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No one wants to talk about the offensive line until it is so porous that running baseline plays becomes an issue. Man, oh man, did we spend a lot of time discussing the Patriots' offensive line this past season.
Actually, we started the chatter well before the Pats assembled for training camp because the plan didn't make much sense. Signing an aging and declining Riley Reiff to be the right tackle and paying him real money was gross. Adding a journeyman in Calvin Anderson to provide depth while giving him a couple of million dollars seemed like a blindfolded dart throw. They both missed, resulting in a trickle-down effect that put the offense in a hole they never climbed out of.
The right tackle spot wasn't the only issue. Trent Brown behaved like Trent Brown. He showed up out of shape. He left out of shape. In between, Brown proved to be a massive headache despite some strong tape early in the season. For all the folks who were hell-bent on maintaining the Pats' culture, I would suggest making deals with characters like Brown helped erode it quickly.
Mike Onwenu did yeoman's work moving from right guard to right tackle to help create a level of certainty that had been lacking - Vederian Lowe, anyone? - but in his heart of hearts, Onwenu would prefer to stay inside. That said, Onwenu would fit the profile of previous right tackles who have played in schemes that offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt leans toward (especially his last stop in Cleveland). Can they convince Onwenu of that? Or can they tell him they'll play him outside, but he kicks back inside when they develop or sign a tackle? Or just franchise the former 6th-rounder and figure it out?
Signed: Anderson ($3.59 mil/$2 mil if cut pre-June 1), Conor McDermott ($1.2 mil/$0), Lowe ($985k/$0)
Unsigned: Onwenu, Reiff, Brown, Tyrone Wheatley
NOW YOUSE CAN'T LEAVE (Bronx Tale)
1. Onwenu, Patriots: I don't let him leave, and I don't leave that up to him. Sure, if I'm Wolf/Mayo, I want my players happy (they said as much at the combine), but based on the rest of this free agent - and the overall talent level the Pats have on the offensive line - I think he's the most valuable player that could leave via free agency. Even if Onwenu is here for just one year (he might not fit the prototypes Wolf and the scouting department will be identifying going forward), this is a no-brainer.
Spotrac estimates $54.5 million over four years. PFF has him at $58 million over four ($33.25 million guaranteed).
WAIT, WOLF DID WHAT?
1. Tyron Smith, Cowboys: He's the best pure left tackle that could hit the market and has been worth every penny Dallas has ever given him. He is still one of the best blindside pass protectors in the game, capable of covering the sun, moon, and stars with his massive frame. He has heavy hands and great length, which he knows how to use to his advantage. He's older (33) and has been plagued by injuries, missing 33 of 50 games between 2020 and 2022.
Spotrac estimates $7.4 million for one season. PFF is at $10 million for one.
2. Brown, Patriots: Because of the shortage of left tackles in free agency, I could see someone at One Patriot Place trying to convince them that an incentive-laden one-year deal with Brown would help alleviate the pain of possibly replacing both tackles from a season ago. I think that would be a terrible decision, even if you know Brown is still - at times - capable of playing at a high level.
PFF estimates $15 million over two years ($8.5 million guaranteed). I estimate a lot of pain and heartache.
SHORT ORDER COOK
1. Donovan Smith, Chiefs: He's 30 going on 31, so you've already seen him at his peak, and he wasn't that this past season for KC. He is a walking penalty and sometimes gets cooked by speedier, bendier pass rushers, but is still seen as a plug-and-play at LT. He also won't cost much.
PFF estimates $2.5 million for one year ($1.75 million guaranteed).
2. Andrus Peat, Saints: Drafted as a guard, and plenty of folk league-wide still think he's that. But he's played right and left tackle and handled himself just fine. He has excellent play strength, and if Peat gets his hands on you with good balance, he'll be fine. The 30-year-old doesn't have quick feet, which can be problematic, but I believe he could be a season-long stopgap - depending on the scheme the Pats roll with - while acknowledging that they won't be able to fill every hole this offseason.
PFF estimates one year for $4 million ($2.25 million guaranteed).
HIM AGAIN? YEP
1. Jermaine Eluemenor, Raiders: I didn't think the Pats should have let him leave the last time. I found him to be a useful player. Not everyone is going to be an All-Pro. Eluemenor won't be that. But he had a good season for the Raiders (actually the last two), even with the in-season head coaching/play-calling switch in 2023. At 330 (ish) pounds, he has quick feet. He, too, struggles against the bendier pass rushers, but most of 'em do. He could find himself having a team or two offer him tweener left tackle money.
Eluemenor may want to find a playoff team, however. "You can call me a hater, I don't care," he tweeted. "I don't like the Chiefs at all … We beat them this year. Yeah, cool, but I want to beat them when it matters. Don't care who comments on this: players, fans, I don't care. Congrats to them for making another Super Bowl, but I hope I get the opportunity to beat you when it matters."
PFF estimates two years for $14.5 million ($9 million guaranteed). I could see it going north of that, depending on what happens with Smith.
OVERPAY BUT LIVE WITH IT
1. Jonah Williams, Bengals: He's been my pick to click for the last few months to play left tackle. Williams. Never became the player I thought Williams would be, but at 6'5 ", 313 pounds. He's quick, and he's agile, especially in pass pro. He can get overpowered but showed improvement in that area while playing right tackle for the first time as a pro in 2023 (he did play RT at Alabama).
Cincy GM Duke Tobin told the Cincinnati Enquirer of Williams, "Jonah, I thought, played well, made a position switch, and gave us a full season. It was impressive. He showed that he's versatile, and that will play well for him over time. I don't know what the future holds. We'll see."
Spotrac estimates $43.4 million over four years. PFF goes for four years for $60 mil ($37.5 million guaranteed).
Best of the rest: Mekhi Becton (Jets), Josh Jones (Houston), Yosh Nijman (Packers)
CENTER SQUARE FOR THE WIN
With David and Jake Andrews under contract, the Patriots don't need to address this spot urgently unless David were to retire (I don't see it). If anything, they may look for a developmental center in the draft in case they view Jake as more guard than center (he started week 18 at left guard).
The free agency class is solid.
Lloyd Cushenberry (Broncos), Tyler Biadasz (Cowboys), Coleman Shelton (Rams), Andre James (Raiders), Aaron Brewer (Titans), Connor Williams (Dolphins), Evan Brown (Seahawks). All are starting-caliber players, with Cushenberry and Williams likely to get rather large checks.