The New England Patriots began the offseason with a left tackle dilemma. Their starter, Trent Brown, signed with the Cincinnati Bengals, and his backup, Conor McDermott, was released in April.
The Patriots drafted an offensive tackle on Day 2.
The New England Patriots drafted an offensive tackle in the 3rd round
![REPORT: The New England Patriots Signed their 3rd-Round Pick to a Rookie Contract 1 New England Patriots, Eliot Wolf](https://gridironheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/USATSI_22635498_168400517_lowres-scaled-e1715456946471.jpg)
The Patriots drafted Caedan Wallace 68th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.
He signed his rookie contract.
Caedan Wallace signed his rookie contract
![REPORT: The New England Patriots Signed their 3rd-Round Pick to a Rookie Contract 2 Penn State Nittany Lions, Caedan Wallace](https://gridironheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/USATSI_22721324_168386657_lowres-e1717343177655.webp)
Wallace signed a 4-year rookie contract. According to Spotrac, his rookie contract is worth $6,043,304 with a $1,215,128 signing bonus.
Caedan Wallace played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions
![REPORT: The New England Patriots Signed their 3rd-Round Pick to a Rookie Contract 3 Penn State Nittany Lions, Caedan Wallace](https://gridironheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/USATSI_21699978_168386657_lowres-e1716245197851.webp)
Wallace committed to the Nittany Lions as a four-star recruit for the 2019 season. He had a decent career with the team, playing 47 games and starting 40 at RT.
Wallace played 13 games and started 13 at RT in 2023, with 13 pressures, 11 hurries, one hit, one sack allowed, and a 68.8 PFF grade. He posted a 72.8 pass block grade and a 67.1 run block grade per PFF.
Lance Zierlein’s scouting report on Caedan Wallace
![REPORT: The New England Patriots Signed their 3rd-Round Pick to a Rookie Contract 4 Lance Zierlein, NFL Network](https://gridironheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/0164164-smph-1280x720-1-e1716157062493.jpg)
Lance Zierlein of NFL.com did a scouting report on Wallace.
“Wallace played tackle in college but could be considered as a tackle or guard by NFL evaluators. He’s broad across his upper and lower body and has decent length and big hands.
“He’s a clock-puncher who plays with better fundamentals and technique than his highly regarded teammate, Olumuyiwa Fashanu. Wallace won’t flash as often as a run blocker and he might be somewhat capped out in terms of what he’s going to be as a tackle.
“Wallace has NFL size and good body control and should find work as a backup with the potential to start as a guard or tackle.”
The New England Patriots will have an LT competition between two RTs
![REPORT: The New England Patriots Signed their 3rd-Round Pick to a Rookie Contract 5 Chuks Okorafor, Pittsburgh Steelers](https://gridironheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/USATSI_19373857-e1716166262687.webp)
The Patriots will have an LT competition between two RTs. Chukwuma Okorafor played RT in his first six seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Caedan Wallace, as mentioned before, played RT in college.
Okorafor received first-team reps at LT, while Wallace received second-team reps during OTAs.
Who wins the starting job?
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