New England Patriots Top 30 Visit: BYU OT Kingsley Suamataia

Every NFL franchise is allowed to invite up to 30 draft prospects to visit their facilities and meet with the members of the organization before the NFL Draft. These selections range from first-round targets to players who might be available as undrafted free agents. As news about the New England Patriots Top 30 visits surface, Patriots Football Now will highlight each of the visitors. Up first, BYU offensive tackle Kingsley Suamataia

College Career

Kingsley Suamataia ranked as a five-star prospect coming out of Orem (UT) High School. His composite ranks (via 247 Sports) placed him as the No. 36 prospect in the country, No. 6 offensive tackle, and No. 1 player from Utah in the Class of 2021. His high school team won four state championships, with Los Angeles Rams star receiver Puka Nacua among his teammates.

Suamataia committed to Oregon. He played just one game for the Ducks before entering the transfer portal in October of his freshman year. The Utah native wanted to be closer to his family, back in his home state of Utah. He opted to join the BYU Cougars.

The left tackle started 12 games for BYU in 2022. He allowed only 11 pressures and zero sacks all season. His impressive first full season of college football made him the fourth-ranked offensive tackle at the beginning of the college football season on Patriots Football Now. Pro Football Focus gave Suamataia a grade of 75.8 in 2022.

Suamataia’s 2023 season was not as impressive. However, his pass protection skills remained elite. He allowed his first two sacks, but his total pressures allowed for the year were only 13. His run-blocking grade dropped from 74.2 to 54.9 last season. Suamataia was said to not “finish off” his run blocks often enough, though he showed he is capable of doing so. Despite a relative dip in performance, he was named second-team All-Big 12 in 2023.

Kingsley Suamataia was also named one of BYU’s captains in 2023, despite it being just his second year with the program.

NFL Draft

Following the 2023 season, Suamataia was one of the standouts at both the Senior Bowl and NFL Scouting Combine.

Kingsley Suamataia played left tackle in college but did work on the right side at the Senior Bowl as well. The versatility to play either end of the line will certainly make him an attractive prospect to more teams. He looked equally comfortable on either side, with some analysts believing the right side could be a better fit for him in the NFL.

Suamataia was excellent at the NFL Scouting Combine, earning a standout designation here. He measured 6-foot-5 and weighed 326 pounds. His time in the 40-yard dash was 5.04 seconds. No offensive linemen at his weight ran as fast. Suamataia also showed nimble feet in positional drills and had the most reps on the bench press (31) of any offensive tackle. The combination of size, quickness, and strength makes him an intriguing draft prospect.

The big tackle is likely to be drafted between 25-and-40 in the 2024 NFL Draft. If the New England Patriots are interested in the Cougars tackle, they’d need to act early. They’d need to use their pick at No. 34 or even move back into Round 1 to ensure he’s available. A team at the end of Round 1 (San Francisco or Kansas City) drafting and developing him would not be surprising. Suamataia just turned 21 in January.

With a bit more seasoning, Kingsley Suamataia might eventually join his cousin, Penei Sewell of the Detroit Lions, as an NFL All-Pro tackle. In the seven-round NFL Mock Draft on Patriots Football Now, the New England Patriots selected Suamataia in Round 2, No. 34 overall.