The New England Patriots' preseason is over, and it was a rollercoaster, to say the least. The exhibition slate opened on a high note with back-to-back wins over the Washington Commanders and Minnesota Vikings; however, that's where the fun ended as the Patriots fell 42-10 to the New York Giants in Thursday night's lopsided finale.
The final preseason game was the last chance for several roster bubble players to prove themselves to the Patriots coaching staff. While some individuals successfully capitalized on that opportunity, others didn't, including a recent first-round pick whose time in New England could be over sooner rather than later.
Patriots OL Cole Strange Is on Chopping Block After Poor Preseason
The Patriots had high expectations for offensive lineman Cole Strange when they used the 2022 NFL draft's 29th overall selection on him. The Knoxville, TN native was coming off a solid run at Chattanooga that saw him earn two SoCon Jacobs Blocking Trophy nods, leaving New England fans hopeful that he could be an O-line mainstay for years to come.
Unfortunately, a combination of injuries and poor play has prevented Strange from reaching his potential. He's only played 30 games across the last three campaigns, with most of the missed time stemming from a PCL tear in 2023 that held him to three appearances last season. He struggled in the small sample size while exclusively playing center, playing to 48.6 offense and 40.4 run blocking grades on Pro Football Focus.
The Patriots continued to rotate Strange between center and both guard roles this preseason, and the results were the same. The 27-year-old blocker played 81 snaps across the three exhibition contests, finishing with PFF grades of 47.4 for offense, 55.2 for run blocking, and 40.4 for pass protection. He struggled to clear lanes for running backs, all while surrendering three quarterback pressures with one penalty taken.
Will Campbell, Morgan Moses, Jared Wilson, Garrett Bradbury, and Mike Onwenu are on track to lead the Patriots' offensive line this season, leaving Strange on the outside looking in. Although the disappointing Day 1 pick could still operate in a backup role, he isn't someone who New England should feel comfortable thrusting into a big role if injuries arise.
With that in mind, it wouldn't be too surprising if the Patriots opt to cut Strange before Tuesday's 53-man roster deadline. He isn't doing anything to improve his standing with head coach Mike Vrabel, and the Pats can save over $2.3 million in cap space if they cut him, according to Spotrac.
Big roster-related decisions are looming over the New England horizon, and it won't be much longer until Patriots fans will learn if Strange will be a part of the upcoming 53-man unit.