The Felger & Mazz Big Board kicked off the 2024 season on Monday. Offensive line was the first position picked.
That includes tackle, which is of course a major need for the Patriots. Heading into the draft, the projected starter on the right side is a converted guard the team hasn’t been eager about playing on the outside, where there is no clear projected starter at left tackle. Free agent signing Chuks Okorafor has gotten the most mention for that job, but he has only played right tackle in six NFL seasons.
—Mock Draft Mailbag 3.0
—Matt Dolloff’s final Patriots mock draft
—2024 NFL Draft positional preview: Safeties
Guard and center are slightly different. The Patriots have used four top-150 picks on interior offensive linemen over the past two years, including a first-round pick on Cole Strange in 2022 and then three of their first four picks on Day 3 last year. Ideally, the team should have enough options to not have to use a premium asset on the position again. One of the interior linemen they took – Jake Andrews – is a primary center, so while starter David Andrews is getting more year-to-year due to age, it shouldn’t be a major need either.
That begin said, which players picked on the offensive line by the F&M Big Board on Monday have the best chance to get drafted by the Patriots? Here’s who stands out to me…
C Andrew Raym, Oklahoma
Oct 28, 2023; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Oklahoma Sooners offensive lineman Andrew Raym (73) at the line of scrimmage against the Kansas Jayhawks during the game at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Raym is an old-school offensive lineman who plays with power and aggression. Playing the brawler style he does will get him on NFL teams’ radars, but he’s going to have to prove that at 6-foot-4, 314 pounds he can continue to overpower rushers at the next level because the rest of his game needs to be more consistent. If the Patriots want to add another center to the mix incase they have a need at the position in the next year or two, he’d make sense as a UDFA.
G/T Brandon Coleman, TCU
Dec 31, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; TCU Horned Frogs offensive lineman Brandon Coleman (77) against the Michigan Wolverines during the 2022 Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Coleman didn’t break out as a draft prospect until later in his career, having played two years at the JUCO level before missing the 2020 season due to injury. Since then he’s started games at left tackle and both guard spots for the Horned Frogs, including starting all 15 games at left tackle during their run to the National Championship in 2020.
By nature of bouncing around he’s not truly developed technically at either position but his natural tools project him as a player that can play both guard and tackle at the NFL level. As a projected Day 3 pick, he’d make a lot of sense for the Patriots.
OT Amarius Mims, Georgia
Jan 9, 2023; Inglewood, CA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Amarius Mims (65) against the TCU Horned Frogs during the CFP national championship game at SoFi Stadium. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mims was a rare case of a player measuring in bigger at the Combine that he was initially listed. He checked in at 6-foot-8, 340 pounds with 36 1/4-inch arms – rare, rare size for a high-level tackle prospect. Mims moves better than expected at that size, only adding to the draw of his potential.
So why isn’t he getting more buzz? In terms of technical football skill it’s much tougher to tell where he’s at given he only started eight games in college. Some of that was due to him being buried on the depth chart on a talented Georgia roster, but he also did miss time last year with an ankle injury.
With more proven players like Joe Alt and Olu Fashanu on the board he shouldn’t be in the conversation at third overall. But, if the Patriots either trade down, or want to move up from No. 34, he certainly would enter the conversation.
Frank Crum, Wyoming
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 03: Frank Crum #OL13 of Wyoming participates in the broad jump during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 03, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
Crum was a little-known prospect heading into the Combine but was among the top testers among all offensive linemen at the position. That certainly should help get him on more teams’ radars. At 6-foot-8, 313 pounds he’s big but leaner than most linemen – he kind of has a Nate Solder build (but isn’t as developed as a player).
In the NFL, Crum will need time to add play strength and improve his footwork. But, if he can catch those parts of his game up to his athleticism, he has a real chance to hang around the league. If the Patriots want a project player at the position, he should be among the better options on the board.
