2020 NFL Draft: Prototypical Patriot offensive tackles available

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What do the Patriots like to see in tackles coming out of the draft?

Going through their choices at that position over the last decade, it's clear they want athletes. Vertical jumps sniffing 30 inches, broad jumps up over 100 inches and short-shuttle times under 5.0 seconds are preferred. Clock a 40 time in the 5.15-second range (helped by a good 10-yard split) and a three-cone around 7.5-seconds, and you've got a shot. 

Height mattered once upon a time, it seemed. Then they drafted Isaiah Wynn (6-foot-3, 313 pounds) in the first round in 2018.

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We'll have a few players here who don't meet typical Patriots standards or didn't test at the combine at all. Call it the Wynn Rule. But those mentioned here performed well enough in college or at the Senior Bowl to warrant consideration. Or they showed good athleticism on tape, as Yodny Cajuste — who couldn't test due to injury — did last year.

Whether the Patriots want a tackle or not remains to be seen, but with the future of the offensive line in New England in somewhat of a state of flux — Wynn has played nine games in two years; Joe Thuney is under contract for one year after signing his franchise tender; Marcus Cannon will be 32 when the season begins — finding depth there might be a worthwhile pursuit. Particularly after seeing how things looked when injuries depleted their top-end talent at the position last season.

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