Using a few options at left tackle last season, the Patriots have not yet filled that post this year. The team did not have a chance to make a true pitch to Alaric Jackson or Ronnie Stanley, as both of whom re-signed with their respective teams (the Rams and Ravens) before the legal tampering period. A pursuit of Dan Moore Jr. also ended with a big-ticket Titans deal.
It would stand to reason the Pats also looked into Cam Robinson, who lingered in free agency for several days. New offensive line coach Doug Marrone was also in position as Jaguars HC when the team drafted Robinson (in the 2017 second round). Marrone’s new team did indeed show interest in Robinson, as ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss indicates the Pats were in that mix.
However, the eight-year left tackle’s market settled with a one-year Texans agreement. Robinson signed with Houston on a one-year deal believed to include $12MM in base value and up to $14.5MM in max value. While Marrone’s presence and the Patriots’ need could have been a draw for Robinson, Reiss adds he preferred the Texans.
Linked to Stanley and Jackson before free agency and having almost definitely upped Moore’s market past $20MM per year, the Patriots certainly could have attempted to outmuscle the Texans for Robinson. They entered free agency with the most cap space and still sit on the NFL’s top number. Not doing so points to the team being fairly confident it can address its need for a blindside starter in the draft.
Our No. 5 overall free agent, Robinson has made 101 career starts. His value stemmed from the Jaguars and Vikings allowing a free agency trek, something that did not come to fruition for peers Dion Dawkins, Taylor Decker and Garett Bolles. Each of those players, coming into the league between the 2016 and ’17 drafts, signed second extensions to stay with their respective teams last year. The Jaguars did not extend Robinson, instead trading their longtime LT to the Vikings — as Christian Darrisaw insurance — and then paying Walker Little. Jacksonville allowing Trent Baalke to extend Little, shaping their LT plan for the future, and then firing him not long after marked a strange sequence. The team still let Robinson go in a pick-swap trade at the 2024 deadline.
A zero-time Pro Bowler, Robinson missed time due to injuries from 2022-23 and served a PED suspension in the latter season. However, he was on the field for 18 games (counting the Vikings’ wild-card cameo) last season. Pro Football Focus ranked the Alabama alum 53rd among tackle regulars last season, though the advanced metrics site viewed him as a slightly better option (between Nos. 44-48) from 2021-23. That came after a four-season stretch in which Marrone coached him in Jacksonville. Not wowing in terms of pass block win rate in 2024, either, Robinson will have a chance to set a new market in 2026 — barring a Texans extension.
The Pats would have the option to draft LSU’s Will Campbell at No. 4 overall, but the high-end prospect does not quite check in on the level Joe Alt did to top last year’s tackle contingent. Campbell’s arm measurement at the Combine (32 5/8 inches) also generated concern about his tackle viability in the pros.
NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah also ranks Missouri’s Armand Membou 11th on his latest big board, but if the Pats have Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter available at No. 4, they likely table their tackle need to Round 2 and beyond. The team adding Stefon Diggs on Tuesday lessens the need to add a receiver in the first two rounds as well. Membou, however, came up as a player drawing Pats interest recently.
Still rostering Vederian Lowe, 2024 third-round pick Caedan Wallace and waiver claim Demontrey Jacobs at tackle, the Pats have Morgan Moses ready to be a right tackle stopgap. Likely Hall of Famer Tyron Smith remains available, as does former Browns first-rounder Jedrick Wills. It would not surprise to see the Patriots linked to either as insurance, but after no Robinson-Marrone reunion took place, the team is still on the hunt to find a long-term answer at this high-profile spot.
Tyron Smith makes a lot of sense for the Patriots, even with his injury history. But he probably doesn’t want to go there due to them being a little far from contention
Your last sentence makes no sense since he signed with the Jets last year. The Jets had zero chance of being contenders.
He believed they were going to be, a lot of fools thought Rodgers would bring the Jets back to contention.
I showed interest in Tate McCrae. It means nothing