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The New England Patriots have had a glaring need at offensive tackle for several years now, and as we continue our positional rankings, this might be the most relevant group for the team's future.
Despite signing Morgan Moses to hold down the right side, the left tackle spot remains wide open, and with the fourth overall pick, this could be where the Patriots make their move.
Over the years, New England has tried to patch together the tackle position with one-year deals, late-round picks and bargain bin veterans. That approach hasn’t worked. With a deep, athletic and diverse offensive tackle class in 2025, there’s no excuse not to invest in a cornerstone blindside protector for Drake Maye.
There will be some surprises in this ranking. I view players like Kelvin Banks and Will Campbell a bit differently than the consensus, but I’ve prioritized projection, tape and traits over conventional wisdom. Let’s dive into the top 10 offensive tackles in this class.
At 6-foot-6 and 317 pounds with 11 3/8-inch hands and 34.5-inch arms, Cameron Williams is a massive, intimidating presence. While not the fastest lineman, he’s a people-mover in the run game with rare grip strength and raw power. When he lands his punch, defenders feel it. He flashes some shocking reps where he turns pass sets into pancake finishes, and he's surprisingly mobile at his size when climbing to the second level.
That said, he’s very much a developmental project. He bends at the waist instead of the knees, has balance issues in pass protection, and can struggle with change-of-direction rushers. He’s a true right tackle in a power-based offense — and if coached up properly, he could be a long-term starter.
Jonah Savaiinaea is built like a tank — 6-foot-4 and 324 pounds with impressive movement skills and athletic testing across the board. He’s got good arm length, powerful hands and elite grip strength. He’s a patient blocker with natural timing, and he brings a calm, composed demeanor to his pass sets. His three years of starting experience in the Pac-12 have prepared him well for the jump to the NFL.
There’s a lot of Darnell Wright in his game — a strong right tackle with plus movement and enough finesse to survive speed rushers. But he does struggle to anchor consistently, and quicker defenders can get underneath him or force soft spots inside. He’s a high-floor, Day 2 starter who can plug in at right tackle immediately for a team looking to stabilize the edge.
A small-school standout, Charles Grant is a former wrestler turned left tackle who flashes big-time traits. At 6-foot-5 and 311 pounds, he’s an excellent athlete with good leverage, foot quickness and competitive drive. He’s a natural in zone blocking schemes, with strong grip strength and the ability to mirror rushers at the college level.
That said, the jump from FCS to NFL competition is massive. He’s still raw in his technique — particularly with his hand placement — and has a frame that may struggle to carry more than 315–320 pounds long-term. But Grant’s upside, athletic profile and developmental arc make him an appealing Day 3 pick for teams willing to groom him.
A local product from Massachusetts, Ozzy Trapillo stands a towering 6-foot-8 and 316 pounds with 33-inch arms and an 81.5-inch wingspan. His size and strength immediately pop on tape, and he combines that with good movement skills and above-average testing. Trapillo plays with a strong base, solid technique and excellent patience in pass sets. He’s a high-floor right tackle who can start as a rookie.
He needs to maintain consistent pad level and become more aggressive in the second level, particularly as a run blocker. His size can be a liability against speed rushers, but his foundation and coaching (with some influence from Dante Scarnecchia) give him a strong shot to stick early.
Josh Conerly Jr. is one of the more polished pass protectors in the class. At 6-foot-5 and 311 pounds with 33.5-inch arms and 10.375-inch hands, Conerly boasts a well-rounded athletic profile. His movement skills and technique are NFL-ready. He’s a fluid knee-bender with a great feel for balance, range and timing.
His biggest area of growth is in the run game — he needs to improve strength and sustain in the trenches. He can also be vulnerable to hesitation moves and inside counters if he overextends. But as a junior with high-level reps and clean footwork, he’s a potential Day 2 steal with legitimate starter traits.
At 6-foot-6 and 331 pounds, Aireontae Ersery is one of the most explosive offensive linemen in the draft. His 40, vertical and broad jump are all top-tier for his position. He’s a track-and-field athlete with a thick frame, strong base and natural anchor. His durability stands out too — 38 straight starts in the Big Ten.
His pad level and hand timing can be inconsistent, and he sometimes punches too early, exposing himself to swim moves. Lateral agility isn’t elite, and he can get too upright or overaggressive. Still, Ersery’s natural power, finishing mentality and football IQ give him a high ceiling and the makeup of a Day 2 starter.
Josh Simmons is a mauler with positional versatility and NFL toughness. At 6-foot-5 and 317 pounds, he boasts impressive strength and functional athleticism. He’s got a quick first step, powerful hands and a clean kick slide to handle edge speed. He can play either tackle spot and has good spatial awareness to work in both pass pro and run fits.
The concerns? Injuries, penalties, and a tendency to overextend. His hand placement still needs refining, and his technique can fall apart late in reps. Still, Simmons has the traits to be a starter early, and if he can stay healthy, he’s a value pick with starting potential on either side.
Membou’s rare combination of athleticism and tenacity make him a top-three tackle on my board. He’s one of the most physically dominant players in this draft — violent on contact, quick off the snap and strong in his base. He’s not refined yet, but you can’t teach the raw tools. Whether at right tackle or eventually the left side, Membou is a tone-setter with All-Pro upside.
Will Campbell has been a stalwart on LSU’s offensive line and one of the more consistent blindside protectors in the country. At 6-foot-6 and 319 pounds, he’s explosive, technically advanced and a natural leader. He has excellent recovery, processing speed and anchor abilities.
The issue? His physical profile. He has short arms (32 5/8”) and a wingspan in the bottom 1 percent historically (77 2/8”). That may limit his NFL ceiling as a left tackle. Some believe he’ll kick inside to guard, where he could be elite — possibly better than Peter Skoronski, who had similar concerns when he came out. But he’s proven he can handle the edge at a high level, and if a team wants a technician with great tape, Campbell’s their guy.
Kelvin Banks Jr. is everything you want in a franchise left tackle. He started 42 games for Texas, including their transition to the SEC, and dominated top-tier edge talent. At 6-foot-5 and 320 pounds with 33.5-inch arms and quick feet, Banks is technically sound, explosive in space and has the athletic traits to match up with NFL speed off the edge.
He plays with elite spatial awareness, quick mental processing and has the hand strength to control reps early. While he can overbend at times or struggle with hip fluidity, his overall floor is rock solid. Banks can start Day 1 and has the upside to be one of the league’s top blindside protectors. If Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter are off the board, he’s the pick at No. 4 for the Patriots, no questions asked.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: 2025 NFL draft: Ranking and evaluating the top-10 offensive tackles
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Despite signing Morgan Moses to hold down the right side, the left tackle spot remains wide open, and with the fourth overall pick, this could be where the Patriots make their move.
Over the years, New England has tried to patch together the tackle position with one-year deals, late-round picks and bargain bin veterans. That approach hasn’t worked. With a deep, athletic and diverse offensive tackle class in 2025, there’s no excuse not to invest in a cornerstone blindside protector for Drake Maye.
There will be some surprises in this ranking. I view players like Kelvin Banks and Will Campbell a bit differently than the consensus, but I’ve prioritized projection, tape and traits over conventional wisdom. Let’s dive into the top 10 offensive tackles in this class.
10. Cameron Williams, Texas
At 6-foot-6 and 317 pounds with 11 3/8-inch hands and 34.5-inch arms, Cameron Williams is a massive, intimidating presence. While not the fastest lineman, he’s a people-mover in the run game with rare grip strength and raw power. When he lands his punch, defenders feel it. He flashes some shocking reps where he turns pass sets into pancake finishes, and he's surprisingly mobile at his size when climbing to the second level.
That said, he’s very much a developmental project. He bends at the waist instead of the knees, has balance issues in pass protection, and can struggle with change-of-direction rushers. He’s a true right tackle in a power-based offense — and if coached up properly, he could be a long-term starter.
9. Jonah Savaiinaea, Arizona
Jonah Savaiinaea is built like a tank — 6-foot-4 and 324 pounds with impressive movement skills and athletic testing across the board. He’s got good arm length, powerful hands and elite grip strength. He’s a patient blocker with natural timing, and he brings a calm, composed demeanor to his pass sets. His three years of starting experience in the Pac-12 have prepared him well for the jump to the NFL.
There’s a lot of Darnell Wright in his game — a strong right tackle with plus movement and enough finesse to survive speed rushers. But he does struggle to anchor consistently, and quicker defenders can get underneath him or force soft spots inside. He’s a high-floor, Day 2 starter who can plug in at right tackle immediately for a team looking to stabilize the edge.
8. Charles Grant, William & Mary
A small-school standout, Charles Grant is a former wrestler turned left tackle who flashes big-time traits. At 6-foot-5 and 311 pounds, he’s an excellent athlete with good leverage, foot quickness and competitive drive. He’s a natural in zone blocking schemes, with strong grip strength and the ability to mirror rushers at the college level.
That said, the jump from FCS to NFL competition is massive. He’s still raw in his technique — particularly with his hand placement — and has a frame that may struggle to carry more than 315–320 pounds long-term. But Grant’s upside, athletic profile and developmental arc make him an appealing Day 3 pick for teams willing to groom him.
7. Ozzy Trapillo, Boston College
A local product from Massachusetts, Ozzy Trapillo stands a towering 6-foot-8 and 316 pounds with 33-inch arms and an 81.5-inch wingspan. His size and strength immediately pop on tape, and he combines that with good movement skills and above-average testing. Trapillo plays with a strong base, solid technique and excellent patience in pass sets. He’s a high-floor right tackle who can start as a rookie.
He needs to maintain consistent pad level and become more aggressive in the second level, particularly as a run blocker. His size can be a liability against speed rushers, but his foundation and coaching (with some influence from Dante Scarnecchia) give him a strong shot to stick early.
6. Josh Conerly Jr., Oregon
Josh Conerly Jr. is one of the more polished pass protectors in the class. At 6-foot-5 and 311 pounds with 33.5-inch arms and 10.375-inch hands, Conerly boasts a well-rounded athletic profile. His movement skills and technique are NFL-ready. He’s a fluid knee-bender with a great feel for balance, range and timing.
His biggest area of growth is in the run game — he needs to improve strength and sustain in the trenches. He can also be vulnerable to hesitation moves and inside counters if he overextends. But as a junior with high-level reps and clean footwork, he’s a potential Day 2 steal with legitimate starter traits.
5. Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota
At 6-foot-6 and 331 pounds, Aireontae Ersery is one of the most explosive offensive linemen in the draft. His 40, vertical and broad jump are all top-tier for his position. He’s a track-and-field athlete with a thick frame, strong base and natural anchor. His durability stands out too — 38 straight starts in the Big Ten.
His pad level and hand timing can be inconsistent, and he sometimes punches too early, exposing himself to swim moves. Lateral agility isn’t elite, and he can get too upright or overaggressive. Still, Ersery’s natural power, finishing mentality and football IQ give him a high ceiling and the makeup of a Day 2 starter.
4. Josh Simmons, Ohio State
Josh Simmons is a mauler with positional versatility and NFL toughness. At 6-foot-5 and 317 pounds, he boasts impressive strength and functional athleticism. He’s got a quick first step, powerful hands and a clean kick slide to handle edge speed. He can play either tackle spot and has good spatial awareness to work in both pass pro and run fits.
The concerns? Injuries, penalties, and a tendency to overextend. His hand placement still needs refining, and his technique can fall apart late in reps. Still, Simmons has the traits to be a starter early, and if he can stay healthy, he’s a value pick with starting potential on either side.
3. Armand Membou, Missouri
Membou’s rare combination of athleticism and tenacity make him a top-three tackle on my board. He’s one of the most physically dominant players in this draft — violent on contact, quick off the snap and strong in his base. He’s not refined yet, but you can’t teach the raw tools. Whether at right tackle or eventually the left side, Membou is a tone-setter with All-Pro upside.
2. Will Campbell, LSU
Will Campbell has been a stalwart on LSU’s offensive line and one of the more consistent blindside protectors in the country. At 6-foot-6 and 319 pounds, he’s explosive, technically advanced and a natural leader. He has excellent recovery, processing speed and anchor abilities.
The issue? His physical profile. He has short arms (32 5/8”) and a wingspan in the bottom 1 percent historically (77 2/8”). That may limit his NFL ceiling as a left tackle. Some believe he’ll kick inside to guard, where he could be elite — possibly better than Peter Skoronski, who had similar concerns when he came out. But he’s proven he can handle the edge at a high level, and if a team wants a technician with great tape, Campbell’s their guy.
1. Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas
Kelvin Banks Jr. is everything you want in a franchise left tackle. He started 42 games for Texas, including their transition to the SEC, and dominated top-tier edge talent. At 6-foot-5 and 320 pounds with 33.5-inch arms and quick feet, Banks is technically sound, explosive in space and has the athletic traits to match up with NFL speed off the edge.
He plays with elite spatial awareness, quick mental processing and has the hand strength to control reps early. While he can overbend at times or struggle with hip fluidity, his overall floor is rock solid. Banks can start Day 1 and has the upside to be one of the league’s top blindside protectors. If Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter are off the board, he’s the pick at No. 4 for the Patriots, no questions asked.
Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: 2025 NFL draft: Ranking and evaluating the top-10 offensive tackles
Continue reading...
