New England Patriots
“I could see the Patriots wanting to find someone to groom as Morgan Moses’ replacement.”
The Patriots could use some depth at offensive tackle. AP Photo/Butch Dill
The Patriots are expected to run it back in 2026 with the same starting tackles as last season in Will Campbell and Morgan Moses.
But, New England is operating with plenty of risk at one of the most critical segments of its roster.
Despite Campbell’s lofty draft pedigree (fourth overall pick in 2025) and upside, he labored down the stretch last season — culminating with a porous performance against the Seahawks in Super Bowl LX.
Moses provided veteran leadership and stability, both on the gridiron and in the locker room, for New England in 2025. But, he also turned 35 years old earlier this month.
The Patriots might have bolstered their roster in free agency last week, but they still have several areas to address this offseason, especially when it comes to depth at offensive tackle.
As such, NFL.com draft expert Eric Edholm has New England using the 31st overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to select an intriguing tackle prospect with plenty of room to grow.
At No. 31, Edholm has the Patriots selecting Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor.
“Maybe this pick ends up as part of a trade package for A.J. Brown, but if not, I could see the Patriots wanting to find someone to groom as Morgan Moses’ replacement,” Edholm wrote. “Iheanachor is a fascinating specimen whose best ball is ahead of him.
Even if Moses continues to play at a high level in 2026, it’d be a prudent move for New England to find a long-term replacement for the veteran offensive lineman.
A player with Iheanachor’s tools and upside would seemingly be an ideal pickup for New England, as the Patriots have the luxury of giving him ample time to develop before rolling him out as a full-time starter.
Iheanachor was a late bloomer, as he moved to the U.S. from Nigeria when he was 13 years old and didn’t play football at all during high school. But after first picking up the game while at East Los Angeles Community College, Iheanachor eventually flourished as a blue-chip talent.
The 6-foot-6, 321-pound tackle was a full-time starter at tackle in each of the last two seasons with the Sun Devils — earning Second Team All-Big 12 honors in 2025.
“His tape isn’t perfect, but it’s full of clues hinting he could end up being one of the best offensive linemen in this year’s draft class,” NFL draft expert Daniel Jeremiah wrote of Iheanachor. “In pass pro, he jumps out of his stance and stays square. He is often late to punch, exposing his chest, but he still has the strength to absorb and anchor.
“He’s very athletic to redirect and smother counter moves. In the run game, he has knock-back power. He moves well on pulls and second-level blocks. It might take a little time, but Iheanachor has the raw tools to develop into a high-level starter. He showed a lot of promise at the Senior Bowl.”
Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.
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