Friday evening, the Patriots selected former Penn State OT Caedan Wallace early in the third round with pick No. 68. Wallace started all 13 games at RT for Penn State in 2023, playing opposite of 2024 first-round draft selection Olu Fashanu.
The 6’5″, 314-pound tackle possesses the ability to potentially be an immediate starter on the right side of the offensive line, but current RT Mike Onwenu and RG Sidy Sow provided some needed stability for the Patriots over the latter half of the 2023 NFL season. Initially, it was difficult to make sense of Wallace’s proper fit in the trenches.
Wallace, 24, played in 40 games during his five-year career at Penn State. Before the Patriots drafted Wallace, several tackles were flying off the board, including Patrick Paul, Blake Fisher, Roger Rosengarten, and Kingsley Suamataia.
However, Patriots de facto general manager Eliot Wolf believes Wallace can play on the left edge.
“We feel like Caedan has the athleticism to play over on the left side…Olu Fashanu was the reason why he played on the right side at Penn State.”
During a media session shortly after being selected, Wallace attested to Wolf’s comment when asked if he believes he can play at left tackle.
“Super confident,” Wallace said. “I play every position on the line.” Wallace later noted that he spent time at left tackle during the Shrine Bowl.
Caedan Wallace was also asked to describe his game, and he labeled himself “a baller.”
“Physical and intelligent. I’m a baller, and I can’t wait to bring that to the league…I can’t wait to learn more about the game and just grind.”
The rest of New England’s current offensive tackle corps consists of recently signed OT Chukwuma Okorafor, Calvin Anderson, Conor McDermott, Vederian Lowe, and Tyrone Wheatley Jr.
Given Wallace’s potential to be an immediate starter, he will likely enter a training camp primarily against Chukwuma Okorafor, whom Eliot Wolf labeled as a starting option at left tackle.
Nonetheless, the Patriots spent high draft capital on a prospect who could potentially serve as new protection on the left side for third overall selection, Drake Maye.
The Patriots have no other picks in Day 2 and will pick six times on Saturday.
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