The New England Patriots have made a concerted effort to address the offensive line this offseason after a poor performance in 2024.
The Patriots signed veterans Morgan Moses (three-year, $24 million deal), Garrett Bradbury (two-year, $9.5 million contract), and Wes Schweitzer (one-year, $1.5 million deal). Moses and Bradbury will likely start at right tackle and center, upgrading both spots ahead of the 2025 season.
However, the Patriots have an interesting decision regarding left guard Cole Strange. The former Chattanooga standout is among the various first-round picks from the 2022 NFL Draft class that will or won’t receive a fifth-year option.
The deadline for the 2022 class opened up on Jan. 6, but the deadline is quickly approaching on May 1. Strange’s fifth-year option might not get picked up, given that the Patriots drafted Layden Robinson in the fourth round last year.
And not to mention, the former first-round pick appeared in three games last year after missing most of the 2024 campaign rehabbing from a knee injury sustained during the 2023 season.
New England had high hopes for the former Chattanooga star when he was drafted in 2022, but those dreams haven’t materialized.
When former head coach Bill Belichick surprisingly took Strange in the first round, the Patriots expected him to be the guy. But he has been one of the worst Pats’ first-round picks in recent memory.
Strange started in all 17 games in his rookie season but had a 54.6 overall grade on PFF. In his second year with the Patriots, the former first-round pick only started in 10 games due to injury and being benched by Belichick.
As previously noted, the 27-year-old returned to the field late last season. However, Strange struggled in run blocking, posting a 40.4 grade (63rd among 64 eligible centers. But he was better in pass protection with a 79.0 grade (sixth). Overall, the former first-round pick had a 48.6 overall grade.
Granted, the injury slowed Strange down, but the Pats cannot commit to exercising his option, especially when they have Robinson. The former Texas A&M lineman appeared in 13 games (11 starts) as a rookie last season.
The 23-year-old did not play well (41.9 pass block grade, 46.5 run block grade), but the entire Patriots’ line struggled. That said, Vrabel and the Pats’ brass might be more inclined to try to develop Robinson than to give Strange another year to see if he can live up to his first-round potential.