Pros and cons of Patriots selecting Troy football's Jake Andrews in 2023 NFL Draft

Troy football offensive lineman Jake Andrews was selected by the New England Patriots in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Born in Montgomery, the Stanhope Elmore High School product redshirted his first year with the Trojans before becoming a rotational piece in 2019. In 2020, he took over as the starting right guard, a position he held for two seasons before moving to center in 2022. After this past season, in which he was named All-Sun Belt by the league's coaches, Andrews entered the NFL Draft.

Here's what he brings to the NFL.

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The positives

Andrews has the versatility that not only appeals to NFL coaches but will also help him in roster battles throughout training camp. He took snaps at left guard, right guard and center before he cracked the starting lineup for the first time. He ran a respectable 5.15 seconds in the 40-yard dash, one of the fastest times among interior offensive linemen at this year's NFL Scouting Combine, and had one of the highest athletic scores among all linemen at the combine, according to the NFL's Next Gen Stats. He has been incredibly durable in his college career, starting the final 38 games of his career at Troy.

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The concerns

While Andrews was named an all-conference performer at center last season, it was still his first full campaign at the position. He will need more reps at the position if that's where he'll play in the NFL. On the other hand, he also may need to re-learn playing guard if that's where he's slated to play, as he hasn't started anywhere but center since 2021. His arms are on the shorter side, which could present a challenge as he adjusts to the pass rushers in the professional game. His footwork also needs improvement, as he struggled at times with his range in pass blocking.

Final thoughts

While Andrews does not project as a franchise centerpiece, his versatility and potential could have him sticking around for a long time in the NFL.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Patriots pick Troy’s Jake Andrews in 2023 NFL Draft