Patriots draft profile: Diego Pounds has experience blocking for Drake Maye

OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI - NOVEMBER 01: Diego Pounds #61 of the Mississippi Rebels during the game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on November 01, 2025 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Despite a disappointing end, the New England Patriots overall managed to get some promising contributions out of their new-look offensive tackle group in 2025. However, even though Will Campbell and Morgan Moses are set to return this season, the position is one of the biggest needs on the roster heading into this year’s draft.

Not only is the 35-year-old Moses no long-term option, the team also lost last year’s OT3, Vederian Lowe, in free agency. Add the fact that fellow free agent Thayer Munford Jr. remains unaccounted for after serving as another layer of depth and jumbo tight end in 2025, and you can see why New England might be prompted to invest.

There are suitable options all over the draft. One of those is projected Day 3 pick Diego Pounds.

Hard facts

Name: Diego Pounds

Position: Offensive tackle

School: Ole Miss (RS Sr.)

Opening day age: 23 (12/12/2002)

Measurements: 6’6”, 325 lbs, 33 3/4” arm length, 9 3/4” hand size, 5.15s 40-yard dash, 7.90s 3-cone drill, 4.78s short shuttle, 30” vertical jump, 9’4” broad jump, 21 bench press reps, 8.56 Relative Athletic Score

Experience

Colleges: North Carolina (2021-23), Ole Miss (2024-25)

Career statistics: 46 games (32 starts) | 2,656 offensive snaps, 243 special teams snaps | 53 quarterback pressures surrendered (4 sacks, 10 hits, 39 hurries) | 15 penalties (incl. 3 declined/offset)

Accolades: Third-team All-SEC (2025)

Originally a defensive lineman at Millbrook High School in Raleigh, NC, Pounds made the move to offense ahead of his junior season and never looked back. He eventually was rated as a three-star recruit and received scholarship offers from some of the top programs in the nation, including Alabama, LSU, Michigan and Penn State. He eventually decided to remain in his home state, though, and joined North Carolina in 2021 alongside, among others, Drake Maye.

Pounds saw limited action in his first two seasons as a Tar Heel, but by 2023 had developed into a part-time starting left tackle and blindside protector for Maye. However, despite starting eight games as a redshirt sophomore, he decided to enter the transfer portal after the season, eventually leaving the school the same offseason as Maye.

Whereas the QB took his talents to the NFL and the Patriots, Pounds joined Ole Miss. In two seasons as a Rebel, he added 24 more starts to his career résumé and was voted third-team All-SEC as a fifth-year senior.

Draft profile

Projected round: 4-5 | Consensus big board: No. 162 | Patriots meeting: N/A

Strengths: Offering prototypical build in terms of height, weight and length, Pounds is able to take advantage of his physical attributes in 1-on-1 situations. He uses his 84 1/4-inch wingspan to maintain control of his opposition and has also shown that he can handle power rushers, countering them with force while also dropping a strong anchor and rarely getting moved off his spot. There are also flashes of that power in the run game, where he is able to create initial movement while also providing a steady upper body. Pounds also has shown some good awareness both at diagnosing blitzers and passing off stunts. In general, he is a good athlete for his size as well as a durable player who will enter the NFL having played 700-plus snaps in three straight seasons.

Weaknesses: Pounds doesn’t always play the leverage game to his favor, oftentimes blocking down to his opponents to sacrifice some of his natural power. He oftentimes doesn’t play to his natural strength as a run blocker, and tries to transfer his power top-down leading to a shaky base. Speaking of said base, he is not overly fluid as a mover. He has the range but does not consistently pair it with the functional quickness to maximize it in pass rush situations or when climbing to the second level. This also leads to some issues against speed rushers capable of crossing his face or throwing direction changes at him.

Patriots preview

What would be his role? Pounds has the traits desired in an NFL starting tackle, but he would likely not begin his career in such a capacity if drafted by New England. Instead, he would begin as a third option at the position behind the aforementioned Will Campbell and Morgan Moses, and ideally develop into Morgan’s successor or at the very least a viable backup swing tackle by 2027 or 2028.

Does he have positional versatility? With the exception of five snaps — one at left guard, four as a tackle eligible — Pounds spent all of his 2,656 offensive college snaps at left tackle. From that perspective, his versatility appears limited. He would not be the first OT to expand his repertoire upon entering the pros, however, and the belief is that he should be able to also play on the right side with the proper lead-up time.

What is his growth potential? Offering the baseline size teams are looking for, Pounds’ major development goals are ironing out his technique and translating his raw strength to on-field success, especially in the run game. If he can do those things, he very well might develop into a starter on either side — although realistically the right in New England — or a quality OT3 who could be inserted into the lineup without any hesitation. While the second scenario seems like a worst-case option, it still would not be a necessarily bad outcome for a projected Day 3 draft choice.

Why the Patriots? As mentioned earlier, the Patriots need help at offensive tackle both in the short and the long term. The well-built Pounds could provide both, and given his experience as a gap blocker also would not face too daunting a learning curve upon entering the team’s system.

Why not the Patriots? If the Patriots are serious about exiting this draft with a right tackle of the future, there are safer projections than Pounds. In that case, the team simply might decide to invest in another prospect over him.

One-sentence verdict: Even though he is not the highest-profile offensive tackle in this year’s class, Pounds is a capable player who could have a bright future with some proper fine-tuning.

For more information about Diego Pounds and the rest of this year’s class of prospects, please take a look at Adam’s 2026 NFL Draft Guide.

Also, what do you think about Pounds as a potential Patriots target? Do you like him? Where would you pick him? Please head down to the comment section to share your thoughts.