The first month of free agency has seen a plethora of new faces arrive in Foxborough ahead of Mike Vrabel's first season as the Patriots head coach.
Coach Vrabel and Eliot Wolf have been determined to improve their roster this offseason. This organization needed more firepower on both sides of the ball, and adding notable names such as Stefon Diggs and Milton Williams should help.
With nearly $60 million in remaining cap space, the Patriots should not be content. The offensive line still needs some work, even after bringing in Morgan Moses and Garrett Bradbury. Nevertheless, another name is available in free agency that could be a bargain for the Pats to help out their guard position alongside Mike Onwenu.
Will Hernandez Would be Perfect Fit for Patriots Offensive Line
The 29-year old Hernandez has played eight NFL seasons for the New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals. Drafted in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft, Hernandez remains unsigned after suffering a torn ACL in Week 5 of last season.
While a player recovering from an ACL injury may scare teams away, the Patriots have a desperate need at their left guard position.
Layden Robinson, the Patriots' fourth-round pick in last year's draft, didn't have a good rookie season. He started 11 games for the team at guard, committing five penalties and allowing four sacks. Robinson's 43.6 overall grade on PFF ranked seventh-worst among eligible guards.
Before going down with an injury last season, Hernandez committed two penalties but didn't allow a sack through five games. He was above average in both run and pass blocking PFF grades, and his 6-foot-2, 332-pound frame allowed Kyler Murray and James Conner to thrive in the ground game to start last season.
Watch #76 Will Hernandez on the 2pt conversion that sent the game to OT pic.twitter.com/sDnHrwMSHg
— H刃wk (@HawksTruth) September 19, 2022
Hernandez has started 91 games and a full season four times throughout his eight-year career. If the Patriots were to bring him in, they would be getting a player who has been mostly available throughout his career, as offensive line injuries were abundant for New England last season.
Even if it's a shorter-term deal, the Patriots should look Hernandez's way in the coming weeks. He would provide a bigger presence up front that can run and pass block effectively.
Improving the guard position opposite Onwenu should be a priority for the team, given how bad the production was from the position in 2024. The Patriots also have nine draft picks to work with in this month's draft, which they could use to improve the position.