I know that no one wants to talk about, especially after a Super Bowl victory, but it really needs to be said. The New England Patriots will be in serious trouble if Tom Brady's age ever catches up to him.
Brady will turn 38 this summer. He was hit 82 times last year behind an offensive line that didn't really find its footing until a month into the season. I know he impressed in limited snaps last year but is anyone really sold on Jimmy Garoppolo leading the Pats back to the Super Bowl should Brady go down with an injury? I didn't think so.
If Bill Belichick wants to keep adding to his storied legacy then he is going to have to better protect Brady in 2015. That means looking to the NFL Draft for some young and talented offensive linemen.
"I have guard as the team's No. 1 need at this time, even if Dan Connolly returns, because I believe that position could still use an infusion of high-upside youth with the future in mind," ESPN Patriots reporter Mike Reiss wrote. "It reminds me of the early part of the 2004 season when the Patriots were visiting the Cardinals in Week 2 and Bill Belichick kept talking about how their offensive line was so big that they blocked out the sun. They were indeed big, but they weren't very good. The Patriots had five sacks that day."
Brady isn't the only one who could use some better blocking. Although Stevan Ridley's injury didn't help matters, New England ranked 25th in the NFL in yards per carry (3.9) last season. The team ranked just 18th in rushing offense (107.9 yards per game) overall.
Reiss points to Florida State's Cameron Erving as a prime fit for the New England offense, though he notes that Erving may be off the board by the time the Patriots pick at No. 32. Regardless of where the Pats, who are notorious for moving around the draft board, end up picking they should absolutely be focusing on the offensive line with a high round selection.
