In case you missed it, the New England Patriots made a signing on their offensive line over the holiday weekend, bringing back a key depth piece from the 2022 season.

Veteran tackle Conor McDermott is staying put in New England, agreeing to a new contract with the Patriots, as reported by

The #Patriots and offensive tackle Conor McDermott have reached agreement on a new contract, according to a league source.

— Jim McBride (@globejimmcbride) February 19, 2023" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Jim McBride of the Boston Globe on Saturday night. Terms of the deal have not been reported and the team has yet to officially announce the transaction, as of Tuesday morning.

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• McDermott, 30, was originally a sixth-round draft pick of the Patriots in 2017. The Pats waived him before the start of the 2017 season, then the AFC East rival Bills claimed him. McDermott played eight games over two seasons for Buffalo, but started playing more regularly on offense after joining the Jets during the 2019 campaign.

  Things came full circle for McDermott in 2022. He was up-and-down between the Jets’ active roster and practice squad, before the Patriots finally signed him off the Jets’ squad on Nov. 22. McDermott played 13 games between the two teams, including six starts for the Pats at right tackle, setting a new career-high in that category.

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  LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 18: Quarterback Mac Jones #10 and offensive tackle Conor McDermott #75 of the New England Patriots run off the field after the Patriots scored on a two-point conversion attempt against the Las Vegas Raiders in the fourth quarter of their game at Allegiant Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Raiders defeated the Patriots 30-24. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

• McDermott quietly alleviated some of the performance concerns at right tackle in his six starts for the Patriots down the stretch of 2022. He received a strong 78.9 grade in run-blocking from Pro Football Focus. Though his pass-blocking grade was just a meh 58.0, he was not credited with allowing a sack, while letting up eight total pressures.

  Contrast that with Isaiah Wynn, who allowed four sacks and 12 total pressures with a 52.8 pass-blocking grade from PFF. So McDermott, who has mostly been a backup tackle during his career, was an upgrade over Wynn as a starter.

  Does that mean McDermott will continue to start in 2023? The Patriots have him, Trent Brown, and second-year pro Andrew Stueber under contract for 2023. Wynn is on track to become an unrestricted free agent, as are Yodny Cajuste and Marcus Cannon.

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  Jan 15, 2022; Orchard Park, New York, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (10) in the huddle during the first quarter of the AFC Wild Card playoff game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

• With a still-thin depth chart even after re-signing McDermott, the Patriots will almost certainly address the tackle position in free agency and/or the 2023 NFL Draft. The question is the level of talent they add to the roster, whether they sign a projected starter or continue to shore up depth. If it’s the latter, that would be an indication that they project Brown and McDermott as their starting tackles in 2023.

  If the Patriots dip into the top of the free agency market for a tackle, names to know include Jawaan Taylor, Mike McGlinchey, Kaleb McGary, and Kelvin Beachum. If they intend to use the 14th pick in the 2023 draft on a tackle, keep an eye on Georgia’s Broderick Jones, Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski, and Ohio State’s Paris Johnson Jr.

  We’ll continue to keep you updated on all the Patriots’ moves throughout the 2023 off-season here at 985TheSportsHub.com.

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  LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 18: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots reacts before a game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

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  Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Yell at him on Twitter @mattdolloff and follow him on Instagram @realmattdolloff. Check out all of Matt’s content here.