Guard Tyrone Green signs with New England

At first glance, Green projects as a backup with upside. Expectations must be tempered, but don’t rule him out as a candidate to assume Donald Thomas’s old role as the No. 3 swing guard.

Green provides the Patriots with a veteran who can battle it out with 25-year-old utility man Nick McDonald, 2011 fifth-round pick Marcus Cannon and last year’s undrafted pick-up Markus Zusevics. But unlike Green, those three have the flexibility to spell in at offensive tackle.

All in all, the signing comes at a good time for the Patriots. Starting right guard Dan Connolly is coming back from offseason shoulder surgery and the squad’s other reserve interior linemen – Penn State’s Matt Stankiewitch, Kent State’s Josh Kline, Michigan State’s Chris McDonald – are all undrafted rookies.

By no means should Green be considered a 53-man roster lock. He should, however, be considered a viable backup with starter work under his belt.

That’s not a bad consolation prize at this point in the free agency period.
The Patriots now have 89 players on the 90-man roster; 14 of whom are offensive linemen.​