Shaq Mason to New England Patriots: Full Draft-Pick Breakdown

The big uglies continue to roll into Foxborough, as Georgia Tech center Shaq Mason marks the fourth lineman the Patriots have taken.  Coupled with Tre' Jackson, it is clear that offensive line coach Dave DeGuglielmo is insistent on adding depth to the interior line, a wise move given that the area looked like the Patriots' biggest weakness headed into the draft.

Unlike Jackson, though, Mason is unlikely to contribute in 2015, as he'll need time to adjust from three years as a starter in Georgia Tech's triple option offense.  With virtually no base as a pass protector, expectations should be low in terms of Mason's potential to immediately contribute.

But what kind of prospect could he become in the long run?  Read on for your full breakdown of New England's second consecutive All-American offensive lineman.

What Mason Brings

In short, Mason brings plus run blocking.  Mason comes as a pro-ready road-grader; in truth, he probably would've gone in the first round if the NFL still operated as if it were 1945.  One of the more powerful blockers, Mason consistently generates excellent leverage and has a strong punch, allowing him to move bigger defensive linemen despite his modest size (6'1", 300 lbs).  As Pro Football Focus' Michael Renner indicated, Tech's system helped Mason become one of the best run-blockers in the nation last year:

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We knew going into the college season that triple option teams were going to produce some odd results in our grading system, but no one quite embodied that more than Mason. Firing straight off the ball and only pass blocking on 25% of his snaps, Mason graded out as our second-best guard last season. Unlike others on this list, Mason faces no questions about his athleticism as he tested off the charts at the combine. His low draft status is purely based on his raw technique.

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Despite 40 collegiate starts and generally impressive game film, Mason was not invited to the combine.  The Pats have drafted combine snubs such as Sebastian Vollmer and Tavon Wilson higher than expected in the past, but in Mason, few see the Georgia Tech center as a reach:

While he was never asked to sustain anything in pass protection in the Yellow Jackets offense, Mason does possess the agility and mirror ability that suggests he could rapidly improve in that department.  ACC rushers don't really simulate the type of players he'll face every week at the NFL level, of course, but Mason's athleticism will translate well if the Patriots coaches can harness it.

On the downside, Georgia Tech offensive linemen have not translated well under Paul Johnson.  Just two Tech linemen have been drafted the past 10 years, with veteran backup Andrew Gardner the lone active Yellow Jacket lineman.  Mason might break that mold, but he'll need to buck recent history and the steep learning curve he'll face.

How Mason Fits

David Goldman/Associated Press

Size and versatility have been the twin themes of this draft, and Mason fits into that mold again.  Though Bryan Stork will occupy the center spot in Foxborough for the foreseeable future, Mason's versatility could allow him to start at whichever spot ends up open:

Given the time he'll need to develop, the most obvious role for Mason could be as Ryan Wendell's successor at right guard.  Wendell stabilized RG despite playing out of position in 2014, but with his contract up after the 2015 season, the Pats have no clear contingency plan if he leaves.  Depending on his development, Mason could provide the Patriots leverage in negotiations.

The Pats also used liberal doses of six-lineman sets last year, with Cameron Fleming often coming on as the second blocker in Jumbo run sets.  Fleming has the inside track on that niche role this year, but given Mason's proficiency on the ground, it wouldn't be a surprise if his short-term value arrives on those types of packages.

More likely, he'll play on special teams and work behind the scenes in 2015.  Mason is one of those players who might not make the active game-day roster more than a handful of times next season, but he could make a big sophomore leap and potentially contribute as he becomes more comfortable with pass-blocking technique toward the end of his rookie campaign.

Bottom Line

The Pats drafted three offensive linemen last year, but with Jon Halapio flaming out and Fleming blocked at tackle, the need at guard still screamed for help.  The Pats have now added viable depth with their past two selections, leaving the offense free of any significant personnel holes for now.

Wide receiver and running back could still be areas to address given the subpar depth at those positions, but Tom Brady should be happy about the bodyguards the team has provided him.  In nabbing Jackson and Mason, the Pats have taken two players with early-round talent who could develop into steals with health (in Jackson's case) and proper coaching (in Mason's case).

Mason is the least likely player drafted to play a big role in 2015, though we're arriving at the point of the draft when immediate contributions shouldn't be an expectation.  Thus, given New England's past success at developing offensive linemen, Mason is a name to remember down the line when another starting need pops up along the line.