There’s a growing consensus that the Patriots should select an offensive tackle with the No. 4 pick in next week’s NFL Draft.
The obvious choice in that spot would be LSU’s Will Campbell.
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It’s certainly an admirable goal, to try and find someone to help keep franchise quarterback Drake Maye upright and healthy.
But there is a way for New England to fill that need and then spend the draft pick on a future star at a different position.
NBC Sports Boston’s Darren Hartwell is keeping his eye on a trade for Raiders left tackle Kolton Miller.
Miller isn’t participating in the offseason program for Las Vegas as he seeks a contract extension. He’s going into the final year of his deal.
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It’s the last year of a $54 million contract, and it has a $15.7 million cap hit for 2025.
Hartwell writes, “Practically speaking, the Patriots have the cap space to absorb Miller’s cap hit and offer him a contract extension. He’d likely cost a Day 2 draft pick (and potentially a Day 3 selection as well), but that might be a price the Patriots are willing to pay.”
Miller was the 14th-ranked offensive tackle in the NFL in 2024 by Pro Football Focus out of 141 ranked players.
If the Patriots get Miller, Hartwell suggests they could instead target in the draft RB Ashton Jeanty, DT Mason Graham, TE Tyler Warren or DE Jalon Walker. It would also open up the option of trading down.
There’s certainly a case to be made. It would just require the Raiders to be on the same page.