Seven months ago, in mid-March, Pats Pulpit’s Brian Hines ranked the New England Patriots’ roster needs ahead of free agency. No. 1 on that list? Offensive tackle.
Back then, the team had only three tackles signed, while three others were set to enter the open market: Trent Brown, Conor McDermott and Andrew Stueber were all under contract beyond the start of the new league year; Isaiah Wynn, Yodny Cajuste (RFA), and Marcus Cannon were not.
Fast forward to mid-October, and only two of those six players can actually be found on the Patriots’ pay roll.