Above all, Evans has a lot in his toolbox; he’s overtly physical in the run game and shows a level of finesse in his pass set that offers a good baseline of what he can be capable of at the next level."

Draft Bible said, "Evans II lacks prototype NFL left tackle height, so teams will need to decide where they view him best. He demonstrates excellent mirror-blocking skills and hand placement in pass protection. In the run game, he puts his footwork to good use as a second-level and pull blocker, creating wide run lanes for the ball carrier."

14) Braeden Daniels, Utah, 6'4" 300 pounds

Joe Marino said, "I love the versatility that Daniels will provide his NFL team and at a minimum, he should be a quality reserve. That said, Daniels could get stronger and develop his hand usage to become a starter for a zone-rushing scheme."

Draft Bible said, "Daniels is a versatile lineman who has flashes of well-framed blocks and lateral agility, but his lack of play strength, questionable agility, and underdeveloped technique make him a late-round pick at best."

2023 NFL Draft Defensive Tackle Prospects

The Patriots interior line is still not where it should be. Barmore is okay but they need one more person to sure up the middle. I found 14 names suggested for the Patriots via mock drafts. Here's what's being said about them.

1) Gervon Dexter, Florida, 6'5" 320 pounds

Ian Cummings said, "Without elite lateral agility or flexibility, Dexter likely projects best as an even-front defensive tackle in 3-tech and 2i alignments. Nevertheless, he has more than enough athleticism and strength to move around the front. He’s a potentially scheme-versatile DT prospect with the upside of an impact starter."

Keith Sanchez said, "Overall, Dexter is a prospect that has physical tools that will instantly give him an opportunity to be a starter in the NFL. The question for Dexter will be whether he will continue to develop his skill set to be an impactful starter in the NFL to match those rare physical traits."

2) Johan Tavai, San Diego State, 6'0" 295 pounds

Joe DiTullio said, "At 6-foot and 295 pounds, Tavai has decent size, but they won’t be the best measurables in the 2023 NFL Draft. His production as a pass rusher from the interior is something NFL scouts will covet. He may be able to work his way into the NFL as a rotational pass rusher on the interior. Tavai could be a late-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft."

David Kenyon said, "As usual, SDSU showcased an overwhelming defender. Tavai occasionally shifted to end, but he primarily lined up inside. He generated 61 pressures, the third-most in the regular season according to PFF. Tavai totaled 57 tackles with 12.5 in the backfield and nine sacks."

3) Brett Johnson, California, 6'5" 295 pounds

Adam Rittenburg Said, "Johnson was selected preseason second-team All-Pac-12 by the league's coaches. He appeared in all 17 possible games in 2019 and 2020. Johnson underwent surgery on his injured hip shortly after the car accident in April 2021."

Damian Parson wrote, "To get a grasp of Brett Johnson’s game I had to watch him during 2020 and a little 2019. Johnson has a strong, sturdy frame with good arm length. His length and power can overwhelm single-blocking IOL."

4) Robert Cooper, Florida State, 6'2" 335 pounds 

John Vogel said, "Robert Cooper is one of the more technical fighters I’ve seen in this draft class. Florida State ran a multiple scheme front where he was asked to play as both a 3-tech defensive tackle and a 1-tech nose tackle, and I think that he’s capable of playing both but best suited for a nose tackle at the NFL level due to his size and lack of mobility. Doesn’t perform too well as a 0-tech – much better suited in a gap."

Draft Bible said, "Cooper is a run-stuffing interior defensive lineman who will likely line up as a 2i or 1-tech at the NFL level, but he’ll only play on early downs considering his physical limitations and lack of development as a pass rusher."

5) Zacch Pickens, South Carolina, 6'4" 305 pounds

TDN said, "Overall, to put it simply, I would have liked to see Pickens be more dominant in all aspects of his game. He has all the tools in the world to be consistently disruptive at the next level and I project Pickens to be an immediate rotational contributor. I believe that Pickens will quickly work his way into a three-down lineman in the NFL."

John Vogel said, "Zacch Pickens is one of the more interesting prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft class. He has great power for his size and will hold up well among his position group, and has a quick enough first step to cause some havoc consistently. The biggest question mark to Pickens game is his lack of suitable athleticism, which may hinder his ability to make plays in the backfield or be a real pass-rushing threat."

6) Keeanu Benton, Wisconsin, 6'4" 315 pounds

Ian Cummings said, "Benton projects well in both 4-3 and 3-4 alignments, either as a 4-3 defensive tackle or an off-set nose with moderate alignment versatility in odd fronts. He’s refined enough to start early on, and as Benton continues to perfect his game, he could go on to be an impact starter, with high-level destructive potential against the run, and exciting pass-rushing upside as well."

Dante collinelli said, "These types of players are dying out but every team needs at least one primary run stopper in their defensive line rotation, and I think Benton can fill that role as a rookie. He actually reminds me of Raekwon Davis, who the Dolphins drafted in the second round out of Alabama in 2020. Benton isn’t quite as big nor does he have quite the upside Davis does, but he’s in the ballpark and developmentally, they have similar strengths and weaknesses."

7) Jalen Carter, Georgia, 6'3" 310 pounds

CBS said, "Carter is a deceptive 310 pounds because he carries it so well. The Florida native has good top-end speed and athleticism. He is quick to split gaps but also has the strength to dictate action in the run game. Despite having three first-round selections on its defensive line, the Bulldogs made it a point to give Carter significant repetitions. The third-year player created pressure on 13% of his pass rushes last season, according to TruMedia. He recorded a tackle on 17.1% of run defense snaps."

Ian Cummings said, "All throughout the process, Carter has confirmed what we originally thought to be true. He’s the blue-chip prospect the 2022 NFL Draft DT class lacked — and he’s one of the few non-QBs in the mix for the first overall pick."

8) Bryan Breese, Clemson, 6'5" 300 pounds 

Kyle Crabbs said, "Expectations for Bresee should be centered around him taking significant snaps early in his career and that he should be able to steadily build himself back to being the player that was the No.1 recruit in the country coming out of high school. He is more of a high-variance projection now but I am willing to bet that, medical setbacks aside, Bresee will recapture his elite form in time."

Ian Cummings said, "At 6’5″, 300 pounds, Bresee has some flexibility with his projection. He’d bring coveted alignment versatility to odd- and hybrid-front schemes, with absurd disruptive capacity at 3-tech. But he also has enough strength and size to maintain more gap responsibility as an even-front defensive tackle. Whatever the case, Bresee is a surefire first-round talent, a DT1 candidate, and a potential blue-chip player at the next level."

9) Siaka Ika, Baylor, 6'4" 360 pounds

Kyle Crabbs said, "Ika can undoubtedly serve as an NFL starter, but he’s going to need to either find more dynamic athleticism in order to warrant staying on the field on third downs or find better consistency in true anchor situations at the point of attack in order to unlock his full potential."

Josh Edwards said, "Ika is an active nose tackle who draws double teams and shows great strength to get off blocks. He gains ground when engaged and will swim upstream when blockers are trying to wash him out. The LSU transfer has limited pass rush potential and will be role/scheme specific. His burst and general athleticism are average. Ika shows a quick arm over move to shoot gaps."

10) Zach Howard, Northwest Missouri State, 6'2" 305"

11) Joshua Pryor, Bowie State, 6'3" 325 pounds

Tony Pauline said, "Pryor was a fun defensive lineman to scout on film, as he had opponents constantly playing back on their heels. He must get bigger and improve his playing strength, though Pryor comes with an upside and has enough skill to stash on a practice squad."

12) Darel Middleton, Bethel TN, 6'7" 306 pounds

Emory Hunt said, "Middleton might be the best defensive line prospect in all of NAIA. He has the great combination of length, athleticism and explosiveness. You want to see guys with his attributes dominate his level of competition, and he does just that. I'm a big fan of his technique, showing the ability to strike first with his hands, read a play out well, disengage and then accelerate to make the play. In fact, he's so athletic that Bethel has used him in goal line/low red zone situations as a fade, 50/50 guy."

13) Moro Ojomo, Texas, 6'3" 280 pounds

Draft Bible said, "In the early-to-mid Day 2 range, Tuipulotu’s floor is high enough that he could see starting reps early on in his career. Across his prime, he can be a high-impact starter with the alignment versatility and motor to sustain production."

TDN said, "Ojomo has the ability to quickly get into gaps and then manage to get skinny to get backfield penetration. Considering his size, Ojomo is a good interior defensive lineman that can become very disruptive when he is aligned in the right alignments along the front."

14) Tuli Tuipulotu, USC, 6'4" 290 pounds

Kyle Crabbs said, "Expectations for Tuipulotu will range from team to team. Are you going to have him play in the 290s and serve as a B-gap defender? Or is he someone you’ll charge with playing around 270 and ask him to work more prominently off the edge? He’s shown the ability to do either, but in order to maximize his stock as a prospect, he’ll need to offer as much passing down value as possible to sell teams on his ability to play high snap volume in the NFL."

Ian Cummings said, "In the early-to-mid Day 2 range, Tuipulotu’s floor is high enough that he could see starting reps early on in his career. Across his prime, he can be a high-impact starter with the alignment versatility and motor to sustain production."

2023 NFL Draft Tackle Prospects

The Patriots need Tackle help. If they didn't shuffle Wynn and Brown around, do they need help? I don't know but it's not improbable that the line would've been better. Since they need major help now at the position, here's 14 names I came across as being possible Patriots fits.

1) Peter Skoronski, Northwestern, 6'4" 294 pounds

Matthew Lewis said, "Skoronski is easily the most polished offensive lineman in this draft class. He has incredible technique, quickness, and power which allows him to neutralize almost any defender. I think that he would best work for a pass-heavy team where he can play to his strengths. But, if he works on improving his pull blocking and 2nd level blocking, he will fit any scheme."

Kyle Crabbs said, "Expectations for Skoronski will be the same even amid different positional forecasts—he should be a starter from day one. I do see some potential challenges to being a positive starter immediately, as he’ll either need to acclimate to setting against NFL-caliber linemen each and every week on the edge or he’ll be charged with re-calibrating as an interior lineman. But by year three of his rookie contract, expect to see a quality starter up front."

2) Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State, 6'6" 315 pounds

Joe Marino said, "Johnson has the makings of an early NFL starter at left tackle with the ceiling to grow into an impact starter and pillar for his unit at the next level."

Josh Edwards said, "Johnson has exposure playing both guard and tackle during his career with the Buckeyes. He is quick out of his stance and does a good job of sealing backside blocks. Johnson blocks with good leverage in the run game and uses his hands well to forklift defenders. He can do a better job of dropping anchor and absorbing contact. The Cincinnati native looks for work when disengaged and drives his feet on contact." 

3) Broderick Jones, Georgia, 6'4" 315 pounds

Ian Cummings said, "Jones will undoubtedly take his lumps, particularly as a pass protector, but more experience is what he needs to further hone his skill set. Once he gets that experience and continues to build around his high-level physical profile, Jones can be an impact starter at either left or right tackle — a projection that’s well worth a Round 1 pick."

Damian Parson said, "In all, Jones is a strong, physically gifted, and talented offensive line prospect. As good as he is entering the league, there is more potential and upside for Jones to elevate his game. I can see him starting at left tackle early on if the void is there. Although, I do believe he can slide into guard if a team needed him to. The long-term outlook? He will be a multi-year starting OT. "

4) Dawand Jones, Ohio State, 6'8" 360 pounds

Matthew Jones said, "Has rare size, athleticism, and coordination for a player of that size, traits which should tantalize teams looking for a starting right tackle. Could fit in either a zone or inline scheme, winning in a phone booth or disrupting defensive fronts in space in the run game and mirroring effectively in pass protection. As long as he keeps his weight under control, looks like a pretty safe bet to develop into a long-term starter sooner rather than later."

Joe Marino said, "Jones has the makeup of a quality starter at the next level that has plenty of dominant moments but his restrictions could lead to some variance based on matchups."

5) Jaelyn Duncan, Maryland, 6'6" 320 pounds

Ian Cummings said, "At his maximum, Duncan has a starter’s traits, either at tackle or on the interior. But he’s mainly relied on those traits throughout his collegiate career, without much refinement, and he might not be ready to start in the NFL on Day 1. Ideally, he has time to sit and keep growing, because with his non-elite length, the margin for error will be smaller against NFL defenders."

Draft Bible said, "A stellar mover with dominant power in a massive frame, Jaelyn Duncan’s pure athleticism may rival that of any prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft class. He can play four of the five offensive line positions and flashes solid technique. That said, Duncan’s high pad level, raw hand usage, and inconsistent angles will limit him early in his career. He is an early backup with elite potential."

6) Matthew Bergeron, Syracuse, 6'5" 325 pounds

Joe Marino said, "While he’s mostly an effective run blocker, his functional strength appears only to be average and he’s more reliant on technique, angles, and body positioning to create movement in the run game. Hey may only be a fit for zone rushing offense and I wouldn’t rule out a transition to guard for Bergeron at the next level."

Ian Cummings said, "Nevertheless, if draft evaluation is projecting what players can be, then Bergeron has one of the most exciting ceilings in the 2023 NFL Draft. His all-encompassing skill set not only offers scheme versatility, but he also has experience at left and right tackle. Bergeron can be a quality NFL starter, with the flexibility to play both tackle spots"

7) Darnell Wright, Tennessee, 6'6" 335 pounds

Joe Marino said, "Wright has the makeup of a quality NFL starter in a run scheme that is willing to accept his modest range. His experience against top competition, power, and mass give him the chance to be a starter early in his career."

Matthew Jones said, "An experienced SEC starter with rare size and lower-body strength, he looks fine as line as he’s not asked to cover much ground, but doesn’t exactly dominate opponents either, lacking the aggression, explosiveness, and mean streak teams look for in a phone booth. Played tackle almost exclusively in college and could conceivably play on the right side for an inline team, but might be more comfortable as a guard, where his lack of lateral quickness won’t be as evident. Could potentially develop into a pretty good starter if he gets more glass in his diet."

8) Blake Freeland, BYU, 6'8" 305 pounds

Kyle Crabbs said, "Freeland can provide several of the “uncoachable” elements of the position, starting with his size and mass occupied as a blocker on the edge. And with sufficient linear athleticism, he figures to project into a zone-based system that encourages him to take the air out of his blocks quickly, latch, and establish hands. Because of his stature, he’ll certainly occupy a roster spot for years to come. But the question will be if a team can develop him further and provide the environment needed to protect him from his limitations and bottle up his plus qualities to serve as a starter."

Ian Cummings said, "He’ll need some development, but he can be an impact starting tackle in the NFL. He’s a road grader on the ground with the mobility, range, and power to be scheme-diverse, and he has potential in pass protection."

9) Nick Broeker, Ole Miss, 6'5" 315 pounds

Draft Bible said, "A college tackle, Nick Broeker’s technique and above-average movement skills make him a potential spot-starter as a zone-scheme guard; that said, his underwhelming length and power profile are concerning."

Joe DiTullio said, "At 6-foot-5 and 315, Broeker has good enough size for the NFL and the move to the interior will likely pay off long-term, as that is likely where he will play at the next level. He is still learning how to play on the interior, but the 2022 season was a success for him."

10) BJ Wilson, Quincy, 6'6" 320 pounds

11) Jack Nelson, Wisconsin, 6'7" 290 pounds

12) Cody Mauch, ND State, 6'6" 300 pounds

Ian Cummings said, "With his length, it’s been speculated that Mauch could move to the interior. While his explosiveness, power, and physicality would be a potentially dominant combination there, I think he has the tools to stay at tackle and become an impact starter with some scheme versatility. He’s a bulldozer with range in the run game and a highly competent pass protector with the high-level talent to thrive at the NFL level."

Brentley Weissman said, "Mauch struggles when defenders are able to get in his chest as his arm length limits his ability to stymie the rush. Additionally, he has just an above-average anchor and can be susceptible to speed-to-power and bull rushes. While Mauch is an experienced and savvy player, there are times his hands are too far outside, which results in holding penalties. Overall, Mauch has starter-level ability as a zone-based interior lineman but his lack of power and length may limit his upside."

13) Ryan Hayes, Michigan, 6'7" 307 pounds

Damian Parson said, "Hayes has the size, and play demeanor NFL decision-makers will value. He is functional to solid in both run and pass blocking. Yet, he is not a master of either. I project him to be kicked inside to guard due to his arm length. Hayes is better battling in tight quarters where he can eliminate the issue of arm length/reach. I do not envision him as a long-term starting option for an offense at tackle but as a viable backup in a pinch. There is a path for him as a guard at the next level."

John Vogel said, "Ryan Hayes has been one of the most improved players over the last two years in football. When I took a look at him in the 2021 offseason, I saw a potentially good player who had a lot of footwork and technique to clean up. Now, he looks like he could potentially be a day-one player and perhaps even start in his first season in the NFL. He’s a strong left tackle prospect and should be a top-fifty pick."

14) Luke Haggard, Indiana, 6'6" 305 pounds

Ian Cummings said, "Haggard will need to keep getting stronger, above all else. In pass protection, he can further refine his hand usage, and as a run blocker, he can be more consistent in aligning himself and maximizing power. That said, there’s enough mobility and power capacity here to suggest that Haggard can grow into a quality backup or spot starter on the left side with some development."

2023 NFL Draft Safety Prospects

The Patriots need Safety help. They never replaced Harmon and Dugger has his limitations. With Devon McCourty possibly on the way out, the Patriots are going to need to address the position in some form. These ten players offer the Patriots possibilities if they choose select one of them.

1) Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M, 6'3" 195 pounds

28 games, 164 tackles, 2 sacks, 7 passes defended, 4 forced fumbles and 1 interception.

Two-way player. Can play defensive back, linebacker or receiver. Aggressive pursuing the ball. Physical tackler. Good zone defender. Can play man against slot receivers and tight ends. Inconsistent awareness displayed. Inconsistent change of direction. Hips may be tight. Good in run support. Has decent blitzing ability. Leadership is shown on field. Belongs in a heavy safety system where he can create mismatches.

Here's what Josh Edwards of CBS said, "Johnson has great size to go along with an excellent athletic skillset. He communicates shifts and has a quick key and trigger to play downhill. The Illinois native fights through blocks and plays a rugged style of football. In an era where NFL teams value versatility, his ability to cover the slot allows NFL teams to disguise coverage pre-snap."

2) Jordan Battle, Alabama, 6'1" 210 pounds

52 games, 252 tackles, 1 sack, 6 interception, 10 passes defended, 1 fumble recovery.

True safety and interior defensive back. Intelligent three down player. Has desired size and physicality level. Good zone defender with ball hawk speed and quickness. Takes poor angles to the ball carrier and will need some development against the run game.

Per the draft network, "Overall, Battle is a prospect that has many high-level traits. Battle should be able to step in and instantly fill a strong safety position role for an NFL team, and also be able to contribute at other positions on the field."

3) JL Skinner, Boise State, 6'4" 218 pounds

38 games, 208 tackles, 7 interceptions, 12 passes defended, 2 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries 

Good run defender but takes poor angles to the ball carrier. Capable in zone coverage and does well in man versus tight ends. Stiff hips hinder change of direction. Needs to learn patience and not lose focus. Would help if he played the ball more instead of constantly focusing on tackling the pass catcher.

Jacob Roach said, "The major area that jumps out on tape is his ability to come flying in from deep to make plays in run support. Skinner is a sure tackler that isn’t shy about contact and delivers big blows to opposing running backs. This is a true enforcer-style player that likes to make his presence known. There will be a major jump in competition for Skinner but he has all the tools and skill set to be a three-down player in the NFL."

4) Daniel Scott, California, 6'2" 205 pounds

39 games, 207 tackles, 1 sack, 7 interceptions, 6 passes defended, 3 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery.

Plays all three phases. True safety who can play zone or man coverage. Can lineup in the slot. Needs to work on tackling and run defense. Needs development to become a three down player. Size may be an issue at the NFL level.

Per draft network, "Overall, Scott projects as a backup and rotational free safety/nickel defender. There is not much of a developmental arc for him due to his age. Although he has upside as a man-coverage defender versus tight ends, right now, he is a liability versus the run until he improves his physicality and tackling. He is a highly experienced special teamer with more than 600 snaps played throughout his career."

5) Ronnie Hickman, Ohio State, 6'1" 205 pounds

28 games, 157 tackles, 1 sack, 3 interceptions, 7 passes defended, 2 forced fumbles.

Two way player. Can handle man coverage against tight ends. Can play around the secondary but maybe more suited to play strong safety. Doesn't appear to have deep safety ability at the next level. Decent against the run. Needs to take better angles to the ball carrier. Looks like a depth piece in year one that can develop into a starter.

Per the draft network, "Hickman is mostly sound in coverage where his ability to stay leveraged and process route combinations stand out. He has some flashy moments in man coverage where he can carry routes vertically but also holds his own reading the backfield and working into throwing lanes. He more than holds his own in man coverage opportunities against tight ends."

6) Jammie Robinson, Florida State, 5'11" 200 pounds

47 games, 318 tackles, 1 sack, 7 interceptions, 16 passes defended, 3 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery. 8 punt returns 4.6 average, 2 kickoff returns 19. Yard average.

Can play linebacker or defensive back that excells in the intermediate coverage range. Plays the ball aggressively. Good block shredding. Decent in man and zone coverage but probably a two down safety due to stiff hips slowing change of direction in pass coverage. Should make the team due to ability to play special teams.

Matthew Lewis said, "After watching countless hours of film on Jammie Robinson, I think he may have one of the highest ceilings in the country. He plays with a motor that is rare to see in the safety position. He has a tremendous blend of athleticism and aggressiveness that allows him to be effective all over the field. If he can work on his hip quickness and mobility, his draft stock would improve tremendously."

7) Tyrique Stevenson, Miami, 6'0" 215 pounds

41 games, 115 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 3 interceptions, 21 passes defended. Averaged 11.1 yards on 12 punt returns.

True defensive back. A little slow for man coverage but could be due to hips. Tackling could use improvement. Has potential to be a deep safety. A willing run defender that will crash into blockers and reroute the ball carrier. He's raw and a bit grabby. Stevenson has potential to be a utility back in the defense.

Ian Cummings said, 'While Stevenson’s fluidity isn’t elite, he truly has a scheme-diverse skill set. With his length, patience, physicality, and corrective athleticism, he can be a handful in press man. But he also has the awareness and explosiveness to be dangerous in zone. Stevenson could be a quality NFL starter on the boundary, but he also has the versatility to rotate into the slot and be a definite mismatch generator."

8) Benny Sapp III, Northern Iowa, 6'1" 205 pounds

38 games, 5 interceptions, 96 tackles

Good coverage back that is capable of making tackles. Should be a free or deep safety at the NFL level. Knows what to do with his hands and will provide good support over the top. Expect him to be primarily a passing down rotation early on.

Mel Kiper said, "Looking for a Day 3 defensive back who could surprise? Sapp is a good tackler with excellent ball skills who is smooth in transition. He has seven interceptions over the past two seasons. At 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds, Sapp plays all over the field, lining up as a deep safety, slot corner and even outside for a few snaps."

The next two guys there's not a lot on due to being small school candidates and Belichick isn't afraid to go small school. They're both versatility safeties with high upside. That could be a late day three selection and turn into key depth piece.

9) Jalen Robinson, Davenport, 5'10" 205 pounds

248 tackles, 1 sack, 3 interception. 3 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery and 13 passes defended in 43 games. Versatility and could play many roles. Due to size may be used as a slot back or a depth coverage safety.

10) Shannon Showers, West Florida, 6'0" 185 pounds

23 games 3 interceptions, 78 tackles

Mayo Having Extention Talks And NBC Boston Praises Steve Belichick.

Jarod Mayo is reportedly in talks for an extention. There is speculation to why as Carolina was reportedly interested in him. Michael Folger, Michael Holley and Andrew Callahan spoken on NBC Boston and gave their opinion.

The three of them implied that the only thing that made sense to keep Mayo in New England was the promise of being the next head coach. Bill is only two, maybe three seasons from breaking Shula's record. So if that agreement is in place it could make sense. Mayo after all, wants to be a head coach.

The thing that surprised me is everyone has been sitting on Steve Belichick since he became the play caller but they gave him credit. Steve kept the Patriots a top secondary when he was coaching them and was an assistant coach for many seasons prior to taking a role as a secondary coach.

Folger said Steve might be in the right spot, Michael Holley said Steve did a good job and the defense had six or seven touchdowns and Callahan said that they finished top five in scoring three of the last four years. 

I honestly haven't seen anything that says Mayo is more valuable than Steve Belichick but I'm not in the building. The fact that these guys acknowledged that Steve is a decent coach for his position goes a long way.

If Mayo is the better coach the Patriots do not wanna let him go. I just hope if Steve is the better coach, they don't over look him to keep Mayo around. It's a sticky situation the Patriots find themselves in because for all we know, the Patriots could currently have two good future head coaches running their defense.

Patriots News Rundown

There are some stories going around but I don't think some of them require full articles. Now my former employers may disagree with me but the stories going around require one maybe two paragraphs to respond, if that. They don't need the fluff and filling that professional media outlets use.

No drama between Belichick and Kraft as Bill reportedly told Kraft everything he wanted to hear. That could have negative side effects but for not it's a positive.

When it comes to information coming out of New England, excluding the rare exception, the team controls everything coming out of the building. If a media member says "people in the building" or "people around the organization" anything they say next came from the Patriots P.R. team. When you hear talk about the Patriots coaching staff, keep that in mind.

Jarod Mayo may be gone from the Patriots staff. He's been the acting "co-defensive coordinator" with Steve Belichick, although they don't have the titles. There is a large out pour from people to make him the sole coordinator. My issue is any thing positive with the defense is credited to Mayo while everything negative is credited to Steve Belichick. They're co-defensive coordinators but if you're going to give sole credit to Mayo for the positives, then he should be getting sole credit for the negatives.

Mac Jones had an emotional control problem coming out of college. I wrote about it a couple of times that it was the area the Patriots needed to develop him the most or he was going to end up being the next Ryan Leaf. Yeah he showed it a few times this season but it's nothing new.

DeAndre Hopkins is a good receiver but he comes with a heavy price tag. If the numbers people are throwing around are correct, the Patriots will only have about $40 million to play with this off-season. Hopkins is set to make half that. That's too rich for my likings. If they could get him to agree to $12 million, fine. Otherwise re-sign Meyers, draft another receiver and actually develop them.

Everything about the offensive coordinator position is currently speculation. Unless the Offensive coordinator comes from inside, someone on the staff needs to be an understudy of the new OC, whether it's Caley or Troy Brown. Hell, if they brought back O'shea, I'd still want him to be the understudy of whomever is the OC. 

Anyone with former NFL head coaching experience will use this position as a stepping stone. Belichick knows this and I hope Kraft realizes it as well. They need to have a secession plan in place for the next coordinator.

Unless I missed something, there's really nothing else to talk about. And I don't expect a lot of Patriots related stuff to be circulating until February. Stay tuned....

How The Patriots Should Handle Their First Round Pick

On Monday I was asked by a 49ers fan that works at the local McDonald's what I thought the Patriots biggest needs were if they entered the draft with the roster they finished with. Although he wanted to know what I thought, he was also testing me to see what I knew.

I said in my opinion the Patriots biggest needs was either two Tackles or a starting number one corner that can lock down guys like Hill or Diggs. The McDonald's guy then gave me his opinion on what the Patriots should do and it made sense if they don't address their needs in free agency.

He said "the Patriots should grab the corner if available at 14. If not, they should trade back for a minimum value of two second round picks, preferably a late first and a second. And then they can get three top 65 players with their first three picks and address all their needs."

Bill likes to trade back so it would be very Belichick like to do. However, it also makes sense from a football aspect. If the Patriots can turn their number one in to at least two second round picks, that would allow the Patriots to address their other needs without worry and if the trade is good enough, maybe they can trade twice in the first round.

The Patriots have a lot of bargaining power holding such a pick. The question in my mind and a lot of people should also share the question is, "will Kraft allow Bill to trade back?" Kraft seems impatient and I think how Belichick handles the coaching staff in the coming weeks my determine how much pressure ownership puts on Belichick.

If Belichick gets Bill O'Brien or another competent offensive coordinator, Robert Kraft will probably back off. Especially if it turns out to be Bill O'Brien. If the staff remains the same, expect ownership to be heavily involved in the draft process.

The offseason is going to be long and remember, media sources that make money are going to have an agenda. So watch out for stories that's nothing more than them stirring the pot and hoping for a reaction from one Patriots Place.

There's Something To Build Off Of In 2023 For The Patriots

The New England Patriots 2022 season officially came to an end. It was a good game but too many mistakes costed the Patriots. The game showed the Patriots are better than we have seen them play. Unfortunately, they're not in the playoffs. 

What the offense showed was it needs to play more efficiently. It has the talent without a number one pass catcher to move the ball. Buffalo's defense played hard but a couple of bad decisions and turnovers costed the Patriots dearly.

What the defense showed is that unlike the offense, it has the corners playing one position higher than they should be on thebdepth chart. The team needs someone that can shut down Diggs. They also need a pocket disrupting DT to push the line backwards and to force the ball to the incoming outside rushers.

For a loss, this was a positive. The Patriots have a moral victory to end the season and they should be proud. And for those harping on Mac Jones, look at how many games he missed and then look at what his average says his stats would've been if he played all 17 games. And then remember, Zappe played really bad defenses, so Mac's stats would've been higher than that. Mac Jones could have 20 touchdowns on the season if he didn't get hurt. We're on to 2023.

The Patriots 2023 Draft Prospects According To The Internet Media

The NFL draft will soon be upon us as the NFL regular season is coming to a close. The Patriots have some needs. I believe Tackle, Interior Lineman, Nose Tackle, Receiver, Corner and Safety are their biggest needs. After searching the internet to see what the media is saying, here are the Patriots 2023 prospects they say to watch for those positions.

Quick note, they're not all top 32, first round prospects. And besides, the odds of the Patriots getting more than two top 32 picks is extremely slim. There are several top 100 prospects.

Tackle

Broderick Jones, Georgia

Peter Skoronski, Northwestern

Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State

Jordan Morgan, Arizona

Jaelyn Duncan, Maryland

Jack Nelson, Wisconsin 

Nick Broeker, Ole Miss

Dawand Jones, Ohio State 

Blake Freeland, BYU

BJ Wilson, Quincy 

Cody Mauch, ND State

Interior lineman

TJ Bass, Oregon

Olusegun Oluwatimi, Michigan 

Kendall Randolph, Alabama 

Cooper Beebe, Kansas State

Andrew Vorhees, USC

Zak Zinter, Michigan 

O’Cyrus Torrence, Florida 

Layden Robinson, Texas A&M

Christian Mahogany, Boston College

John Michael Schmitz, Minnesota 

Steve Avila, TCU 

Sedrick Van Pran, Georgia 

Ricky Stromberg, Arkansas 

Dalton Simpler, West Florida

Brent Laing, Minnesota-Duluth

Joey Fisher, Sheperd

Mark Evans II, Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Corner

Garrett Williams, Syracuse 

Clark Phillips III, Utah

Mekhi Garner, LSU

Eli Ricks, Alabama 

DJ Turner, Michigan 

Kelee Ringo, Georgia 

Kyu Blu Kelly, Stanford 

Quavian White, Georgia State

Joey Porter Jr, Penn State

Cam Hart, Notre Dame

Brian Branch, Alabama

Tykee Smith, Georgia 

Tre'vius hodges-tomlison, TCU

Cam Smith, South Carolina 

Riley Moss, Iowa 

DJ Strigus, Missouri Western

Darrious Gaines, Western Colorado

Montrea Braswell, Missouri State

Safety

Lathan Ransom, Ohio State

Daniel Scott, California 

Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M

Jordan Battle, Alabama

Jamie Robinson, Florida State 

Tyrique Stevenson, Miami

Jaylon Catalon, Arkansas 

Benny Sapp III, Northern Iowa

Shannon Showers, West Florida

Jalen Robinson, Davenport 

Receiver

Jordan Addison, USC

Marvin Mims, Oklahoma 

A.T. Perry, Wake Forest

Jaxon Smith, Ohio State

Quentin Johnson, TCU

Ainias Smith, Texas A&M

Jonathan Mingo, Ole Miss

Zae Flowers, Boston College

Tre Tucker, Cincinnati 

Charlie Jones, Purdue

Kayshon Boutte, LSU

Ronnie Bell, Michigan 

Rakim Jarrett, Maryland 

Keilahn Harris, Oklahoma Baptist University

David Durden, West Florida

Andrei Iosivas, Princeton 

Avante Cox, Southern Illinois 

Chris Coleman, California Polytechnic State

Ty Scott, MISSOURI State

DT/NT

Gervon Dexter, Florida

Johan Tavai, San Diego State

Brett Johnson, California 

Robert Cooper, Florida State

Zacch Pickens, South Carolina 

Keeanu Benton, Wisconsin 

Jalen Carter, Georgia 

Bryan Breese, Clemson 

Siaka Ika, Baylor

Zach Howard, Northwest Missouri State

Joshua Pryor, Bowie State

Darel Middleton, Bethel TN

Bayless's Comments Were Wrong But There's A Bigger Issue.

Stop me if you have heard this before. "The players (nfl) are too soft." "The NFL is becoming flag football." "There's too many rules to protect the players." Well that's been NFL fans and some NFL media and some players since the 1990s.

In 2012 fans cheered as Matt Cassel suffered a concussion. In 2013 fans cheered as Matt Schaub got Injured. In 2017 they cheered as Carson Wentz got hurt. In 2018 they cheered again when Aaron Rodgers injured his collarbone. Don't think it's just football either. In 2019 fans cheered a Kevin Durant injury. Fans cheer for injuries all the time.

In October, Troy Aikman was covering a game and after a roughing the passer penalty, which is a rule to protect players Aikman said this, "I hope that the competition committee looks at this during the set of meetings and we take the dresses off."

* Update: On Sunday January 8th, Steelers players mocked the injury, pretending to give AED treatment to another.*

The Point I am making is there are too many fans that don't care about player safety. Players are just cattle or robots to them. It has become acceptable for fans to wish and cheer for injuries. And they are supported by the NFL players and media who spew the same rhetoric as fans.

Sports personality Skip Bayless is in trouble over a tweet he had. Fans are outraged at Skip for his comments but are they justified or are they hypocritical in doing so? Obviously it has to be taken in a case by case situation but there are a lot of hypocrites today that are attacking Bayless.

Bayless tweeted, "No doubt the NFL is considering postponing the rest of this game - but how? This late in the season, a game of this magnitude is crucial to the regular-season outcome ... which suddenly seems so irrelevant."

Not a human that cares about player safety, that hasn't cheered for 30 to 40 years for players to get hurt or called them soft for having safety rules, wouldn't be outraged over the comment. Hell, Damar Hamlin almost died on the field.

To make matters worse, it was said on air that team's had five minutes. Five minutes before the game would resume. It was said multiple times.

After the team's reportedly spoke with the league, the game was suspended. The NFL denies ever giving the two teams a five minute window to compose themselves. 

Timothy Burke tweeted the following, "Joe Buck stated it on-air as fact four separate times so figuring out who is lying should be pretty straightforward."

However, the league has fought CTE for the longest time before finally admitting to it because it was more concerned with money. A movie was even made about it. The league cares about money, it has repeatedly shown that. It's safety rules are a smoke screen to avoid lawsuits.

So It's very well possible and highly probably that the league was only thinking the same thing Skip Bayless was thinking. That the show go on. Otherwise the league loses money and that's bad for business. Denial afterwards is again to protect the image to protect revenue.

Here's some information the NFL tries to keep hushed. It's damaging to the shield and they know it. It shows just how little the players actually matter to the NFL in comparison to profit. And it's close to the same situation that happened Monday night.

On October 24, 1971 the show went on when Detriot Lions receiver Chuck Hughes had a heart attack on the field. Hughes was walking back to the huddle when it happened after a play when he fell face forward.

Kent Falb said this about the incident, ""When I got to Chuck, it was an athlete trainer’s worst nightmare because he was not breathing and was extremely pale."

Chuck would be carted off the field, play would resume and the game would be finished. It took almost an hour for players and coaches to be told Hughes had passed away. 

Now I am not trying to defend Skip Bayless but the league has a long history of continuing the game after a serious injury occurs. If it would allow the game to continue after a player died on the field once, why would one not assume with how the league has conducted it self since that it would not continue with the same mindset? 

Hamlin reportedly woke up and is able to write. And reportedly the one thing he asked was who won the game he was Injured in. Even the guy who almost died thought the game would've continued. The NFL now has decided to cancel the game between the two teams. It is unclear if that came before or after Hamlin asked.

Between the fans, players, sports media and the NFL itself, what Skip Bayless said on Monday night was in line with American sports. If people don't like it, people need to change the culture in fandoms and the league needs to change it's image. They all do and that is the blunt honest truth.