The 53rd pick is in and SB Nation’s Patriots community, Pats Pulpit, has selected...
NFL Mock Draft, Pick 53: Patriots Select Rodger Saffold, OT Indiana
Indiana OT Rodger Saffold
Matt Light and Nick Kaczur are slowing down and with them only good for half a season, we need a player who can learn from our offensive line coach Dante Scarneccia and step into the role as, hopefully, a starter next year. Matt Light enters the last year of his contract and he’s far from untouchable- I wouldn’t be surprised if we didn’t resign him. This is the year to grab an OT and groom him for a full season and, hopefully, he’ll be ready to step into the vacant O-Line spot. Saffold has oodles of starting experience, which is something Belichick looks for. Vollmer can take either tackle position so even if Saffold doesn’t make it as a LT, he still has the strength and potential to be the right tackle of the future.
A lot of people have been touting Saffold as an early second-round pick, but this is a more appropriate draft position. For New England’s pick, I’ll still contest that Gronkowski is a better choice, even with his injury history. In 2008, he was considered a first-round talent. A player who can contribute immediately instead of a player who will sit at least a year is the kind of player the Pats need.
I’d disagree with MTD that this isn’t the right pick for the Pats. Grabbing an offensive lineman with so many starts is right up Bill Belichick’s alley. He likes to see players prove it on the field. And Pats Pulpit makes a great point with Logan Mankins. He’s coming up for a new contract and, just like the Patriot Way, has his replacement right behind him.
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