Is it time to sign a backup veteran IOL or two!!!

[Wozzy]

start with an interior of AVT, Wilson and Onwenu is very, very good

Agreed, when healthy.

Brown has been a very competent fill in along the interior the past 2 seasons

"Very" might be a tad strong, but somewhere close to it. The question is always can they improve or get better.

He should be back in 4-6 weeks from what I saw

Agreed, a month or so.

Hudson is someone who could surprise.

Nah, the NFL needs to give up on the ghost of Hudson.

There is some concern with depth, but really we are talking about the 5th or maybe even 6th man up.

There is a concern at backup center immediately.

They need Rizy or Joe Michalski to get good really fast.

I would also venture to guess that Campbell, Lomu, Bryant and if Crownover is on the team, do not see a single snap at OG between all of them

We're talking about depth and injury.

If a starting guard suffers an injury, Lomu or Campbell will likely play some guard, unless they add someone.

Lomu will be active on game day with the 6th lineman role, it will probably be him.

Bryant and Crownover are strictly tackles I'd think.

 

[Wozzy]

I have more concerns with ILB, CB and TE than IOL, assuming Brown is back

TE obviously.

Both rookie ILB's (Obi & Jacobs) have had bright spots and looked decent in vanilla preseason scheme. Time and competition will sort this out.

CB looks deep with Kindle Vildor, Karon Prunty, Kenneth Harris and Channing Canada all playing well in spurts and increasing the level of competition. They need to fade Woods.

The rookies need to get more consistent and develop, but Vildor and Prunty look like they can contribute now.

 

[Zuma]

Bryant and Crownover are strictly tackles I'd think.

Crownover for sure. He's tall and athletic but he's a bit thin. He's a super-sized TE.

 

[Wozzy]

I guess my only response to that would be that I don't really know who you think they could sign? Obviously, this time of year, there aren't many of those available because they're all in camp.

UDFA's, projects... bring them all in, they're cheap.

If they don't have an answer at center before game one, it might be an elderly person.

 

[Wozzy]

Crownover for sure. He's tall and athletic but he's a bit thin. He's a super-sized TE.

I don't think Bryant or Crownover have the agility or build for guard.

They're certainly not as mobile as Lomu or Rizy, Marcus might also be a better offensive tackle at this point.

He's been here for a year already and gotten stronger. I don't think they'll rush to start Lomu.

 

[Zuma]

I don't think Bryant or Crownover have the agility or build for guard.

That's my point. You argue so much...it's hard to tell if you're agreeing or disagreeing.

 

[Wozzy]

That's my point. You argue so much...it's hard to tell if you're agreeing or disagreeing.

Agreeing, agreed, agreeful.

 

[jdlboot14]

start with an interior of AVT, Wilson and Onwenu is very, very good
Brown has been a very competent fill in along the interior the past 2 seasons
He should be back in 4-6 weeks from what I saw
Hudson is someone who could surprise.
There is some concern with depth, but really we are talking about the 5th or maybe even 6th man up.

I would also venture to guess that Campbell, Lomu, Bryant and if Crownover is on the team, do not see a single snap at OG between all of them

Hudson has been horrible on tape. He's constantly getting pushed back or blown by in practice reps.

 

[imahobgoblin]

The young corners look really good. I am confident now in the position.

As was documented ILB was my biggest concern going into camp, but I really like Jacobs and Britt has looked like he might be first, and even good. There's still even Muma who is a better option than Hudson is as guard IMO.

TE no disagreement. Similar.

Brown won't be back for 4-6 weeks, and Vrabel left open the possibility of more.

I think TE is the only possible correct one on your list currently.

Did you even watch the game last week? Ant Richardson went 11/14 for 145 yards. His pick was on the WR and his fumble was sloppy ball handling. He made the young corners look stupid. We have depth problems after Gonzo, Davis, and Jones.

 

[Family]

Did you even watch the game last week? Ant Richardson went 11/14 for 145 yards. His pick was on the WR and his fumble was sloppy ball handling. He made the young corners look stupid. We have depth problems after Gonzo, Davis, and Jones.

Yes I did watch the game and Prunty/Vidor looked good. Plus Woods who was ok last year did not play.

I don't care if Canada, Crossley or any others looked bad. There's at least 2-3 decent backups IMO.

How much deeper do teams go?

 

[moosekill]

Yes I did watch the game and Prunty/Vidor looked good. Plus Woods who was ok last year did not play.

I don't care if Canada, Crossley or any others looked bad. There's at least 2-3 decent backups IMO.

How much deeper do teams go?

this 100%

 

[p8ryts]

The question is who is better than the untested UDFAs or PS players. And, yes, all of those are improvements as our active IOL backup for Game One. And BTW, which OT do you think should play center if Wilson is injured?

I'll try Rizy

 

[The Gr8est]

UDFA's, projects... bring them all in, they're cheap.

If they don't have an answer at center before game one, it might be an elderly person.

Interesting….

Could the Pats leverage elder abuse charges at a player who manhandles our elderly center?

 

[Give Kraft A Hand]

Might get a surprise or two that gets cut from another team. Wait it out until then. Otherwise Vrabes is just going to hit up the scrap heap and other teams PS

 

[patfanken]

I don't think Bryant or Crownover have the agility or build for guard.

They're certainly not as mobile as Lomu or Rizy, Marcus might also be a better offensive tackle at this point.

He's been here for a year already and gotten stronger. I don't think they'll rush to start Lomu.

Wasn't Crownover a TE at some point in his football development? Doesn't that imply a certain level of athleticism?

 

[Wozzy]

Wasn't Crownover a TE at some point in his football development? Doesn't that imply a certain level of athleticism?

Too tall, long and not mobile. Guards have to pull. Could he stand in there a few plays if someone gets hurt, probably… but if a guard has to miss multiple games I don’t think it will work.

 

[mgteich]

I'll try Rizy

Perhaps the team wants to try Hudson at OG and have no NFL backup at center until Brown comes back, which is currently estimated at 6-8 weeks or longer. There has been exactly zero indication that Rizy is ready to an active player on our roster.

DIRECT RESPONSE
right

The perfect attitude for a team that expects to go deep in the playoffs is to just try an UDFA who has shown nothing. There is no need to pay merely because we have an injury. NOT!

THEORY
If a player is injured, put an untested UDFA or past UDFA on the roster. Also, no competition is needed.

IMO, the reality is that, unless Brown is ready, we do not have a backup center for Game 1.

And yes, I do understand waiting until Game 2. After all, we can be sure that no other team wants the player we will sign after Game 1.

 

[JoeSixPat]

We need a veteran backup OG and C.

We all know ‘tis, but nothing is happening other than injuries.

Yes but I think anyone worthy of starting will probably be a Week 2 signing for contract reasons and after we see which veterans may be cut by other teams

There may be some competition to sign them at that point too but they will have a chance to play and contribute here given our OL depth (or lack thereof)

They obviously had some interest in Van Roten who played every game for the Giants, and will probably be around the veteran minimum salary, so that's one that could happen before Week 1.

 

[DaBruinz]

Who exactly are these available veteran free agent interior offensive lineman that the Patriots (or any other team) should be signing?

34-year old Joel Bitonio retired in June
36-year old Kevin Zeitler is available, but is he an improvement?
James Daniels is coming off back-to-back seasons with a torn Achilles and torn pec
36-year old Greg Van Roten was in for a visit, but left unsigned
31-year old Elijah Wilkinson is available, but is he an improvement?
Mekhi Becton was so out of shape he had to take breathers mid-drive last year

Not sure that there is anybody else on the list below that is worth looking at.

2026 NFL Free Agents: Guard

2026 NFL Free Agency: The top 100(or more) unrestricted NFL free agents for 2026. Fullbacks, kickers and punters are excluded.Star rating is out of five.Age listing as of Sept. 1, 2026. Follow me @

walterfootball.com

Zeitler is still one of the better guards out there. Zeitler was on the Lions when Terrell williams was there.

That being said, I'd still prefer Bitonio if he could be talked outta retirement.

I wouldn't mind the Pats reaching out to the Eagles about Willie Lampkin

 

[captain stone]

And we should be glad he chose that route as that rookie is now the starting center in year 2 with tons of reps under his belt, instead of having little to no reps and being tasked with running the show on the OL right from the jump. Clearly there was a plan.

RE: Wallace, he is a very young player that they liked the traits of and were hoping to develop, but clearly that wasn't working or at least not on the timeline they could afford to work with so they ended the project.

While they are are thin at IOL right now, it's not like there's tons of great talented veterans just sitting around waiting for a call. All teams are holding 90 players right now but they will all have to cut ~40 each in a couple weeks. It is more logical to assume that they will use this time to get a longer look at more developmental guys to keep on the PS and then seek a better backup or two when ~1300 players hit the free agent market on August 30th, many of whom will be IOL, as @rkarp1 said.

Yeah whatever you say, Stacy James... or is it Mike Reiss...?