Patriots’ Former Third Round Pick Caedan Wallace Could Win Left Guard Job originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The New England Patriots drafted offensive lineman Caedan Wallace in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Penn State. Wallace played right tackle at Happy Valley, opposite of first-round pick Olu Fashanu.
73 DAYS ⏱️
OL Caedan Wallace allowed just ONE sack his final season and was a key player for success 💪 pic.twitter.com/6xp02xZJJ8
— State Media (@StateMediaPSU) June 18, 2025
But with the Penn State product’s versatility across the offensive line, he’ll be competing for the Patriots’ starting left guard spot in training camp.
The Patriots originally drafted Wallace with the idea of moving him from right tackle to left tackle, but loved his versatility and the idea of being able to place him anywhere along the line.
“He was a guy we felt was athletic enough to possibly make the switch over on the left side. Really good pass protector. Really took a big step forward this year as a four-year starter,” Eliot Wolf, the Patriots’ executive vice president of player personnel, said after drafting Wallace. “Athletic, can bend, strong, powerful, tough, can possibly play guard. Think he can be a four-position guy, but definitely feel like he can play on the left side.”
The idea of switching positions and playing wherever the Patriots wanted him excited Wallace and gave him confidence.
“Extremely confident,” Wallace said of moving from right tackle. “I mean, I play every position on the line, and I’m just excited to get there and learn under some great coaches and get after it.”
Wolf also mentioned that he believed a main reason Wallace had only played on the right side in college was because the Nittany Lions had such a strong anchor in Fashanu on the left side.
Unfortunately for Wallace, his rookie season was hampered by injuries, and he only managed to start two games and play in six games. The Patriots’ additions of Morgan Moses and rookie Will Campbell this offseason make the tackle position much more crowded now.
However, that’s where Wallace’s versatility could help him still earn a starting role for the Patriots. The left guard role is the position up for grabs in training camp, and New England’s fourth-year veteran Cole Strange is the favorite to win the job.
Wallace and others will have their work cut out in training camp to compete with Strange for the starting job up front. But if Wallace can stay healthy and show the skills that got him drafted, he may find himself with a starting job in 2025.
Related: Patriots’ $33 Million LB Opens up on Playing for Mike Vrabel
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
