Will the right left tackle fall to the Pats?

The attention of Patriots draft pundits is locked on potential Nate Solder replacements and there are definitely some intriguing prospects. The Patriots’ position on NFL betting sites largely depends on who will be protecting Tom Brady‘s blind side.

There’s no question the Pats will add multiple rookie tackles, it’s just a question of how much draft capital they ‘re willing to give up. A first-round pick? Multiple picks to move up, ala Chandler Jones and Dont’a Hightower? Or will they just not value any of the available tackles as first-round picks and thus trade down and use the throw-it-all-at-the-wall approach?

Here’s a closer look at some of the first-round tackles and measure how well they all really fit in the Patriots’ offensive system and preferences.

Doesn’t Fit: Mike McGlinchey, Notre Dame: McGlinchey could probably step in and start for most teams at right tackle, but with Marcus Cannon locked up long-term and Solder gone, it’s then left side that needs reinforcement. Finding athletic tackles is hard enough, especially at the end of the first round. McGlinchey will likely get taken before the Pats pick anyway. If he happened to fall the Pats could look elsewhere, but that likely means someone like Leighton

Trade Up for: Conor Williams, Texas: Williams is undersized but he’d give the Patriots offensive line a boost in athleticism and tone-setter in the locker room. He could be the kind of player worth giving up some picks to get. If there’s one tackle to really get excited about, it’s Williams, but don’t get too excited, someone will likely snap him up unless the Patriots move up the board.

NFL.com: Williams’ strength in the run game and elite agility in pass protection made coaches, NFL scouts, and media outlets name him one of the best tackles in college football in 2016.

Matt Miller of Bleacher Report:

Texas left tackle Connor Williams was the best offensive line prospect from this class throughout the 2015 and 2016 seasons but took a step back in 2017; partially because of injury and partially because of the worst game of his career in the season opener against Maryland. Evaluating Williams asks the scout to weigh his two seasons prior to this one. If you judge Williams based on traits, he’s still the top tackle in the class.

Trade Down for: Kolton Miller, UCLA: Miller is a tall prospect (6’9″) and gives the kind of effort the Patriots demand, but he’s not as athletic as Solder was and could need some time to develop before thrown out there. Miller could fall into the early second round and the Pats have a penchant for trading out of the late first. It might be time to be aggressive again like 2012. Miller feels a lot to me like the need pick, the last remaining guy who might not be that exciting but fills a hole. Usually, I think the Pats avoid those kind of picks.