Patriots cut starting left tackle days after taking Drake Maye at No. 3

Offensive tackle Conor McDermott.

The New England Patriots released their projected starting left tackle days after the franchise put their faith in quarterback Drake Maye with the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Patriots cut the veteran offensive Conor McDermott, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2.

Maye is expected to be the team’s future quarterback. However, head coach Jerod Mayo believes in having competition for the QB1 job, so Maye will have to earn the spot from veteran Jacoby Brissett. Whoever the Patriots have under center will deal with a patchwork offensive line.

McDermott was penciled in as the Patriots starting left tackle for the upcoming season.

McDermott played in six games for the Patriots last season, starting five of them. The Patriots selected him in the sixth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He spent time with the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets before rejoining the Patriots in 2022.

Per Over The Cap, the Patriots will save $1.2 million in cap space by cutting him. The Patriots have $54.1 million in cap space.

Rookie Caedan Wallace could be asked to step in as the Patriots starting left tackle this season. The Patriots selected the Penn State standout in the third round on Friday night.

Starting behind a rookie left tackle isn’t ideal. If Maye gets the starting job in September, he could face an uphill battle during his rookie season.

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