New England Patriots offensive line in need of an overhaul

The New England Patriots are in need of improvement along the offensive line to make a championship run.

This off-season, the New England Patriots need to revamp their offensive line if they are to be championship ready in 2020. Efforts in the 2019 draft and in-season acquisitions failed to give the line the necessary starting quality or depth for 2019.

Last year the Patriots draft added offensive tackle Yodney Cajuste who was injured all season in the third-round and guard Hjalte Frojholdt in the fourth. He also sat out the season injured.

Nothing there.

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Coupled with the health issues of center David Andrews, the Patriots were left woefully thin at a key positions on the offensive line.

During the season, the Patriots added tackle Marshall Newhouse who according to Pro Football Focus allowed 6 sacks and carried a rating 62.6. Not good. In addition, The Patriots traded for two players using draft picks.

Korey Cunningham came over from the Arizona Cardinals and Jermaine Eluemunor from the Baltimore Ravens.

According to Bleacher Report:

"Field Yates of ESPN reported the Patriots sent a sixth-round pick to the Arizona Cardinals for Cunningham. On Thursday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported New England sent a fourth-round draft pick to Baltimore in exchange for Eluemunor and a sixth-round selection."

Neither acquisition did anything at all to ease the Patriots woes on the offensive line and a valuable fourth round pick was off-loaded. Not good business for the personnel department. And the outlook for 2020 is even more dire.

The New England Patriots could lose two free agents, Joe Thuney, a stellar performer for four years at left guard and Ted Karras a sound backup who filled in acceptably for Andrews at center in 2019 and also could play guard.

Loses of Thuney (likely) and Karras (possible) would leave the Pats with major holes at left guard and interior line depth. The thought is likely that Frojholdt could replace Karras as a backup. Offensive left guard is another story.

One option would be to insert current offensive left tackle the supremely talented but oft-injured Isaiah Wynn into that spot and either let Cajuste play offensive left tackle and/or draft that spot high in the draft.

The offensive line is a positional area the New England Patriots must center on in the off season, among other priorities.

My view is that when key offensive determination of the offseason is made – whether or not Tom Brady returns – it will determine how the Patriots proceed with the offensive line.

If Brady stays, the Patriots need to revamp their offensive line to be championship ready. The Patriots should draft an offensive left tackle to start – and move up in the first round if necessary to get the player they think can do that. Wynn then slots in at left guard to replace Thuney.

Brady’s departure, however, will put them in a situation where the Patriots should use their first round pick on the next franchise quarterback.

This may necessitate moving up in the first round to get the right choice. Alternatively, trading down could replace the second round pick sent out for Mohamed Sanu and get additional pick(s) one of which should be a quarterback.

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My choice if Tom Brady leaves would be the Patriots take a quarterback in the first round.

Until or unless proven otherwise, it’s still the most important position on the team and must take precedence.

The alternative trade down scenario, or, if they retain a third round pick after a trading up for a quarterback, should still include an Offensive tackle in the third round, however. Later, lower picks then can be used on interior lineman including a center.

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