Will Pats cut Bradbury? [OG title mentioned a non-existent option bonus]

[ViperGTS]

How do you know Wilson is a NFL center? Do you want to bet the 2026 season on that?

I saw his tape from Georgia. He was pretty damn good. Thats what I am banking on.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

I saw his tape from Georgia. He was pretty damn good. Thats what I am banking on.

You are going to bank the Pats whole 2026 season on some film reivew you saw at Georgia? You are not concerned at all by Wilson's failure at LG in 2025? The Pats have a very hard schedule in 2026, not like 2025, and you are thinking that protecting Maye is the #1 priority?

 

[imahobgoblin]

We already spent $17M in 2025 on Onwenu who is not nearly the player that Linderbaum is. Cut Onwenu and sign Linderbaum and the cap hit is barely nothing. Sign a LG in FA and draft a RG in R1 of the draft. The IOL is fixed and Campbell will be MUCH better with a veteran next to him. This is not rocket science.t

So cut a center, cut a right guard, add a center, draft a rookie to start at right guard, and sign a left guard. This is actually rocket science. You fixed the center. You still have to pay $10 million to a Isaac Seumalo type for LG, and you downgraded your RG. Owneu is overpaid, but had a really good season. He was 7th out of 81 guards. I would just eat his salary

How about sign a LG and Center? That is much more simple. Draft depth.

 

[ViperGTS]

You are going to bank the Pats whole 2026 season on some film reivew you saw at Georgia? You are not concerned at all by Wilson's failure at LG in 2025? The Pats have a very hard schedule in 2026, not like 2025, and you are thinking that protecting Maye is the #1 priority?

Well it depends on what they think, not me lol. We'll know after FA what's what. I like the idea of Linderbaum for sure just worry about cost. At 25 his age is perfect but then what becomes of Wilson? Now you gotta draft a LG. And high potential tackle.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

So cut a center, cut a right guard, add a center, draft a rookie to start at right guard, and sign a left guard. This is actually rocket science. You fixed the center. You still have to pay $10 million to a Isaac Seumalo type for LG, and you downgraded your RG. Owneu is overpaid, but had a really good season. He was 7th out of 81 guards. I would just eat his salary

How about sign a LG and Center? That is much more simple. Draft depth.

Not hard to sign a C and LG if Linderbaum and Edwards are available - cut Onwenu to have the cap space. Vrabel and crew have a great reputation, FAs will sign here. We tried a rookie LG and LT which did not work out well (was a disaster - I am being polite).

How do you sign a C and LG? Really easy like how we signed Williams last year. Have Vrabel talk to them and offer the most money. Are you concerned about RKK paying the salaries?

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Well it depends on what they think, not me lol. We'll know after FA what's what. I like the idea of Linderbaum for sure just worry about cost. At 25 his age is perfect but then what becomes of Wilson? Now you gotta draft a LG. And high potential tackle.

We signed Williams last year, so let's sign Linderbaum this year. How did signing Williams work out? If we cut Onwenu than that pays for Linderbaum - we were overpaying for Onwenu. We have cap space tp pay for a LG like Edwards from the Bills so Campbell has a veteran next to him. And we can draft a RG in the 2026 draft - there are lots of options in R1 or R2.

Fixing the OL is the top priority. We need a leader like Linderbaum in the middle of the OL, not a 2nd year draft pick (Wilson) that failed at LG last year.

 

[ViperGTS]

We signed Williams last year, so let's sign Linderbaum this year. How did signing Williams work out? If we cut Onwenu than that pays for Linderbaum - we were overpaying for Onwenu. We have cap space tp pay for a LG like Edwards from the Bills so Campbell has a veteran next to him. And we can draft a RG in the 2026 draft - there are lots of options in R1 or R2.

Fixing the OL is the top priority. We need a leader like Linderbaum in the middle of the OL, not a 2nd year draft pick (Wilson) that failed at LG last year.

I agree the line is the biggest issue to solve right now. People want an edge guy etc, but the line is the issue. I bet they feel the same way but who knows if they can even get the dude they want. Probably 15 other teams are gonna be hot on that dude. Guess you could overpay but thats something that you would hope is in the past.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

I agree the line is the biggest issue to solve right now. People want an edge guy etc, but the line is the issue. I bet they feel the same way but who knows if they can even get the dude they want. Probably 15 other teams are gonna be hot on that dude. Guess you could overpay but thats something that you would hope is in the past.

Why is overpaying in the past? We overpaid for Williams and it worked out great. Let's keep doing it.

 

[Brick27]

Still bummed they didn’t add Thuney, contrary to some of the “regression” thoughts ignorantly thrown around last cycle. I won’t list names that disagreed with it here. Guy won the first ****ing NFL protector of the year award and his 3rd consecutive 1st team All Pro. Anyways. This discussion would be more boiled down if knowing he was on board another year or two with the rest of the line. Thuney would have obviously been a much bigger asset to Campbell on the left side than we got this year, and whatever C you threw his way. Wilson at C (natural position), Thuney LG and Campbell LT would think would be better than what we got.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

We already spent $17M in 2025 on Onwenu who is not nearly the player that Linderbaum is. Cut Onwenu and sign Linderbaum and the cap hit is barely nothing. Sign a LG in FA and draft a RG in R1 of the draft. The IOL is fixed and Campbell will be MUCH better with a veteran next to him. This is not rocket science.

That would be a suboptimal use of that pick, especially since they're going to need a new RT soon, too.

Also, Campbell/Wilson didn't really fail until both were post-injury going against top tier defenses.

 

[hornetfb85]

Wilson does not look ready and PatsFans loves him for some reason. Having a rookie LG and LT was a huge coaching mistake. Moving Wilson to Center would continue the mistake. Let's hope Vrabel and crew have learned.

So Wilson cannot improve from year one to year two??

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

That would be a suboptimal use of that pick, especially since they're going to need a new RT soon, too.

Only if you overvalue the OT position. This is the same approach that overvalues the defensive EDGE position.

Last year Vrable and crew prioritized the IDL, DT and not EDGE, and it worked out well. Why do you think prioritizing the IOL this year is a bad idea?

 

[Ross12]

What do you mean by "option"? He doesn't have a roster bonus or anything due that I can find. There's no trigger date for guarantees or anything.

As of right now, there's no reason not to take Bradbury to camp. It seems like a decent bet that they look to upgrade at LG because Wilson didn't look ready there and the long term projection for him there doesn't seem great. But they wouldn't just hand him the starting job there either. It's not like Wilson played well enough where he's obviously a starting caliber player at this level even with a position switch. Bradbury's cap hit isn't prohibitive and none of it would be guaranteed if Wilson beat him out in camp and they were comfortable with heir depth. They can just cut him then.

if they went out and signed someone like Linderbaum or McGovern for Center then that's different. At that point you just cut him because $5.7M is kind of expensive for a backup to a big FA signing when you have Wilson/Brown. And you kind of want to do right by the vet and let him go sign for a starter spot elsewhere.

I think the most sensible plan is:

1. Keep Bradbury for now
2. Sign a solid free agent left guard to replace Wilson there
3. Have Wilson and Bradbury compete for the starting center job
4a. If Wilson wins, cut Bradbury and save $5M
4b. If Wilson loses, keep Bradbury as the starter and have Wilson be a multi-position backup

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

So Wilson cannot improve from year one to year two??

Stop it. Such a reactionary response.

So Wilson being a backup, like TB12 was, for a year is going to ruin Wilson? We can play this game all day. We tried Wilson as a starter and it was not pretty. Let's be honest and give Wilson a chance to develop as a backup for a year. What is wrong with that? Are you Wilson's Mom?

 

[hornetfb85]

Stop it. Such a reactionary response.

So Wilson being a backup, like TB12 was, for a year is going to ruin Wilson? We can play this game all day. We tried Wilson as a starter and it was not pretty. Let's be honest and give Wilson a chance to develop as a backup for a year. What is wrong with that? Are you Wilson's Mom?

Was just asking the question. I sure as hell hope he can make a leap. I’m thinking you and we better be prepared for a Bradbury/Wilson battle at C because thinking it’s gonna be easy to add Linderbaum and Edwards is pipe dreamish. Boy that would make for a great OL room though. Maybe we could really focus in on Linderbaum and look at a cheaper guy like Bitonio.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Was just asking the question.

Me too. I am only a guy posting on PatsFans. No affiliation with the Pats.

I sure as hell hope he can make a leap. I’m thinking you and we better be prepared for a Bradbury/Wilson battle at C because thinking it’s gonna be easy to add Linderbaum and Edwards is pipe dreamish.

LOL. You think an All-Pro like Linderbaum is hard to add to the Pats starting OL, so we should accept Bradbury or Wilson instead? I am not sure what to say. Are you saying that adding All-pros and established vets is a pipe dream so we should go with Wilson who was not good as a rookie at LG?

Boy that would make for a great OL room though. Maybe we could really focus in on Linderbaum and look at a cheaper guy like Bitonio.

Last year we signed Williams as a DT, which is IDL. It was a great success. This year we should do the same and sign Linderbaum in the middle of the OL at Center, which is IOL. We add a veteran like Edwards or AVT at LG so Campbell has someone to help him, and cut Onwenu. Add a R1 or R2 RG in the draft. The OL is almost remade with Wilson and Brown ready to emerge if needed.

 

[TheRainMaker]

The most overlooked aspect is not looking from the QB's perspective. It's easy for fans to say "let's see how Wilson he does in year 2", but you weren't the guy who watched his LT and LG get overpowered and/or completely whiff blocks. Maye doesn't have time for that and he is thinking what many of us are thinking that this problem needs to seriously be addressed. Not "move Wilson to C".

I expect big moves along the OL which is going to shock some on this board. Look for them to sign a name G and go after Lindenbaum at C. The Pats can't let this get to a Colts situation where Maye starts mulling retirement by year 6.

 

[mgteich]

We already spent $17M in 2025 on Onwenu who is not nearly the player that Linderbaum is. Cut Onwenu and sign Linderbaum and the cap hit is barely nothing. Sign a LG in FA and draft a RG in R1 of the draft. The IOL is fixed and Campbell will be MUCH better with a veteran next to him. This is not rocket science.

You are right. It isn't rocket science to believe that you can draft a starting RG and not suffer much weaker production at RG. You just ASSUME that we can useof R! draft pick for a starting RG.

No, this plan is NOT rocket science. There are many, many other words on my list. BTW, an EDGE rusher makes more sense at 31.

 

[mgteich]

LOL. You think an All-Pro like Linderbaum is hard to add to the Pats starting OL, so we should accept Bradbury or Wilson instead? I am not sure what to say. Are you saying that adding All-pros and established vets is a pipe dream so we should go with Wilson who was not good as a rookie at LG?

I have no issues if Vrabel decides to sign Lindenbaum to a long-term deal to anchor our OL. We then would be admitting that our 3rd was for a backup center or simply a roster replacement for Wallace.
===========
Onwenu and RG is a different issue. Vrabel will NOT volunteer to greatly weaken the RG position by simply cutting Onwenu without a replacement at least almost as good.

 

[imahobgoblin]

Not hard to sign a C and LG if Linderbaum and Edwards are available - cut Onwenu to have the cap space. Vrabel and crew have a great reputation, FAs will sign here. We tried a rookie LG and LT which did not work out well (was a disaster - I am being polite).

How do you sign a C and LG? Really easy like how we signed Williams last year. Have Vrabel talk to them and offer the most money. Are you concerned about RKK paying the salaries?

What does RKK have to do with it? We have to upgrade multiple positions. We have a salary cap. Reality is not a video game. Your proposition just does not match what the front office will. Doubt me? Just watch.