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The Patriots have been labeled a great for offensive line prospect Keylan Rutledge
The New England Patriots have a lot of positive momentum building after their surprise run to Super Bowl LX last season. However, they ended up falling short against the Seattle Seahawks, which has led the team to begin working on ways to improve their team for the 2026 campaign.
Right now, all eyes are on the 2026 NFL Draft, where the Pats have the No. 31 overall selection in the first round. Despite having its starting offensive line in place, New England is reportedly taking a long look at this spot when it comes to its first-round selection. With that in mind, the team was recently labeled a “great fit” for Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets offensive lineman Keylan Rutledge.
Patriots Linked to Keylan Rutledge
New England has already made a pair of notable moves involving its o-line this offseason, as it traded Garrett Bradbury to the Chicago Bears before signing Alijah Vera-Tucker to a three-year, $42 million contract in free agency. With Jared Wilson set to kick over from left guard to center, the Patriots’ starting offensive line is already in place.
That isn’t to say this team doesn’t need help here, though. Morgan Moses is likely close to retiring, and after laboring through the playoffs, all eyes are going to be on Will Campbell to begin the year. Vera-Tucker has a history of being injury-prone, and Wilson is a question mark at center after spending his rookie season at left guard.
That’s where the versatile Rutledge could come into play. Rutledge can play at both guard positions and as a center, and while he likely wouldn’t start in Week 1, he could provide more depth at a spot on the roster that desperately needs it. As a result, Bucky Brooks of NFL Network believes that the Georgia Tech standout could be a surprise option for New England at the end of the first round.
“I love everything about him,” Brooks said on “Move The Sticks.” “I talk about him being a bully, I talk about how athletic he is, climbing to the next level, how physical he is at the point of attack, how he can set the table for everything that you look for at the line of scrimmage … When you look at the Patriots in particular, he would be a great fit down there. He kind of fits the style of play and what they want to do.”
Should the Patriots Draft Keylan Rutledge?
GettyGeorgia Tech offensive lineman Keylan Rutledge.
Rutledge certainly appears to be a good fit for the Patriots, with Brooks eventually going on to compare him to franchise legend Logan Mankins, who earned six Pro Bowl selections during his nine years with the team. Good offensive linemen are becoming more and more valuable in the NFL, and Rutledge has quite a few qualities that make him a desirable target.
And yet, interior offensive line depth simply isn’t this team’s top need right now. With Ben Brown still around as the top backup along the interior, this is a spot New England can afford to target later in the draft. If they want to select a tackle with their first-round pick, that makes more sense, but using a first rounder on Rutledge, given the other areas of need, would have to be considered a rather head-scratching move.
Owen Crisafulli Owen Crisafulli is an Email Newsletter Editor & Breaking News Writer at Heavy Sports. His work has also appeared on ClutchPoints, Sports Illustrated, The Sporting News, Athlon Sports, NESN Basketball Network, and FanSided, where he shared his insights on a variety of sports topics primarily surrounding the NFL, NBA, and MLB. More about Owen Crisafulli
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