Phil Perry offers instant reaction and analysis to the Patriots’ selection of Penn State OT Caedan Wallace with the 68th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
The New England Patriots entered the 2024 NFL Draft with three glaring positional needs: Quarterback, wide receiver, and offensive tackle. They addressed all three with their first three picks.
After selecting UNC QB Drake Maye third overall and Washington WR Ja'Lynn Polk with the 37th pick, the Patriots took Penn State tackle Caedan Wallace with the No. 68 pick in the third round.
Wallace started at right tackle in 40 games for the Nittany Lions. With Mike Onwenu in that spot for New England, our Phil Perry wonders whether Wallace can flip to the left side.
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Wallace, 24, allowed just one sack on 346 pass plays last season. The 6-foot-5, 314-pounder will look to boost an offensive line that was a weakness for New England throughout most of the 2023 campaign.
If he does move to left tackle -- de facto general manager Eliot Wolf said Friday night the team believes he can flip from the right to left side -- Wallace would need to beat out free agent signing Chukwuma Okorafor, who played left tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers last season.
The Patriots aren't scheduled to pick again on Day 2. They currently have five picks (103, 110, 180, 193, and 231) on Day 3, which kicks off Saturday at 12 p.m. ET.
