The New England Patriots face numerous roster gaps heading into the NFL offseason, with one of their most pressing issues being their offensive line.
Strengthening the trenches should be a top priority for the team, especially as they aim to protect quarterback Drake Maye.
With substantial cap space available, the Patriots have the option to target free agents, but exploring trade opportunities could also yield solutions.
David Latham of Last Word On Sports highlighted an intriguing trade candidate for New England: New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Trevor Penning.
“The Patriots could use three new tackles next year, as Vederian Lowe and Demontrey Jacobs are not NFL-caliber starters, and third-round pick Caedan Wallace looked abysmal in limited work,” Latham noted. “While Trevor Penning may not be a superstar, he’s better than all three of those players. As a swing tackle, he could step in at either position and provide better protection for Maye after a rocky rookie season.”
Penning, a former first-round pick from Northern Iowa, was selected 19th overall by the Saints in the 2022 NFL Draft. He started all 17 games for New Orleans this season, excelling in run blocking but struggling in pass protection, earning a 51.6 grade in that area from Pro Football Focus.
While his pass blocking has room for improvement, Penning could still represent a significant upgrade for the Patriots’ struggling offensive line. After being one of the league’s worst units in 2024, New England must address this glaring weakness in the coming months.
