The New England Patriots opened up Day 3 of the 2023 NFL draft by selecting Troy center Jake Andrews with the 107th overall pick.
This is the first of nine picks in total for a Patriots team that spent the previous two days focusing on the defensive side of the ball.
Andrews is a versatile offensive lineman with the rare ability to swing between all three interior positions. Sure, he’s listed as a center, but he could easily kick out to guard in a pinch, which is significant for a Patriots team that dealt with injuries along the offensive front throughout the 2022 season.
And that isn’t just talk when it comes to Andrews, who started 15 games at center and 23 at right guard during his run at Troy.
Jake Andrews started 15 games at center and 23 at right guard at Troy, where his position coach last season was ex-Patriots OL coach Cole Popovich.
— Zack Cox (@ZackCoxNESN) April 29, 2023
The Patriots spent free agency addressing the depth at offensive tackle, and it appears they are looking to do the same with their interior positions through the draft.