The New England Patriots have completed a large part of their offseason preparations in player acquisition, and one critical element is the offensive line.
As has been noted, the offensive line is the most critical component unit not only of the new England Patriots’ offense but the entire team.
After the quarterback, it is second to none in importance.
One note, since the Patriots still have the opportunity to add or subtract through undrafted free agency or trades, this list is certainly subject to change at any time.
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With this in mind, let’s explore how the Patriots starting offensive line and depth are shaping up before any upcoming camps.
The first group we can look at is the bottom of the depth chart, players 10-7 on the depth chart. To start, it’s good to add the only Patriots’ offensive lineman drafted last weekend.
That would be William Sherman, and an offensive tackle from Colorado. Sherman is not really a household name.
Drafted in the sixth round, at 6’3″ or so and 300 pounds he projects more likely to guard in the pros though his college experience includes time at both tackle spots. Consider Sherman only as a possible practice squad candidate, if that.
Next up is Yodny Cajuste, an offensive tackle. Cajuste has been Patriots for two seasons and has never suited up for a game due to injuries. That being said, if healthy (a big “if”), he can play and was likely slotted in as a left tackle when drafted in the third round in 2019.
To say he has been a disappointment would be an understatement. This is likely Cajuste’s last call to make the team. One more injury and his time with the Patriots will probably be over.
Next up is Marcus Martin. Martin is a big center/guard type and one of the Patriots in-and-outer types. In one week, out the next, etc.
He’s a waiver wire-level player and while drafted in the third round by San Francisco in 2014, he hadn’t played in three years before 2020. His chances of sticking are slim.
The last of the bottom tier of an offensive lineman is tackle Justin Herron. Herron was a fifth-round pick last season and a good one at that point in the draft.
He played in 12 games and even started six. Not too shabby. Patriots.com has Herron listed as the starting left guard. That seems a bit ambitious here but he will make the team as a depth player.
New England Patriots offensive linemen, 6th-5th best
Next up are the top six through fourth offensive linemen on the Patriots who will be counted upon to produce big for the team no matter who is behind center. The team’s offense will rest on their shoulders.
First up, is super depth player, Ted Karras. After a one-year hiatus in Miami with Brian Flores, Karras is back in New England where he belongs. He has super value even as a back-up
While he started all 16 games for Miami last season at center, Karras can play both there and at guard. He’ll be first off the bench if center David Andrews or either starting guard is hurt.
And who knows, he could be right there competing for a starting guard position possibly, as well. Don’t count that out. With Joe Thuney gone, that left guard spot is up for grabs.
Karras’ value as a plug-and-play backup cover at both positions is a game day windfall for coach Bill Belichick. And make no mistake, he’s a starting-caliber player as his year in Miami demonstrated.
Next on the list is Isaiah Wynn. Wynn when healthy is an anomaly of the highest order. As has been pointed out previously, he’s a top left tackle talent at the size of a smaller center or guard.
His talent level to even be able to play left tackle at that size is off-the-charts. Wynn’s problem has not been talent but rather his propensity to pick up injuries. Too many, too often.
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Wynn if healthy will start at either left tackle (more likely) or maybe right tackle or guard. A move to the right or inside would be best for him, though it’s unlikely to happen.
The Patriots have a decision to make in the next few days on whether to pick up Wynn’s fifth-year option. It’s a $10M gamble and it says here, don’t pick it up. Make this a show and tell year for him.
The New England Patriots can always sign Wynn in the offseason if he proves his injury woes are behind him. With Wynn only having played in 18 games out of a possible 48, he’s a bad bet.
Of note here is this, New England missed the boat by not drafting an offensive tackle high up in the 2021 draft, their biggest draft mistake.
Wynn’s health issues and questionable status along with Trent Brown’s one-year deal should have prompted the team to go big for an offensive tackle in the just-concluded draft.
It was a huge omission and could cost them dearly either sooner or later. A top tackle could have stepped in if either or both are injured or leave after the season. A missed opportunity, indeed.
New England Patriots 4th, 3rd, and 2nd best offensive linemen
First up in this segment is the super 2020 rookie, Michael Onwenu. To say he was a find in the sixth round last season would be a gross understatement.
Drafted as a guard, Onwenu started all 16 games for New England. 15 of those were at right tackle (an almost totally new position for the rookie) stepping in for the opted-out Marcus Cannon.
Onwenu will start and at which position is the only question. He will likely emerge as one of New England’s very best this season.
Shaq Mason is a rock at right guard and has been since he joined the Patriots as a fourth-round pick in 2015. Mason has started 83 of 88 games in his six years in New England.
He is one of the best run-blocking guards in football and he’ll man his usual right guard position again in 2021 for the Patriots.
Next up is the former free agent, the middle strength of the offensive line, center David Andrews. Andrews tested the market in the offseason but decided to come home.
That was a good decision for both the team and the fans and seemingly for Andrews, as well. he anchors the line and is a bulwark who can do it all at center.
Andrews has been with New England since 2015 when he was signed as an undrafted free agent. Since then (absent losing 2019 due to a health issue), he has started 69 of 72 games for the blue, silver, red, and white.
His talent, durability, and leadership are valued components of fielding an offensive line that can be the spearhead for the entire team.
The New England Patriots best offensive lineman
This call is certainly open to question and disagreement. Fair enough. And there certainly is some favoritism going on here in naming Trent Brown as New England’s top offensive lineman.
He is indeed a favorite of this writer who was miffed that the Patriots allowed him to sign with the Raiders two years ago and remains ticked that they only signed him to a one-year contract this time around.
Now, this situation may have been predicated on the fact that Brown had injury issues in Las Vegas. It’s a fair observation. He only played in 16 of 32 games for the Raiders those two years though he was a Pro-Bowler in 2019 playing in 11. But with New England, he played every game and Tom Brady and the team were better for it.
This discussion will be predicated on a single important supposition and that is that Brown will play where he is most needed and valued, at offensive left tackle.
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Popular opinion (if not wisdom) has him pegged into the right tackle where the Raiders miss-used his top talent as the quarterback’s left-side protector.
Brown indeed played left tackle for the Patriots in his only year in New England and he performed admirably. His contribution to that Super Bowl-winning season was and is grossly underrated.
He played the second most important position on the team and helped lead them quietly, yet effectively to their sixth Lombardi Trophy. Neither team nor position has been the same since.
Brown is a mountain in cleats, a road grading run blocker and it was his block that helped get Sony Michel into the end zone to beat the LA Rams.
In addition, as the late great Joel Buchsbaum used to say (and, yes, I’ve used this metaphor previously) about huge offensive lineman, “He’s a $50 (used to be $20, but inflation) cab ride to get around”. That’s Brown.
This writer is a big adherent of the philosophy that a good big man is better than a good small man (in athletics). Brown is a very, very good big man and a very, very big man, period. That combination plays well at offensive left tackle in the National Football League.
That’s why the hope here is that the Patriots do the right thing whether they pick up Isaiah Wynn’s option year or not, and start Brown at offensive left tackle.
It will make Cam Newton’s job that much easier and maybe, just maybe give Wynn an opportunity to stay on the field by playing a less demanding position with help.
So that’s it, the post-draft and other offseason evaluation of the Patriots’ offensive line depth. They should have, could have done more to bolster this unit but didn’t. Let’s hope it doesn’t come back to bite them and there’s still time to add quality in other ways.
Regardless, this line is key to the team’s future success. Hopefully, it will stay healthy, do its job well, and help ensure that success, as in playoff qualification and more.
After all, this is the New England Patriots we’re talking about.
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