Texas A&M tackle Dametrious Crownover comes off the board at No. 196 after 40-plus SEC starts and a strong Senior Bowl showing.
With the No. 196 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots selected Texas A&M offensive lineman Dametrious Crownover on Saturday in Pittsburgh, adding a massive SEC-tested tackle with long-term upside.
Crownover, a former Aggies starting right tackle, brings the kind of size NFL teams love on Day 3. At 6-7 and 335 pounds, he looks the part of a developmental edge protector, and his experience should give him a real chance to stick.
He played 1,886 career snaps at right tackle for Texas A&M and made more than 40 starts in the SEC, one of the toughest proving grounds in college football.
His senior season showed both why scouts were intrigued and where he still needs work. Crownover allowed just two sacks while starting 16 games at right tackle, but he also gave up 27 pressures.
Pro Football Focus credited him with a 58.4 pass-blocking grade, though his run blocking stood out as the stronger part of his game.
That profile makes Crownover an interesting pick. He’s not a finished product, but he has the frame, athletic background and power to become more than just a depth piece.
A former high school tight end, Crownover still moves better than many blockers his size, and that athletic foundation helped him raise his draft stock after entering the process as a possible undrafted free agent.
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His performance at the Senior Bowl also helped change the conversation. Crownover showed enough in front of NFL scouts to prove he belonged in the draft mix, especially with teams always searching for tackles who can develop into reliable starters.
For the Patriots, this is a swing on size, experience and upside. If Crownover sharpens his footwork and hand placement, he could become a valuable piece on the offensive line.
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