Over the next four weeks WEEI.com will offer up a total of 28 prospects who could be potential Patriots selections in the 2021 NFL Draft. While the top five projected overall prospects – QB Trevor Lawrence, QB Zach Wilson, WR Ja’Marr Chase, TE Kyle Pitts and OT Penei Sewell – won’t be included, all other players at all positions will be considered potential targets for Bill Belichick and his staff. Today, we address the possibility of New England targeting a top offensive lineman in the first round.
Rashawn Slater
T/G Northwestern
6-4, 305
Resume: A native of Sugarland, Texas, Slater was a mid-level prospect coming out of Clements High School where he won just three games over three seasons, choosing Northwestern over Illinois, Kansas and Rice, the only Texas school to pursue him. … Slater made an almost instant impact as an All-Big Ten freshman, starting 12 of the 13 games he played at right tackle.
… Slater would go on to start 37 of the 38 games he played, switching to left tackle for all 11 games in 2019 where he earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors. … He then chose to opt out of the 2020 season. … Slater’s father, Reggie, played eight seasons in the NBA after a college career at Wyoming. … Slater had a reputation of playing up to his competition and acquitting himself well against elite pass rushers, including Ohio State’s Chase Young in 2019, before the Buckeye was drafted No. 2 overall and became a Pro Bowl pro with Washington.
Pre-Draft Buzz: Uncorked an impressive pro day by running a 4.88 40 while putting up 33 reps in the bench press. … There are questions about Slater’s build, though, with less than ideal length. This could lead to some teams seeing Slater as an interior lineman, with The Athletic noting it’s the “Isaiah Wynn conversation all over again” in reference to the current Patriots left tackle and former first-round pick out of Georgia. … Beyond his impressive work against impressive pass rushers, The Ringer describes Slater as having “forklift power” in the running game, comparing him to Cowboys All-Pro Zack Martin. … By most accounts, Slater is either the No. 2 tackle prospect in the draft or the No. 1 guard available. … Scouting reports slot Slater as best suited for a zone blocking scheme in the NFL and list his biggest concern/weakness is a lack of what ProFootballNetwork.com calls “brute strength.” … Still, NFL.com writes that Slater’s “combination of strength, athletic ability and quick processing should make him one of the safer offensive line picks in this draft and an early starter.”
Why Slater fits the Patriots’ needs: The Patriots offensive line is pretty set for 2021. Between its returning starters, a trade to bring Trent Brown back and re-signing David Andrews and Ted Karras (after a year in Miami), New England has a solid stable of bodies in the trenches even while losing Joe Thuney for $80 million to the Chiefs. But Belichick has often drafted for a year or two down the road at various positions, including the line. Wynn’s future in Foxborough is hazy as New England must make a decision on his fifth-year extension. Wynn has played well when healthy, but also spent significant time on IR in each of his first three seasons. Brown is also not the long-term answer at right tackle. That means bodies could be moving around Andrews, Shaq Mason and super 2020 rookie Michael Onwenu. Slater is an athletic, versatile lineman in the Patriots mold. The fact that he somewhat lacks ideal measurables or obvious position fit clearly would never scare off New England. Belichick and Co. have never been shy about investing in the offensive line. Slater has all the tools to fit a number of different positions in New England. Would he be the sexy pick? Nope, but that doesn’t mean he’d be a bad one even if he might not have an obvious role as a rookie.