The Patriots are in the market to add to their offensive line in the draft next month.
The New England Patriots are in the market this offseason to add to their offensive line. Head coach Mike Vrabel made an appearance earlier this week at Boston College's Pro Day.
On Friday, cameras caught Vrabel at Arizona State working with players on the Sun Devils. Not just any players, offensive linemen.
The Arizona State Sun Devils have a few top prospects in the draft coming up next month. Two of whom are wide receiver Jordan Tyson and offensive tackle Max Iheanachor.
Cameras caught Iheanachor getting some one-on-one time with the Patriots' head coach; the footage immediately prompted people to jump to conclusions.
The video above shows you just why Vrabel is a players' coach. This is a guy who has not worn football pads since 2010, and he gets in the trenches to do handwork with a top NFL draft prospect. Iheanachor and Vrabel locked up during the training session, and it almost looks like the Patriots coach still has it, 15 years removed from playing.
"It was definitely fun," Iheanachor told reporters. "He had some keys for me. It's really a big blessing for me to learn from him and him being hands-on and telling me what I need to work on."
The offensive tackle was also among the many invited to the Patriots' facilities for a Top 30 meeting to take a deeper look at his skill set and determine whether he is a fit for the team come draft night.
Nigerian-born Iheanachor began his athletic journey as a high school basketball star. He's 6'6" and 321 pounds. The Sun Devils' tackle is targeted to be taken in the first round but could spill into the second round depending on how things go.
As it stands, the Patriots have the 31st overall pick. As the A.J. Brown rumors loom, the Patriots may trade that pick away, but time will tell on that.
Vrabel and the Patriots have come under some criticism since the Super Bowl for making adjustments to their offensive line to better serve the goal of winning a championship in 2026. The Patriots signed Alijah Vera-Tucker to be their left guard, while Jared Wilson is shifting to center to replace the traded starter, Garrett Bradbury. The Patriots have also brought in James Hudson III on a one-year deal after being released by the New York Giants.
The team remains confident in left tackle Will Campbell going into year two with him but seems to be well aware that they need more depth to protect Drake Maye.
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