The New England Patriots have been active early on this offseason, but for the most part, their work in free agency is done. Now, they will turn their attention to the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft, and it's safe to say that they still have several spots on their roster that need to be filled.
After getting mauled in Super Bowl LX, it hasn't been much of a surprise to see the Pats revamp their offensive line early this offseason. Their depth at the tackle spot, though, is relatively weak, especially after Vederian Lowe departed in free agency. With that in mind, Alex Barth of 98.5 The Sports Hub recently predicted that the team would select Clemson Tigers right tackle Blake Miller with the No. 31 overall pick.
"Miller is just a really solid tackle prospect," Barth wrote. "A 54-game starter in college, Miller stands 6-foot-7, 317 pounds but moves very well for a player his size. He's also experienced with 54 college starts, 52 of which came at right tackle. He needs to sure up his technique, but those issues are more minor tweaks than a major overhaul."
A four-year starter for Clemson, Miller is an NFL-ready prospect who could probably immediately slide in at right tackle after getting drafted. New England is sticking with Will Campbell at left tackle, though, and Morgan Moses is still in place at right tackle. At some point, Moses is going to retire, so this move would likely line Miller up as his eventual replacement.
Is using a first-round pick on a guy who, in an ideal world, isn't going to contribute in 2026 a bit of a risk? Certainly, but if Miller is the best prospect available, the Pats are in a spot where they can afford to make this sort of long-term move. This probably isn't New England's preferred route, but depending on how the board shakes out, Miller could be the best option left when the team ends up on the clock.
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