Patriots Urged to Sign ‘Reliable’ 2-Time Champ to Help Drake Maye.
Well, at this point, the stars seem to be aligning and ESPN is definitely sending a strong message to the New England Patriots: Sign free agent Donovan Smith. Last week, it was veteran insider Bill Barnwell who suggested the move. This week it is analyst Matt Bowen, who pushed for the obvious match between the sides in an article called, “Best NFL team fits for remaining free agents, trade candidates.”
Smith is an obvious fit. While it was a surprise to some that the Patriots have not come out with Drake Maye as the clear No. 1 starter at quarterback—it was Jacoby Brissett taking No. 1 reps at OTAs on Monday—one reason for that might well be that the Patriots know their offensive line is not good enough to protect a No. 3 pick.
Especially at left tackle. As it stands it is likely to be former Steelers lineman Chuks Okorafor who winds up with the job, though he is on a one-year deal and was not guaranteed anything. He is not even sure he can make the switch from the right side, where he played his whole career in Pittsburgh, to the left.
“I think it takes time,” Okorafor said on Monday, via NESN.com. “I’m trying to learn left, as of now. I’m trying to learn a whole new playbook. I’m trying to learn a whole new city, a whole new town. So it’s new to me now.”
Drake Maye’s Blind Side a Concern
That should help put the problem into context. Left tackle, of course, protects a quarterback ‘s blind side. The Patriots essentially have no one who has significantly played the position before. Is that a situation the team would want to toss Maye into?
