Player Signing Patriots hosting OL Greg Van Roten [Updated: Signed 8/17]

[DaBruinz]

I don't understand your math. Five starters and two backups at each of tackle, guard, and center makes for eleven.

5 Starting O-line
2 back-up OTs
2 back-up OGs
1 back-up C

That's 10. The Pats went with 9 last year with the back-up C also being a back-up at OG.

 

[mgteich]

I don't understand your math. Five starters and two backups at each of tackle, guard, and center makes for eleven.

The issue is IOL backups. There aren't 4 backups. There are 2. That reduces the 11 to 9, although a 5th OT is possible, perhaps Hudson for a game or two.'

C: backups are Brown and Van Rotun (certainly good enough to be the 3rd emergency center)
OG: Van Rotun and Brown

 

[DaBruinz]

The issue is IOL backups. There aren't 4 backups. There are 2. That reduces the 11 to 9, although a 5th OT is possible, perhaps Hudson for a game or two.'

C: backups are Brown and Van Rotun (certainly good enough to be the 3rd emergency center)
OG: Van Rotun and Brown

There can be TWO or THREE IOL back-ups. Particularly if you have an OG/OT combo player. Possibly someone like Crownover.

 

[n1997y]

I am tempted to pump the brakes on Van Roten. he is older than Moses, and making vet min.
will he stick around?
good gamble in a time of need, but once Brown and maybe Rupcich healthy, I don't think Van Roten sticks

The man is 36, in his 12th NFL season, joining a legit Super Bowl contender as backup after starting every game for the past three seasons.

Why would he not stick around for a shot at a ring?

He’s missed one game in the past five years! He’s the opposite of AVT, and now you’re inventing the idea he won’t stick around? SMH!

 

[n1997y]

Right. Because they want Brown available when he's ready. If Brown is not healthy by the end of camp, they will IR him with return like they did with Tavai last season.

Unlike Brown (if things stay this way) Ruprich will be available to anyone who wants him earlier. You don't do that if a player is in your plans.

So yes the team could bring him back if nobody else is interested, but since they handled his situation in this manner, this was a settlement and cut.

AFAIK Rupcich is still on IR and has not been given an injury settlement.

If you have information to the contrary please post a pointer to the source, because I just looked for such news and could not find anything.

So until he is released with an injury settlement this is all speculation. For now he’s under contract, on season-ending IR, andcwill be back in training camp next summer.

 

[Family]

AFAIK Rupcich is still on IR and has not been given an injury settlement.

If you have information to the contrary please post a pointer to the source, because I just looked for such news and could not find anything.

So until he is released with an injury settlement this is all speculation. For now he’s under contract, on season-ending IR, andcwill be back in training camp next summer.

You can't put a player on season long IR for a strained MCL as is being reported.

So unless Ruprich wants to sacrifice an entire year of his prime football years to get a hail mary chance here next year there will be a settlement.

But you're correct technically as things stand now.

 

[imahobgoblin]

What about Ben Brown last year or Ted Karras a few years back? If I waste my time and look it up there are many other examples. I'm talking about emergency second backup.

And Wilson was not horrible last year. He wasn't an all star, but he would have been one of the better backup guards in the league, if that were his role.

Just stop it.

Hey just so you know, this is 2026 and we are going into a new season. The past does not matter. Hence the Van Roten signing and not your stupid plan with Hudson. More manuvering is coming.

Willson was horrible last year. He has a grade of 49.9 (ranking 71st among 81 qualified guards) / 52.2 overall interior line grade.
Pass-Blocking Grade: 62.2 (ranking 44th at his position)
Run-Blocking Grade: 42.8 (ranking 75th at his position)
Pressures Allowed: 28 total pressures (including 4 sacks and 7 hits) over 784 offensive snaps.

That's reality. You stop it.

 

[n1997y]

5 Starting O-line
2 back-up OTs
2 back-up OGs
1 back-up C

That's 10. The Pats went with 9 last year with the back-up C also being a back-up at OG.

I think it will be 9.

5 Starting O-line
2 back-up OTs
2 back-up OG/C

Van Roten has started at both C and OG. Brown has started at both C and OG. That’s all they need on the 53. Carry a couple of OGs on PS, with Rizy as one of them so there’s also a C on PS.

That way they don’t need to dump Rupcich with an injury settlement so he can stay on IR, rehab thoroughly, and be fully recovered for camp next summer.

 

[mgteich]

You can't put a player on season long IR for a strained MCL as is being reported.

So unless Ruprich wants to sacrifice an entire year of his prime football years to get a hail mary chance here next year there will be a settlement.

But you're correct technically as things stand now.

The lead time is much longer than IR and other teams would be able to sign him several games before we will be able to sign him.

We are in trouble if we are Considering an injured Rupcich as part of our 2026 plans. I agree that no one else would likely sign a player of his level of play, especially when he needs to recover from injuries.

 

[Water Boy]

I don't like the sound of this;

Bradyn Swinson and Gabe Jacas both took advantage of LT Caleb Lomu’s low hands (think Vederian Lowe), swiped them down, and easily sped around him.

Keep in mind that Lomu is a late first round developmental Tackle. If it's technique related it's coachable and fixable. He's got the smarts and athleticism.

 

[Family]

The lead time is much longer than IR and other teams would be able to sign him several games before we will be able to sign him.

We are in trouble if we are Considering an injured Rupcich as part of our 2026 plans. I agree that no one else would likely sign a player of his level of play, especially when he needs to recover from injuries.

I'm not sure exactly what you are saying, but it seems we agree.

 

[Family]

Hey just so you know, this is 2026 and we are going into a new season. The past does not matter. Hence the Van Roten signing and not your stupid plan with Hudson. More manuvering is coming.

Willson was horrible last year. He has a grade of 49.9 (ranking 71st among 81 qualified guards) / 52.2 overall interior line grade.
Pass-Blocking Grade: 62.2 (ranking 44th at his position)
Run-Blocking Grade: 42.8 (ranking 75th at his position)
Pressures Allowed: 28 total pressures (including 4 sacks and 7 hits) over 784 offensive snaps.

That's reality. You stop it.

What is your point? That a rookie can't be 5th IOL on a team if it's out of position??? That's what we are discussing.

I don't care what PFF says. Wilson could have filled in as a second IOL backup and been one of the better in the league.

You can have the last say. I'm not continuing this nonsense.

 

[n1997y]

I think we are going to have to agree to disagree.

You can't put a player on season long IR for a strained MCL as is being reported.

Rupcich is on season ending IR right now for his strained MCL so obviously you can. QED.

So unless Ruprich wants to sacrifice an entire year of his prime football years to get a hail mary chance here next year there will be a settlement.

He has no leverage, as is constantly pointed out in contract discussions. He’s still getting paid, so he has no cause for action. Hes getting paid to do his job, for now his job is to heal and rehab and get ready to return to play.

Plus, seems to me you’re contradicting yourself here. You say he’s got a “Hail Mary chance here” but talk like he’s sure to land a plum job midseason this year as soon as he’s healthy and gets the settlement. There’s a real good chance Van Roten will be gone next year after keeping Rupcich’s seat warm this season, so I don’t see his chances here next year as being worse than they were this year. So I think he’s got a better chance here than on the open market after an injury settlement as a fringe player who is damaged goods.

Again, I think we’ll have to agree to disagree.

But you're correct technically as things stand now.

Thanks. We’ll see how things turn out. I hope for his sake he heals quickly and has a long and successful NFL career, hopefully here.

 

[mgteich]

What is your point? That a rookie can't be 5th IOL on a team if it's out of position??? That's what we are discussing.

I don't care what PFF says. Wilson could have filled in as a second IOL backup and been one of the better in the league.

You can have the last say. I'm not continuing this nonsense.

The point may be that the team would have been better off with Strange at LG for last year and with Wilson learning to be an NFL center.

2025
We would have had Brown and Wilson as backups. Since the OL was good enough to get us into the SB, I guess that having a weaker OL was OK.

2026
Folks seem to believe that Wilson was a plug and play solid NFL center when he was drafted and learning to play guard helped his 2026 play at center. If he is that good, we would have better off with him playing center from the first say of 2025 and replacing Bradbury late in the year.

 

[imahobgoblin]

What is your point? That a rookie can't be 5th IOL on a team if it's out of position??? That's what we are discussing.

I don't care what PFF says. Wilson could have filled in as a second IOL backup and been one of the better in the league.

You can have the last say. I'm not continuing this nonsense.

My point is you have no idea what you are talking about and just don't live in reality. That is proven by still claiming Wilson is good no matter what real stats say. Our front 5 has a solid chance to be good if healthy. Our depth is not good right now and it has to be upgraded. With Brown out many weeks, we need a backup center via FA, trade, or cut. Swapping rookie tackles to guard or center isn't the fix like you claim. More guard depth is a target too.

If you stop posting your nonsense, that's the best thing you have put in this thread.

 

[Family]

Rupcich is on season ending IR right now for his strained MCL so obviously you can.

I should have said KEEP on season ending IR. They are probably seeing how he's healing before making a settlement.

He has no leverage, as is constantly pointed out in contract discussions. He’s still getting paid, so he has no cause for action. Hes getting paid to do his job, for now his job is to heal and rehab and get ready to return to play.

I think he does have leverage. If Ruprich is healthy I think he could force a release.

Plus, seems to me you’re contradicting yourself here. You say he’s got a “Hail Mary chance here” but talk like he’s sure to land a plum job midseason this year as soon as he’s healthy and gets the settlement. There’s a real good chance Van Roten will be gone next year after keeping Rupcich’s seat warm this season, so I don’t see his chances here next year as being worse than they were this year. So I think he’s got a better chance here than on the open market after an injury settlement as a fringe player who is damaged goods.

Who said plum job? Ruprich will end up on somebody else's practice squad, and if it works out maybe get called up and play.

If he sits around all season on IR next year there will be new Ruprich's in camp next year. He's much better off being on someone's practice squad with hopes of being called up by someone later in the year, than hanging around here on IR for a strained MCL.

 

[Family]

The point may be that the team would have been better off with Strange at LG for last year and with Wilson learning to be an NFL center.

2025
We would have had Brown and Wilson as backups. Since the OL was good enough to get us into the SB, I guess that having a weaker OL was OK.

2026
Folks seem to believe that Wilson was a plug and play solid NFL center when he was drafted and learning to play guard helped his 2026 play at center. If he is that good, we would have better off with him playing center from the first say of 2025 and replacing Bradbury late in the year.

Agreed.

But that wasn't the discussion.

None of this was. It was about whether there was a chance Lomu could have filled in as 4th guard, if needed,

 

[rkarp1]

The man is 36, in his 12th NFL season, joining a legit Super Bowl contender as backup after starting every game for the past three seasons.

Why would he not stick around for a shot at a ring?

He’s missed one game in the past five years! He’s the opposite of AVT, and now you’re inventing the idea he won’t stick around? SMH!

I am saying that the decision to stick around might not be Van Roten's decision
the team may like Brown better
another IOL may come available over the coming weeks
Rupcich may be ready by mid season, and the team may prefer him over Van Roten
It would appear the team dragged their feet on signing Van Roten, and only did so after a couple of injuries.
the team seemed perfectly content to not sign him, and he was free to sign elsewhere. apparently there was minimal interest, and the Pats signed him to pretty much a vet min deal. I believe he replaces another player on the cap calculator, to the tune of less than $250k

 

[Ross12]

I think it will be 9.

5 Starting O-line
2 back-up OTs
2 back-up OG/C

Van Roten has started at both C and OG. Brown has started at both C and OG. That’s all they need on the 53. Carry a couple of OGs on PS, with Rizy as one of them so there’s also a C on PS.

That way they don’t need to dump Rupcich with an injury settlement so he can stay on IR, rehab thoroughly, and be fully recovered for camp next summer.

Rizy looked decent in preseason as a pure center. I'd keep him around.

 

[DaBruinz]

You can't put a player on season long IR for a strained MCL as is being reported.

Since when? Go ahead and show us where, in the CBA, it says you can't IR someone for a strained MCL. We'll wait.