Peter King dropped his annual mock draft on Monday, and he has the New England Patriots coming away with the best offensive tackle in the 2023 NFL draft.
In a draft expected to be full of surprises, King dishes out another for the Patriots with Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski still on the board when New England comes up at No. 14.
The offensive tackle-needy Patriots take the plunge to offer more protection for Mac Jones by giving the line a major boost.
King wrote:
Skoronski could be a plug-and-play guard wherever he goes. I considered him for the Eagles, replacing the departed Isaac Seumalo. Skoronski started 33 games at left tackle for Northwestern and was a unanimous first-team all-American. But his arm length is about three inches short for ideal NFL tackle size, so the Patriots could move him inside. If I’m New England, I’m thrilled Skoronski lasted this long, and I grab him to start a decade for the franchise somewhere on the line.
Skoronski paired with Trent Brown would give the Patriots a formidable tackle duo with some solid veteran depth in Riley Reiff, Yodny Cajuste, Conor McDermott and Calvin Anderson.
Granted, it’s a long shot that Skoronski will still be on the board when the Patriots step to the podium, but then again, there are no certainties until names start coming off the actual draft board. Players pegged to go later go earlier, and players expected to go earlier end up getting picked up later.
Skoronski is a two-time First-Team All-Big Ten player, and he’s also coming off a season where he won the Rimington–Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year award.
Adding another receiver would be the more flashy move for the Patriots on Thursday, but none of it matters if they can’t protect their quarterback. Skoronski can help keep Jones standing, which would give the offense an actual chance to compete.
