New England Patriots fans are experiencing their first true changing of the guard for the first time in nearly 25 years. With an entirely new staff behind head coach Jerod Mayo at the helm, the Patriots' offensive line will arguably be the most important grouping among the offense to ensure support and build confidence for rookie Drake Maye.
Looking at the composition of this unit, while this group is starting to take shape, there are still some question marks heading into the 2024 season, the least of which is franchise tackle Mike Onwenu. Onwenu was fantastic for New England in 2023. Working exclusively on the right side of the line, Onwenu not only was incredibly consistent at right tackle but also relieved issues at right guard early in the season. Onwenu surrendered only three of the Patriots' 48 sacks given up.
Where the conversation really starts is finding the right fit to protect the blindside. Chukwuma Okorafor, who was released from the Pittsburgh Steelers and signed with the Patriots on a one-year deal, along with Penn State rookie Caedan Wallace, seems to be in competition for the starting role come Week 1. Wallace, who exclusively worked at right tackle for the Nittany Lions, was drafted in the third round of this year's draft—a selection that took me by surprise. What I believe New England saw was a guy who can get up and get after people.
As the Patriots look to decipher the left tackle position, but more importantly the brand of this new regime, Wallace will have a great opportunity to see the field quickly. As for Okorafor, he’s started in 59 total games during his six-year tenure in the NFL. While experienced, Okorafor will still have to prove himself come fall. The veteran will be transitioning to left tackle, similar to Wallace. At the very least, both Wallace and Okorafor will add significant depth pieces as swing tackles, adding a surplus of depth value to the room.
One guy who could come back and surprise a lot of people is tackle Calvin Anderson. Anderson joined the Patriots roster last season but was sidelined with a heart contusion that kept him out for most of the season. Before that, Anderson notably had a very serious case of Malaria which really hindered his ability to get in the swing of things. Before his time with the Patriots, Anderson was a solid depth piece for the Denver Broncos. The former UDFA will have a chance to compete for a role on the 53-man roster.
As for the interior, I anticipate Sidy Sow will take a big step coming into his second year. The Eastern Michigan product was one of the few pleasant surprises for the Patriots last season, being one of the best interior rookies in the NFL. His strengths as a run-blocker, especially in gap-scheme, add a ton of value on the ground. He should be a bright spot on this line.
At center, veteran David Andrews should retain his starting role. Expect Andrews to continue to be the reliable and consistent player he is despite his increasing age. Nonetheless, I see Andrews being able to maximize his efforts as a team leader by building the confidence and comfort of Maye. While Maye might not run out there in Week 1, the young-QB-to-veteran-center relationship has consistently produced good returns in QB development for many teams in the league.
Behind David Andrews will be former Troy product, Jake Andrews. While Jake wasn’t a factor in the Patriots' 2023 season, he was a guy who, out of college, I was very impressed with. His demeanor and physicality left me admiring his football character, and despite a rocky start to his career, the former fourth-rounder will be able to continue to learn and grow behind his veteran leadership. Despite media outlets claiming Jake Andrews' selection was a reach, I believe he was taken in the perfect spot, and will eventually serve as a long-term option on the interior.
And then there was Cole Strange. While Strange’s career has been overshadowed by a jaw-dropping first-round selection, the former FCS product took a big step in year two when he was available. An unfortunate string of injuries led to Strange only logging 10 starts this past season, but when he was on the field, Strange showed why he was a day-one selection. After a significant injury in Week 15, it’s expected that Strange may not be ready to go for Week1. Despite this, I expect him to return to form when healthy and continue to prove people wrong.
Looking at the back half of this group, newly-acquired former Buccaneer Nick Leverett was signed as an insurance policy for Strange. If Strange isn’t available, Leverett has proved to be a viable option during his career, logging 10 starts with the Buccaneers during the 2022 season. Looking at his role on this Patriots roster, being a versatile reliever when needed will be necessary for carving out potential snaps this year.
Rookie Layden Robinson also joins this group of interior linemen. Robinson offers developmental upside as a bruiser inside. The former Aggie has the physical tools to carve out a significant role and potentially be a day-one starter over Leverett and sophomore Atonio Mafi in the absence of Strange. While being thrown into the fire as a day-three selection may seem irresponsible, this is a strategy that reaped positive rewards for Sow and seems to be a strategy that the Patriots have faith in to buy valuable experience for their young players. He’ll most likely be competing with Mafi, the Patriots' 2023 fifth-round selection who saw significant action last season, being in and out of the starting lineup throughout the year. Mafi struggled as a rookie, but I love New England bringing in competition to round out their second group of linemen.
LSU two-year starter and UDFA Charles Turner III will also have a chance to make this team. Turner possesses a mature skill set that will give him a chance to impress early on. Turner III is a candidate to be yet another contributing UDFA for the organization.
As the Patriots embark on rebuilding their culture of winning, this group of young and old will be tasked with not only leading this team but also assisting with the development of the plethora of young, exciting prospects taken in the 2024 NFL Draft.
