Patriots Rookie OT Earns Preseason Start, HC's Trust

FOXBORO, MA. — One of the more intriguing position battles of the New England Patriots preseason is who will emerge as the team's top swing tackle. One prime candidate that's found his way near the top of the list is Missouri rookie Marcus Bryant.

In Friday's 48-18 win over the Washington Commanders, head coach Mike Vrabel rolled out a starting offensive lineup that included multiple entrenched starters. At right tackle though was Bryant, who was selected by New England with the 220th overall pick in this year's draft.

When Vrabel spoke to reporters before the team's training camp session on Sunday, he praised Bryant's ability to continually get better.

"I think he earned it. I think that when they switched over and he had some snaps on the left at the beginning of the training camp, I think moving him over to the right, I thought he did well, especially in the joint practices, earned that opportunity and continues to improve," Vrabel said. "He'll have to play both sides for us, and I think he's just a young player that is taking the coaching and was one of the players I remember when we first put pads on had really high pad level. We talked about it, we coached it, we showed him, and I think that has improved."

Bryant put together a productive, five-year collegiate career split between SMU and Missouri. During that time, the 23-year-old tackle started in 42 of 55 games. allowing just 12 hits over 3,236 total snaps played. Bryant's big frame and talent earned him a spot on the All-AAC First Team this past winter.

Bryant has been competing with fellow young tackles Caedan Wallace, Demontrey Jacobs, Vederian Lowe and rookie guard-turned-tackle Jack Conley for one of the offensive line's reserve spots. Throughout the summer, once likely starter Morgan Moses leaves practice, the first one to replace him is usually Bryant.