There might not be a single player in the 2023 NFL Draft class that looks more like a pure football player than North Dakota State offensive lineman Cody Mauch.
Long red hair. Two front teeth missing. Blocks like he hates your guts. What more could you want?
The Patriots are apparently trying to get a closer look at one of the drafts most interesting offensive linemen, inviting Mauch to town for a top-30 prospect visit in the near future.
For starters, the 6-5, 302-pound tackle is simply a beast on the tape thanks both to his straight-up nastiness and his absurd athleticism for the position thanks to his formerly being a tight end. You can see the movement ability on film with Mauch pulling off blocks in the run game that some NFL tackles can't execute now.
Though his arms are very short for a tackle (32.375 inches), his elite athletic ability and tenacity help him hold up in the passing game as well, notching a solid 81.8 pass-blocking grade with Pro Football Focus.
One thing that will endear him to that Patriots on that note: he got reps at every single offensive line position at the Senior Bowl, showing off his willingness to play wherever he's asked to. Specifically, he started off at guard in Mobile, which may end up being the position he's best suited for in the pros.
That being said, New England hasn't been opposed to drafting short-armed tackles (e.g. Isaiah Wynn) in the past as long as they have other skills needed to offset those limitations, and Mauch would fit that bill.
His hell-raising style of play reminds something of an angrier, maybe even more athletic version of Cole Strange and might be able to play at right or left tackle as a starter as a rookie. Then, if the Patriots felt he would work better at guard, there's a solid chance Mauch could be the eventual replacement for Michael Onwenu, who will be looking for a new deal after this year, at right guard.
The Patriots sure do love a guy who can give them value at multiple spots, and Mauch would certainly give them that.
There's also no doubt he'd become a fan favorite in Foxborough the moment he walked in the door. I mean, how could he not?
