After signing offensive lineman Eric Ghiaciuc and Brian Simmons over the last two weeks, the Patriots have added another lineman to the mix, acquiring guard/tackle Quinn Ojinaka from the Atlanta Falcons for an undisclosed draft pick.
Ojinaka was a fifth round pick out of Syracuse in 2006. He's played in 39 career games, having started 12. Last season, he started several games at guard, but also plays a lot of tackle. At 6'5", 299 lbs, Ojinaka has good athleticism. While he isn't the strongest, he plays with a nasty streak. He was part of a logjam along the offensive line in Atlanta.
While Ojinaka must serve a one game suspension due to violating the NFL personal conduct policy, he should have a decent chance at making the final club. With the way the Patriots 2nd unit offensive line has played, it's no surprise that the Patriots are looking for help at the position. It's also interesting to note that the Patriots made the move just after concluding their joint practices with the Falcons. This likely means that Bill Belichick really saw something he liked when he went back and reviewed tape.
To make room for Ojinaka, the Patriots placed defensive lineman Kade Weston on the waived/injured list. Should Weston clear waivers (which he likely will), he will land on the injured reserve. Weston is a 6-5, 315 lbs defensive lineman who was a 7th round pick out of Georgia this past April for the Patriots. Weston faced long shots to make the final roster, but could be in the team's plans in 2011 and beyond.