We Will Have An OK 2025 OL; are we moving towards better in 2026?

[bakes781]

Robinson was not good at LG in 2024. He was a RG in college.

Simmons is recovering from a Patella injury and might not be ready in 2025.

Onwenu is too expensive. Robinson or Wallace might replace Onwenu. Wallace was poor at LT and RT last year so maybe he switches to guard, or maybe he is better in 2025 at tackle. Who knows.

Your suggestion has three rookies and one sophomore. Typically it is better to have more experience.

that's more a projection 2 years from now. I may be the only one but I still have hope for Layden.

Obviously we have some depth now at guard with Strange and Wallace. I'm just not banking on them beyond next year.

 

[mgteich]

You are correct but Onwenu is due a $13.5M payout next year, so the cap and cost are linked more than usual and the cost/payout for Onwenu in 2026 makes his situation different than almost all of the other players. My apologies for not explaining that more clearly.

Thank you for your clarification.

I'm still confused. When I look at Onwenu's contract for 2026, I don't see any payout other than his $16M salary, his $1M game bonuses and a $500K workout bonus. Which contact terms are you referring to?

A decision will be made. Is Onwenu worth $17.5M for his 2026 services, or not. If not, he will be waived. IMO, he ius more likely to be extended than cut. We'll see.

 

[mgteich]

that's more a projection 2 years from now. I may be the only one but I still have hope for Layden.

Obviously we have some depth now at guard with Strange and Wallace. I'm just not banking on them beyond next year.

Strange is NOT depth at LG. He is the best that we have and he is likely to playing elsewhere next year. Wallace may be a future starter at RG. That would require him learning a new position and becoming better at it than competitors that we have or can secure from other teams. But, yes, Wallace is depth at OL.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Thank you for your clarification.

I'm still confused. When I look at Onwenu's contract for 2026, I don't see any payout other than his $16M salary, his $1M game bonuses and a $500K workout bonus. Which contact terms are you referring to?

A decision will be made. Is Onwenu worth $17.5M for his 2026 services, or not. If not, he will be waived. IMO, he ius more likely to be extended than cut. We'll see.

Your numbers are right. I pulled my info off Over the Cap, but I listed the 2025 numbers. It is $17.5M in 2026 which helps my argument more.

The Pats will not pay Onwenu $17.5M in 2026, so he will be cut IMO. You could be right a 2nd time and Onwenu could be restructred, but I doubt that. I guess maybe if restructured includes a huge pay cut. Amendola took pay cuts a number of times instead of being released because he was way overpaid like Onwenu is.

 

[mgteich]

Your numbers are right. I pulled my info off Over the Cap, but I listed the 2025 numbers. It is $17.5M in 2026 which helps my argument more.

The Pats will not pay Onwenu $17.5M in 2026, so he will be cut IMO. You could be right a 2nd time and Onwenu could be restructred, but I doubt that. I guess maybe if restructured includes a huge pay cut. Amendola took pay cuts a number of times instead of being released because he was way overpaid like Onwenu is.

To be more clear, I don't expect Onwenu to stay with a pay cut. I hope that he will show himself to be part of a future solid OL, with him being a solid starter. I think that a solid starter at RG will be worth $17.5M in 2026.

 

[manxman2601]

To be more clear, I don't expect Onwenu to stay with a pay cut. I hope that he will show himself to be part of a future solid OL, with him being a solid starter. I think that a solid starter at RG will be worth $17.5M in 2026.

I think he’ll have to be a pro-bowl type guard to warrant that sort of money. I think Vrabel is starting to move on from the old roster and almost completely re-building so Onwenu will have to show something pretty special to stay on the roster after this year.

 

[mgteich]

I think that this discussion continues to point to the judgment that we need to draft more than one future starter on the OL.

 

[Clonamery]

I think that this discussion continues to point to the judgment that we need to draft more than one future starter on the OL.

Sure but it likely won't be this draft...

 

[manxman2601]

Sure but it likely won't be this draft...

A center maybe to start next year after backing up Bradbury this year.

 

[bakes781]

I think that this discussion continues to point to the judgment that we need to draft more than one future starter on the OL.

easier said than done. but as with the WR position I wouldn't completely write-off last year's draft class.

 

[Rdforty2]

I think that this discussion continues to point to the judgment that we need to draft more than one future starter on the OL.

That's certainly possible.

But another angle is, we have 4 major unknowns, and it may be beneficial to see if they can do anything to take a job. Strange, Sow, Robinson, and Wallace.

What if we use a 2nd or 3rd on a guard, and Sow/Strange still take LG? Not the nest usage of the pick.

What if we double dip at OT, but Wallace shows he's got the chops at RT?

I'm not saying to ignore a great player falling. Just saying there are many ways to view the draft. If better players come up at DT/DE/WR/RB maybe even CB and we only take 1 OL, i wouldn't necessarily be upset, or criticize the process.

 

[manxman2601]

That's certainly possible.

But another angle is, we have 4 major unknowns, and it may be beneficial to see if they can do anything to take a job. Strange, Sow, Robinson, and Wallace.

What if we use a 2nd or 3rd on a guard, and Sow/Strange still take LG? Not the nest usage of the pick.

What if we double dip at OT, but Wallace shows he's got the chops at RT?

I'm not saying to ignore a great player falling. Just saying there are many ways to view the draft. If better players come up at DT/DE/WR/RB maybe even CB and we only take 1 OL, i wouldn't necessarily be upset, or criticize the process.

I like the idea of drafting Ozzy and seeing if Wallace can take the LG job.

 

[mgteich]

easier said than done. but as with the WR position I wouldn't completely write-off last year's draft class.

I don't write off the young backups: Wallace, Robinson, Andrews and Sow.

That doesn't change the fact that we need FIVE starters for 2026 and 2027. How many do you think are on the current team?

Vrabel will have stopped the bleeding after drafting an LT.

 

[mgteich]

I like the idea of drafting Ozzy and seeing if Wallace can take the LG job.

Ozzy in the 2nd and no other LT signing?

In this scenario, if we are ready to draft Ozzie early, we could also draft Membou early.

 

[bakes781]

Barring something crazy we are pretty much all in agreement right/wrong that the Pats are selecting Will Campbell at this point.

But we need to double dip at tackle in case Will does need to be moved to guard. Ozzy makes sense because he's played both LT and RT.

Day 3 is where they should most likely look to add a depth piece IOL. Majors from Texas is my most often target. Love Willie Lampkin but we know he's undersized for that role.

 

[bakes781]

Ozzy in the 2nd and no other LT signing?

In this scenario, if we are ready to draft Ozzie early, we could also draft Membou early.

Membou would be my preference but some are concerned about missing out on a true LT. IMO Ozzy should not be in consideration until round 3 but I understand the FOMO.

 

[mgteich]

I suspect that many of us would like to see us trade down to 9 or 10 and take Simmons, and then double down with Ozzy at some point. If we were to make it simple for analysis, we would use the extra pick to draft Ozzy.

CAMPBELL at 4 OR
SIMMONS at 9 or 10, plus QZZY with the extra pick. I suspect that some might also accept Banks at 10.

The bottom line is that Campbell is a considerable risk, but one that Vrabel is likely willing to take.

 

[manxman2601]

Ozzy in the 2nd and no other LT signing?

In this scenario, if we are ready to draft Ozzie early, we could also draft Membou early.

No. Campbell at 4, Ozzy in the 3rd. If he doesn't make it there then I'd take Grant or Logan Brown.

 

[mgteich]

No. Campbell at 4, Ozzy in the 3rd. If he doesn't make it there then I'd take Grant or Logan Brown.

If Ozzy can play both tackle positions, I would think that we would want to trade down in the 2nd and take him there, A swing OT is a valuable commodity.

 

[manxman2601]

If Ozzy can play both tackle positions, I would think that we would want to trade down in the 2nd and take him there, A swing OT is a valuable commodity.

It is but so is WR. I like Trapilo but I’m not convinced he’s a 2nd rounder. If there’s going to be a trade to get him, I’d rather they traded up from 69 into the back end of round two. One name to look out for is Miles Frazier who I’ve just added to my draft prediction entry. Ideal for a gap scheme, can backup four positions on the OL excluding center, can either compete for the LG starting spot this year or be heir apparent to Onwenu next. Only gave up one sack in two years and obviously he and Campbell were teammates.