NFL Notebook: Are there any real options for Patriots' potential disaster at tackle?

The Patriots have a potential disaster on their hands at both tackle spots — and it could end up sinking the season.

Trent Brown, never the picture of consistency during his entire career, was already not thrilled continuing to be paid as a right tackle but playing left tackle, showed up late and out of shape to mandatory mini-camp.

Calvin Anderson, a backup with the Broncos, has been the de-facto left tackle this offseason and has been routinely run around before pads have gone on.

Reilly Reiff, thought to be on the last legs of his career, has been the backup left tackle.

Conor McDermott continues to be a journeyman but could find himself in line for playing time again.

Youngsters Andrew Stueber (2022 seventh-round pick) and Sidy Sow (2023 fourth round) haven't yet popped, but it's early and the pads have not gone on yet.

Collectively, with Brown at his very best, the Patriots as of today have one good starting tackle. If Brown stays off the program, the Patriots could enter camp with a bunch of No. 3 and 4 tackles.

Yikes.

There have to be some options around the league to supplement what they have, right? Not exactly.

"The tackle spot around the league is very thin," said one NFL executive. "Good luck getting one. Nobody wants to give them up. Even if you have some options, you're one injury away from disaster. That's why you see so many swings in the draft."

I mean, it's so bad that the Raiders re-signed Patriots castoff Jermaine Eluemunor back to start at RT, and two tackles the Patriots were done with (Isaiah Wynn - Dolphins; Yodny Cajuste - Jets) were signed as fliers. 

Of course, Bill Belichick could not be bothered to take one potential athletic tackle in the draft despite having several chances to do so. After filling a need with cornerback Anthony Gonzalez in the first round, Belichick preferred to address depth at defensive line (Keion White), safety (Marte Mapu), interior offensive line (Jake Andrews, Sow, Atonio Mafi) and took two kickers in their first nine picks.

Meanwhile, offensive tackle is a raging inferno of ineptitude from a personnel standpoint. It's so bad, it would not be a surprise to see Belichick look for more (hopefully real?) help elsewhere.

There are a few options between contract years and a few trades. A look at the options for players who could play left tackle (you can get by with one weak tackle):

STREET FREE AGENTS

Taylor Lewan, Titans: He's very much damaged goods in that he filed a lawsuit against Dr. James Andrews for his ACL repair that has caused "permanent injury to his right knee, and surrounding structures, tendons, cartilage, and ligaments." Lewan alleges it has cut short his career.

Jason Peters, Cowboys: It appears that he's still on the street but he's dealt with a ton of injuries and the feeling is he's only a backup and that he could return to Dallas. Wouldn't be a surprise if the Patriots work him out at some point - if he's still interested in playing.

Eric Fisher, Dolphins: Was literally signed off the farm last year but never got healthy enough to play. This is how bad the tackle market is, that teams recycled guys like this.

CONTRACT YEARS

Jonah Williams, Bengals: If you're hoping for a real impact player, this is it. The 2019 11th overall pick is headed for a big payday this season, but he's not thrilled with being moved from left to right tackle for Orlando Brown. Will the Bengals be interested in dealing him? They also have veterans La'el Collins and Cody Ford, and 2021 second-round pick Carman Jackson — imagine that, some depth?! — but it would be a big surprise if the Bengals moved Williams anytime soon. According to a team source, the Bengals are very wary at being short at tackle after Joe Burrow's ACL tear. They are willing to invest heavily to set him and his weapons up for success. The best hope for the Patriots is that Jackson and Collins shows really well in camp and it makes conservative owner/GM Mike Brown think a little bit more.

Patriots could help the situation by offering up a safety, perhaps Kyle Dugger or Adrian Phillips. The Bengals lost both their starting safeties in free agency and are going really young. Dugger and Williams would be swapping contract years. Phillips could be attractive due to his vast experience.

I was going mention Yosuah Nijman of the Packers, since he's started at both tackle spots. But the 2019 UDFA was so bad he always got demoted.

OTHER TEAMS THAT COULD HAVE A SURPLUS
(If tackles play well in camp/preseason)

Browns: Drafted the project the Patriots could have in Dawand Jones. It would be a shock if he was ready to make Jack Conklin available.

Colts: Also drafted a project the Patriots passed on (Blake Freeland). He stands a better chance of earning a spot and making RT Braden Smith available. But that's not much of an upgrade for the Patriots.

Raiders: You want Justin Herron back? I do like Thayer Munford but I don't think the Raiders are giving him up.

Giants: There's a chance Mass native Matt Peart could be had, but he's really more of a RT.

Cardinals: If they're just rebuilding and tossing this season, LT DJ Humphries and RT Kelvin Beachum are average veterans that could possibly help - a little.

That's it. That's the extent of tackle depth around the league. This is why you take multiple fliers on upside at the position in the draft and hope for development. 

NICKEL PACKAGE

1. Latest DeAndre Hopkins update from ESPN:

Translation: He's waiting for a better offer and/or situation. Will he get it? He might not.

2. Bill Belichick spoke to the 33rd Team and his most interesting comments were on CB Christian Gonzalez:

"When we go into the draft, we don't really target one guy," Belichick said during a recent interview with The 33rd Team. "Especially when you're drafting at whatever point. Need isn't as big of a criteria as good football players. I learned that at the Giants in [1984] when we took Carl Banks. We had (Lawrence) Taylor, obviously, and it was kind of like, 'Why are we taking another outside linebacker?' As it turned out, that was probably one of the better picks that we had at the Giants. ...

"I don't think it's about where you need a player. If you've got a good football player, nobody's ever gonna regret that. I'm glad Gonzo was there. I think when you just go and look for one guy and then he's not there, there's other players in the draft that can help us, as well. But he's been great to work with, and I look forward to getting him ready to go for training camp."

3. Mike Lombardi is pushing Dalvin Cook to the Patriots. 

It makes a lot of sense, and Lombardi isn't wrong. But Rhamondre Stevenson should already feel undervalued at $1.2 million. If they bring in Cook at decent money (he made $12 million AAV for Vikings), how is Stevenson going to react to that? The Patriots can't extend Stevenson until after this season. 

4. Count Kirk Herbstreit as president of the Mac Jones fan club:

“Give me a break on what they were doing offensively last year,” Herbstreit said on The Pat McAfee Show. “[Jones] had no chance. Not only did they they not have weapons around him, but schematically he had no chance. So to blame him is a bunch of bull[expletive].

“You get Bill O’Brien, who is as good of an offensive mind as there is to come in there and work with Mac Jones. I’m telling you right now you’re going to see a drastic change in what he’s doing as a quarterback and what the Patriots are able to do on that side of the football.

“Mac Jones is going to be a Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback in the very near future, whether it’s this year, next year, the next coming years. He’s that good … He was honestly the most impressive quarterback I’ve ever spoken to in college about what he sees and how his brain processes and how it fires.”

5. Patriots will be back on the field July 26 for the first camp practice. First three days are not in pads:

Veteran players reporting to training camp on Tuesday, July 25. The team will conduct their first training camp practices on Wednesday, July 26 on the grass fields behind Gillette Stadium. All outdoor training camp practices are open to the public and free to attend. The Patriots also confirmed open practices on Thursday, July 27 and Friday, July 28. The team’s fourth open practice will be held that weekend on either Saturday, July 29 or Sunday, July 30.