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Three worst moves made during the 2022 NFL offseason

By Lou Scataglia

BEREA, OHIO - MARCH 25: Quarterback Deshaun Watson of the Cleveland Browns speaks during his press conference introducing him to the Cleveland Browns at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 25, 2022 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
BEREA, OHIO - MARCH 25: Quarterback Deshaun Watson of the Cleveland Browns speaks during his press conference introducing him to the Cleveland Browns at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 25, 2022 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) /
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NFL offseason
ORCHARD PARK, NY – DECEMBER 06: Shaq Mason #69 of the New England Patriots after a game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on December 6, 2021 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images) /

Three worst moves during the 2022 NFL offseason

2. Patriots trading Shaq Mason for a 5th rounder, then over-drafting Cole Strange

The Patriots’ offseason last year was very good.

This year, however, was less than ideal.  Perhaps their worst move was them shipping a top-shelf NFL guard in Shaq Mason to the Buccaneers for only a fifth-round pick in 2022.

Mason is very talented.  He has started at least 10 games in each season of his career and is entering his age-29 season.

The Buccaneers lost both of their 2021 starting guards after the season.  Ali Marpet retired and Alex Cappa signed with the Bengals.

They also had to deal with their center, Ryan Jensen, being a free agent, and the retirement of Tom Brady.

Somehow, the Buccaneers managed to receive Tom Brady back out of retirement, and commit highway robbery for a borderline elite NFL guard.

This left a noticeable hole on the Patriots’ offensive line, as they lost one of their guards, Ted Karras, to the Bengals as well.

So, their solution was drafting Cole Strange in the first round, 29th overall.

Strange has short arms, will be a 24-year-old rookie and was projected more as a very late second or third round pick.

The Patriots, by all accounts, perhaps committed the overdraft of the season with this pick.  It’s clear that it was a horribly urgent decision for them to fill one of their guard spots.

However, there were some respectable guards left on the market who could have come in and filled Mason’s role decently.  One name that would have made sense was Trai Turner, or even Quinton Spain, who is still a free agent.

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