The New England Patriots made a league-low four selections during the 2017 NFL draft. Only one of those four players – defensive edge Deatrich Wise Jr. – ended up on the team's 53-man roster, with one being released and two more suffering with season-ending injury issues. Among the latter group was offensive tackle Antonio Garcia, who the team drafted in the third round.
Garcia missed all of 2017 after blood clots were discovered in his lungs. And even though the Troy product was reportedly expected to make a full recovery, the team is cutting its ties with him today (according to ESPN's Field Yates):
Source: the Patriots are releasing 2017 third-round pick Tony Garcia with the non-football injury designation. He was unable to play as a rookie.
Getting released certainly is another tough break for the 24-year old tackle: Garcia was seen as a candidate to take over the vacant left tackle spot from Nate Solder but it looks as if his medical condition ended his quest for a spot on New England's roster before it even began. As a result, first-round draft pick Isaiah Wynn and trade acquisition Trent Brown should be seen as the favorites to become Tom Brady's new blindside protector.
With Garcia out of the picture, the Patriots' 2017 draft class is now down to two players: the aforementioned Wise Jr. as well as fellow defensive edge Derek Rivers, who himself is coming off season-ending injury after tearing his ACL during last year's training camp.