Patriots Sign Third-Round OT Caedan Wallace to His Rookie Deal

The New England Patriots signed third-round offensive tackle Caedan Wallace to his four-year rookie contract, the team announced Friday.

Wallace, 24, was offered an NFL contract worth $6.03 million, according to Spotrac. He will also receive a signing bonus of $1.2 million.

New England Patriots picked Caedan Wallace 68th overall in the 2024 NFL draft out of Penn State

Wallace was selected 68th overall by New England in the in the third round of this year’s draft out of Penn State. He is the sixth of eight draft picks to sign with the Patriots, leaving only second-rounder Ja’Lynn Polk and fourth-rounder Layden Robinson unsigned.

The Patriots are hoping that Wallace will earn the starting left tackle job after playing almost exclusively at right tackle at Penn State. Current right tackle Mike Onwenwu will stay on that side. Wallace played all but six of his college snaps at right tackle.

#Patriots HC Jerod Mayo discusses the decision to draft Caedan Wallace — he also speaks about his trust in the coaching staff’s evaluations.

“After having conversations with (Alex) Van Pelt and (Scott) Peters and that group… they were very confident that this guy can play on… pic.twitter.com/Q11BokqDMf

— Carlos Talks Pats (@LosTalksPats) April 27, 2024

Wallace earned honorable mention All-Big Ten Conference honors while starting all 13 games at right tackle in 2023. The 6-foot-5, 314-pound tackle allowed just a single sack on the season in 359 pass-blocking snaps. He also earned the school’s Lion’s Pride Outstanding Senior Player Award last year.

Wallace will be able to play left tackle with New England

During Patriots coach Jerod Mayo’s post-draft interview, he assured reporters and fans that with the help of new OC Alex Van Pelt and offensive line coach Scott Peters, Wallace will be able to play on both sides of the offensive line.

“After having conversations with Van Pelt and Scottie Peters and that group… they were very confident that [Caedan Wallace] can play on both sides,” Mayo said.

“I have to have confidence that I picked the right people to evaluate or project what this guy can do going forward. I’m not into micromanaging or anything like that.

“If the offensive coordinator and the offensive line coach say, ‘Hey, this guy can do X, Y, and Z,’ alright, I’ll take it in. But, at the end of the day, someone has to make that decision, which is me. But… I already made the decision that we picked some good coaches.”

The Patriots are coming off a disappointing 4-13 season. It was their fewest wins since 1992 and worst season under then-coach Bill Belichick. Plus, it was New England’s first time missing the playoffs in consecutive seasons since 2000.

The 2024 season will be the Pats’ first season without Belichick since 1999.