The New England Patriots recently worked out former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Kellen Diesch, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston.
Diesch spent all of the 2023 season on the Steelers practice squad, and had participated in the team’s rookie minicamp at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex before being released. This offseason, the depth chart at tackle was just too crowded, with the Steelers again using a first round pick on a tackle, landing Washington’s Troy Fautanu. He’s replacing Chuks Okorafor at right tackle, but the Steelers still have Dan Moore Jr., Broderick Jones and Dylan Cook.
The Cleveland Browns claimed Diesch off waivers following Pittsburgh waiving him, but they cut him with a failed physical designation.
A 6-foot-7, 300-pound tackle, Diesch joined the Pittsburgh practice squad on Aug. 30 after having spent training camp with the Chicago Bears. The third-year pro out of Arizona State is extremely athletic, and posted a 9.75 Relative Athletic Score coming in his pre-draft testing in 2022 thanks to a 4.89-second 40-yard dash, 4.43-second shuttle, 32.5-inch vertical, and 9-foot-2 broad jump.
A Dallas native, Diesch started his college career at Texas A&M. He played four seasons with the Aggies, mainly as a reserve. He transferred to Arizona State in 2020 and immediately became a starter and two-time All-Pac 12 selection.
Diesch was listed as one of the best practice squad players in the NFL by CBS Sports last season, but was never elevated for a game with the Steelers. Pittsburgh did not have many injuries along the offense line last season, and Diesch had been stuck behind starters Dan Moore Jr. and Chuks Okorafor, first-round pick Broderick Jones, Dylan Cook and Spencer Anderson.
Scott Peters enters his first season as the Patriots offensive line coach and his fourth season overall in the NFL. Peters began his coaching career in 2020 as the assistant offensive line coach for the Cleveland Browns.
Mike Reiss of ESPN reports that the Patriots need OL depth and are expected to sign Diesch. Diesch will be reunited with Okorafor if he ends up signing with New England.