New England Patriots Head Coach Mike Vrabel and observers are fully aware that the top offseason priority for the Super Bowl runner-up is to protect Drake Maye.
The offensive line failed to prevent sacks all season long and was even worse in the playoffs against better competition. The need to upgrade is urgent, and Bleacher Report thinks one offensive tackle in the draft, Arizona State's Max Iheanachor, would be a great first-round draft pick.
Offensive tackle is a key need for the Patriots, along with guard, and of course, the edge on defense. While Mike Vrabel has made it clear that second-year man Will Campbell is his left tackle, his right tackle, Morgan Moses, will be 35 shortly, and signing or drafting his successor is essential.
Whether Moses remains for a second season or is released if a suitable successor is found this offseason, the need for another offensive tackle or two remains. It's not an option for Vrabel, it's an absolute necessity. The right tackle position needs to get younger and better this offseason.
Arizona State right tackle Max Iheanachor could be fine for the Patriots
The Patriots should look to add a tackle in the first round, if at all possible, depending on how the picks fall. With the Patriots picking at pick No. 31 in the first round, the cream of the crop may be off the board, and top left tackles like Georgia's Monroe Freeling may have already been selected.
Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport thinks that Arizona State's big offensive tackle Max Iheanachor would be a dream draftee for the Patriots in the first round of the 2026 draft if he's available.
""The New England Patriots made it all the way to Super Bowl LX, and the team is young with a bright future. But after watching Drake Maye take a pounding in the postseason, it's clear that improvement on the offensive line is a key to continued success in 2026. Veteran tackle Morgan Moses was steady at right tackle, but he's also about to turn 35.
Iheanachor is a raw prospect, but his physical tools and 6'6", 330-pound frame are imposing and his technique improved markedly over his time at ASU. He also shined at the Senior Bowl."
Whether Iheanachor would be the best choice for the Patriots in the first round is debatable. In Pro Football Focus's December, 2025 rankings of the 2026 offensive tackles, Iheanachor only ranked 24th. That should raise some concerns about whether he's a first-round talent or better suited for a later round.
The Patriots need to draft the best offensive tackle available in the draft's first round
Max Iheanachor would be a nice pickup for the Patriots, who'll need more than one offensive tackle addition this offseason, later on in the draft. An injury to starting left tackle Will Campbell hurt the team and his progress, and he wasn't right the rest of the way, including in the playoffs and Super Bowl. Solid depth is essential, but securing astarting-levell tackle for this season is the top priority.
Adding a star left tackle like Freeling, Kadyn Proctor of Alabama, or maybe Caleb Lomu of Utah if he's seen as an NFL tackle, is the optimum strategy. They can fill in for Campbell at left tackle if he's dinged up, maybe replace Moses immediately and save $3.1M on the cap, or be the top swing tackle for both positions if Moses stays.
Mike Vrabel's need is so great that his best move is to take the best offensive tackle available, especially left tackle, who can slot in at either tackle spot in case of injury if he decides to keep Moses around for another season.
Protecting Drake Maye with a better offensive line and adding better sack-producing edges are Vrabel's prime objectives this offseason, if he hopes to get back to the Super Bowl. It all begins with the offensive line, and the tackles are key.