Patriots “Have Done a Lot of Research on” a Possible Trent Brown Substitute
The Patriots’ “Homework” on Viable Trent Brown’s Successor
Trent Brown A draft prospect who the New England Patriots believe could replace LT Trent Brown has “done a lot of homework on” him.
The New England Patriots prioritize Trent Brown’s replacement when they select wide receivers in the 2024 NFL Draft, which may be the reason why they have “done a lot of homework on BYU offensive tackle Kingsley Suamataia.”
Jordan Reid of ESPN says that Suamataia is someone the Patriots should “keep an eye on” when they select the 34th overall pick, which is the second pick of the second round.
Reid believes that “if the Pats do go QB in the first round,” the case for Suamataia will be stronger. The team with the third overall pick this year will probably choose to go with a quarterback in the first round.
The selection puts some of the best passers in this class, such as Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, or J.J. McCarthy, within reach of the QB-dependent Patriots. For the Patriots, any one of those three could take over at the most crucial position in football.
However, without a reliable line in front of them, none of the three players can succeed; the Pats still lack one after Brown signed a one-year contract with the Cincinnati Bengals during the free agency period.
In his last season in New England, Brown was not an elite left tackle, but he was still a physically strong and experienced player.
A capable substitute would be a prospect with Suamataia’s versatility and strength.
Trent Brown-Like Features in Kingsley Suamataia Brown and Suamataia have a few beneficial traits in common, such as similar sizes. Brown is six feet eight inches tall and weighs 370 pounds; the younger tackle is six feet five inches and 326 pounds.
Regarding positional flexibility, there is a greater degree of similarity. According to NFL.com’s Chad Reuter, Suamataia “started 12 games at RT” in 2022 and played “11 games at LT” the following year. Brown was a versatile player who could play both sides of the line. Since Mike Onwenu’s return has secured the Patriots’ right, Suamataia would be needed to shut down the left.
Suamataia, who allowed just 13 and 2 sacks from “364 pass-blocking snaps” last season, would be a good fit as a blindside protector for a rookie quarterback, according to PFF BAL Ravens.
These figures are in line with Brown’s 2023 stats, which according to Pro Football Focus showed him giving up three sacks and seventeen pressures. Brown’s ability to block passes was not always his strongest suit; more often than not, his large frame was more helpful in creating space for runners.
Suamataia is skilled on the ground as well, displaying remarkable move abilities for a large man. similar to how he led the path for LJ Martin’s touchdown run.
The Patriots’ best chance of capturing Suamataia may lie in their ability to move people in space. Director of Scouting Eliot Wolf can have a significant impact on the kind of offensive tackles the Patriots select in the draft. Kingsley Suamataia Fits Patriots Prototype. Phil Perry of NBCS Boston, who compiled a list of qualified linemen who are Wolf’s archetypes, claims as much. Suamataia’s potential scheme fit is the reason he made the list: “Having a player like Suamataia with those kinds of in-space movement skills could be a tremendous fit for a Patriots team that could be emphasizing zone running.” The Patriots may be able to select him at No. 34 overall.
When Brown was in the trenches, the Pats preferred a power-style running game; a zone-based attack would be different. The zone style of play employed by the Cleveland Browns was observed by new offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, who will be aware that the scheme needs more mobile blockers.
Based on the move skills that Devin Jackson of The Philadelphia Inquirer highlighted, Suamataia more closely matches the job description than Brown. For the rebuilding Patriots, matching Suamataia with a franchise quarterback who is ready for the pros would be a huge coup.
Just those two selections would establish the post-Bill Belichick era’s first draft and give new head coach Jerod Mayo plenty of room to succeed.
