A difficult month for TCU offensive lineman Marcus Cannon took a turn for the better on the third day of the draft.
Less than a week since news broke that Cannon had a treatable form of lymphoma, the Patriots took him in the fifth round with the No. 138 pick of the draft.
It’s a classic Patriots pick. NFL Network’s Mike Mayock had Cannon ranked as a top-50 player. Michael Lombardi said the Bears were considering taking Cannon in the first round before the medical issue came up.
A massive player with great feet, Cannon could play guard or tackle at the next level. He seems likely to fit in as a guard initially.
Cannon will undergo at least 12 weeks of chemotherapy and his status for the 2011 season is a little unclear. The Patriots, more than most teams, are thinking long term rather than needing someone to chip in right away.