The New England Patriots have cut defensive lineman Ryan Johnson.
Johnson was signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL Draft.
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Johnson played guard at Youngstown State for three seasons and started 28 games for the school.
The 6-foot-3, 306-pound guard began his career at Duquesne before transferring to Youngstown State.
He started all 13 games at right guard during his senior season in 2023.
The Patriots did not announce a corresponding action following Johnson’s release.
Johnson was always going to have a hard time staying on the Patriots’ roster, as the team selected two offensive linemen during the draft.
With pick No. 68 in the third round, they selected Penn State’s Caedan Wallace.
Wallace was primarily a right tackle in college, but it’s possible he could move to the left side with Mike Onwenu holding down the right tackle position.
The Penn State alum is strong in pass protection and can also play guard.
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Later in the draft, with pick No. 103 in the fourth round, they took Layden Robinson from Texas A&M.
Robinson projects as a guard only and could fill in while left guard Cole Strange returns from injury.
A scouting report labeled him an “absolute freight train in action”.
The Patriots have placed an emphasis on the offensive line in recent years, and that’s even more important with the addition of rookie quarterback Drake Maye to the team.
The number one priority is keeping him safe and turning him into the next great Patriots quarterback after Tom Brady.
Brady offered some personal advice to Maye in an interview with Yahoo Sports.
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“I’m very lucky to be around him and I really like him,” Brady told Yahoo Sports.
“I heard great things about him. But his opportunity will really be what he thinks of it, how he wants to develop it and how he wants to attack his profession – as we all do.
“It’s not where you are when you’re 22. It’s who you are when you’re 22. Who inspires you to be better? Who develops you?
“I was very lucky. I look at my career, I was looking at other competitors like Peyton Manning, like Steve McNair, Vinny Testaverde was playing for [New York] Jets. Brett Favre was playing.”
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
