Cody Whitehair Should Be New England Patriots’ No. 1 Draft Target Following 2016 NFL Combine

By Jacob Camenker

The New England Patriots were one of the disappointments down the stretch this past season in the NFL, and the team needs to add a few pieces if they want to compete for another Super Bowl title. Tom Brady is nearing the end of his storied career, and the team needs to ensure that they can keep him protected in 2016. With all of that said, the team needs to target some help on the interior line in the draft and they should look into picking Cody Whitehair out of Kansas State to help fix their issues.

Whitehair was relatively successful playing left tackle for the Wildcats in 2015, but it is clear that his best position at the next level will be on the interior. Whitehair has some solid athleticism and should be able to move around fairly well in the backfield. While he is strong, he needs to be able to add more strength or he will risk being overpowered by interior pass rushers.

Still, despite these minor weaknesses, Whitehair could end up developing into the best guard in this draft class. He did put on an impressive show at the Combine, showing his quick feet and speed (5.01 40-yard dash). So, if he can improve his strength, he will be a very well-rounded player.

For the Patriots, Whitehair would be an upgrade for the team immediately. The team does have some youth at the guard position. Rookie Shaq Mason started most of last season while rookie Tre’ Jackson was a backup. The unit just needs some players with more upside. The aforementioned two do not have much while the other starter (Josh Kline) has probably topped out as a decent starter.  Whitehair would give the team a potential star, and he may end up being available with their first overall pick in the second round.

Over the last few draft classes, strong guards have fallen to Day 2 only to become good contributors on offense. In 2015, it was A.J. Cann. In 2014, it was Gabe Jackson. In 2013, it was Larry Warford. The list goes on and on. Whitehair could be the next name added to the list and he will have the chance to become a Pro Bowl-caliber talent.

At the end of the day, the ideal scenario for Bill Belichick and the Patriots would be to land Whitehair in the second round. If he makes it to their pick, there is no doubt that the team would invest in an upgrade to help keep Brady upright as he finishes his career.

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