One of the final draft picks from the Bill Belichick era could see his time with the New England Patriots come to an end sooner than he would have ever anticipated.
The Patriots have informed veteran offensive lineman Cole Strange the franchise will not be picking up his fifth-year option that would have paid him $16.7 million, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.
The former University of Tennessee-Chattanooga standout has started in 29 of the 30 games he has appeared in since being drafted by New England. Yet, his appearances have gone done since his rookie year, going from 17 in 2022, to 10 in 2023 and just three in 2024. That lack of reliability, coupled with less-than-stellar play, makes this an easy choice.
Rams reaction to Patriots selection of Cole Strange at #29.
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) April 29, 2022
This is hysterical. pic.twitter.com/ADzqt4lizQ
When you look at the Pro Football Focus grades for Strange, it is understandable why Mike Vrabel and the brain trust in the front office believe they can find better player through some other means. For the 2024 season, Strange had an overall PFF grade of 48.6. While Strange was effective in pass blocking situations, ranking sixth in that category, he was horrendous against the run, ranking second-to-last in that category.
Strange will remain on the roster through the 2025 season as he is still under his rookie contract and set to earn just under $3.9 million. The exact role he will fill in the trenches for New England is less of a certainty. The former first-round pick faces an uphill battle to find a place in the Patriots' starting lineup as Garrett Bradbury was brought in over the offseason to be the team's new No. 1 center.