Leading into the NFL draft, my "favorite five" prospects for the New England Patriots at their five primary positions of need -- running back, cornerback, offensive tackle, defensive tackle and wide receiver -- will be highlighted. Part III is on offensive tackles:
Shon Coleman (Auburn): The 6-foot-5 1/2, 307-pound Coleman is one of the more inspiring stories of the draft, having battled leukemia while putting together a fine career and earning an undergraduate and master's degree. He'll turn 25 during his rookie season and was one of the Patriots' pre-draft visitors.
Germain Ifedi (Texas A&M): One of the draft's bigger tackles at 6-foot-5 3/4, 324 pounds, he has 36-inch arm length and a set of physical traits that should intrigue the Patriots. He played right guard in 2013 before moving to right tackle in 2014 and 2015, and is known for his intelligence, among other things. If he's available at No. 60 or 61 overall, which might be a stretch, he'd be a steal.
Alex Lewis (Nebraska): The combination of size (6-foot-6, 312 pounds), aggressive/tough playing style, intelligence and swing tackle potential makes him one of the more intriguing options for New England should he be available within the first two days of the draft. He overcame some early adversity in his career and was voted a team captain.
John Theus (Georgia): The 6-foot-6 1/2, 313-pound Theus is more of a mid-to-late-round projection and scores points for his intelligence, versatility and playing at the highest level of college football. He was a team captain, and one question scouts will ask is if he can develop more power.
Cole Toner (Harvard): The Patriots have five picks in the sixth round and two in the seventh round, and if the 6-foot-5 1/4, 306-pound Toner is available, some of his traits fit well with what the Patriots generally like in their tackles -- intelligence and lateral movement skills, among them.
PREVIOUS POSTS
Part I: Running backs
Part II: Cornerbacks
