Remind me on Jared Wilson’s shift to LG:

Joey007 · Feb 19, 2026

Did this move happen because the staff realized they liked him as a guard over center? Or was it more due to the Cole Strange fallout that created a hole at LG, basically they then just tried to get the best 5 out there.

If I remember right, I think Strange was the plan at LG before the staff realized he just wasn’t getting healthy and wasn’t the same guy. Wilson was supposed to sit behind Bradbury for a year, unless he beat him out in camp. I think it was pretty close competition in camp until Strange being out began to shift Wilson over to LG.

Would be a notable difference, since Wilson wasn’t moved out of the staff’s fit preference for him, but more out of necessity.

Wozzy · Feb 19, 2026

Strange was traded because he was coming off a serious injury and was in the final year of his rookie deal. They had to pay him, but he also had to prove he was healthy.

He played the 4th most offensive snaps on the Dolphins and they were one of the better rushing teams in the league. He played well, now the Dolphins or somebody else will have to pay him.

Wilson is on a cost controlled rookie contract for four years, he is cheap. Yeah he played spotty at times, but that’s what rookies do. He can improve, has a great line coach and some vets who can show him how. We shouldn’t overreact to how the last game of the season ended. They should just add more good athletic prospects to the group and let camp competition sort it out.

ctpatsfan77 · Feb 19, 2026

Wozzy said:
Strange was traded because he was coming off a serious injury and was in the final year of his rookie deal. They had to pay him, but he also had to prove he was healthy.

He was straight up released in the final cutdown.

Hugepatsfan · Feb 19, 2026

LT (Campbell), RG (Onwenu) and RT (Moses) were all locked in. I think it seemed a pretty open competition for LG/C. Bradbury and Wilson showed to be the two best options and Wilson moving to LG made the most sense in that duo. To some degree, maybe wanting to develop Wilson played into what made him the best option compared to guys like Ben Brown (career backup/JAG type) or Strange (last year of his deal). A tie or anything close to it was always going to go to playing Wilson over those guys.

TheRainMaker · Feb 19, 2026

Because they signed Bradberry and Wilson wasn't good enough to beat him out.

Water Boy · Feb 19, 2026

Barth and Lazar talked about this last offseason.

Pros and cons of having Wilson backup Bradbury at center and potentially winning the position during the season or playing him at guard to gain NFL online experience.

I hope the plan is to move Wilson to center this year. His athleticism at the position is what his draft upside was.

Ross12 · Feb 19, 2026

Basically:
- Strange was still not doing well post-injury and didn't seem like he'd ever return to form
- This created a big hole at left guard and someone needed to fill it
- Wilson seemed as good as anyone else they had on the roster there
- Bradbury was not a viable guard, he is a pure center
- If they pushed Wilson to be the center before he was ready, they'd still have a hole at left guard, Wilson might struggle at center, and Bradbury would just be riding the bench
- Therefore, it made the most sense to let Wilson just play guard and get NFL snaps for a year at a position that was less technical, let Bradbury be the center, and then take stock again in 2026

Wozzy · Feb 19, 2026

ctpatsfan77 said:
He was straight up released in the final cutdown.

Whatever…

Wozzy · Feb 19, 2026

TheRainMaker said:
Because they signed Bradberry and Wilson wasn't good enough to beat him out.

Center is also a thinking man’s position, it’s much easier to take orders at guard than have to think on the fly. You’d rather have a vet there… especially a good one like Bradbury.

maust · Feb 19, 2026

Wozzy said:
Whatever…

Whatever? There's a touch of difference going past 'whatever' between getting something in return for a former 1st rounder and taking a $3.9M cap hit to have him play for Miami. That's the rest of the league saying he wasn't worth even a conditional 7th and all of us seeing once again you just can't accept the minor L like an adult

Triumph · Feb 19, 2026

Once the Pats fix LG this OL is good to go.

Get the champagne ready.

Wozzy · Feb 19, 2026

maust said:
Whatever? There's a touch of difference going past 'whatever' between getting something in return for a former 1st rounder and taking a $3.9M cap hit to have him play for Miami. That's the rest of the league saying he wasn't worth even a conditional 7th and all of us seeing once again you just can't accept the minor L like an adult

Not really, we signed Chaisson for a pittance also. A late round pick or an outright cut, Strange wasn’t in their plans because of his injury and contract situation. He went to Miami and played well, could have done that here. He wasn’t in their plans. It doesn’t matter how he left.

Joey007 · Feb 19, 2026

Ross12 said:
Basically:
- Strange was still not doing well post-injury and didn't seem like he'd ever return to form
- This created a big hole at left guard and someone needed to fill it
- Wilson seemed as good as anyone else they had on the roster there
- Bradbury was not a viable guard, he is a pure center
- If they pushed Wilson to be the center before he was ready, they'd still have a hole at left guard, Wilson might struggle at center, and Bradbury would just be riding the bench
- Therefore, it made the most sense to let Wilson just play guard and get NFL snaps for a year at a position that was less technical, let Bradbury be the center, and then take stock again in 2026

This was about what I was thinking, but you articulated better than I did.

Kdo5 · Feb 20, 2026

Joey007 said:
Did this move happen because the staff realized they liked him as a guard over center? Or was it more due to the Cole Strange fallout that created a hole at LG, basically they then just tried to get the best 5 out there.

If I remember right, I think Strange was the plan at LG before the staff realized he just wasn’t getting healthy and wasn’t the same guy. Wilson was supposed to sit behind Bradbury for a year, unless he beat him out in camp. I think it was pretty close competition in camp until Strange being out began to shift Wilson over to LG.

Would be a notable difference, since Wilson wasn’t moved out of the staff’s fit preference for him, but more out of necessity.

Wilson needs to move to center and prove himself there or he should probably be gone the moment we have an upgrade. He is absolutely not the answer at LG.

Ben Brown was the better option and they just had to force it with Wilson. One of Vrabel’s few mistakes.

Huckleberry1 · Feb 20, 2026

Joey007 said:
Did this move happen because the staff realized they liked him as a guard over center? Or was it more due to the Cole Strange fallout that created a hole at LG, basically they then just tried to get the best 5 out there.

If I remember right, I think Strange was the plan at LG before the staff realized he just wasn’t getting healthy and wasn’t the same guy. Wilson was supposed to sit behind Bradbury for a year, unless he beat him out in camp. I think it was pretty close competition in camp until Strange being out began to shift Wilson over to LG.

Would be a notable difference, since Wilson wasn’t moved out of the staff’s fit preference for him, but more out of necessity.

I believe it was because they were able to get Bradbury to provide the band aid they needed at Center, and could develop Wilson at guard because he's an exceptional athlete for an OL. And if there is one thing that has been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt this season it's that Pats Fans have zero patience for Vrabel's commitment to developing young players, and would much rather see him waste money on free agents than to take the time and effort to develop young players. If they make a mistake then off with their heads.

mike_usagisan · Feb 20, 2026

My recollection is that they tried everyone they had at LG at some point and quickly realized most couldn't play it well--because of injuries or inability--and Wilson ended up making the most sense.

Rob0729 · Feb 20, 2026

People forget that Wes Sweitzer, who was penciled in at the starting LG spot, retired right before training camp last year. I think Wilson was never going to start right away, but he was moved to LG because of an unforeseen need.

One-If-By-Sea · Feb 20, 2026

Ross12 said:
Basically:
- Strange was still not doing well post-injury and didn't seem like he'd ever return to form
- This created a big hole at left guard and someone needed to fill it
- Wilson seemed as good as anyone else they had on the roster there
- Bradbury was not a viable guard, he is a pure center
- If they pushed Wilson to be the center before he was ready, they'd still have a hole at left guard, Wilson might struggle at center, and Bradbury would just be riding the bench
- Therefore, it made the most sense to let Wilson just play guard and get NFL snaps for a year at a position that was less technical, let Bradbury be the center, and then take stock again in 2026

When Brown played he was better, not slightly. So Wilson was not as good as. Giving a rookie who is more athletic was the reason Wilson played, not that he was as good as anyone else. It was a reasonable decision until after Wilson's injury when Brown outplayed him, and the Pats were on a run. When the team was on a run the decision criteria should have changed, and Wilson could have been brought back in Y2.

mike_usagisan · Feb 20, 2026

One-If-By-Sea said:
When Brown played he was better, not slightly. So Wilson was not as good as. Giving a rookie who is more athletic was the reason Wilson played, not that he was as good as anyone else. It was a reasonable decision until after Wilson's injury when Brown outplayed him, and the Pats were on a run. When the team was on a run the decision criteria should have changed, and Wilson could have been brought back in Y2.

Yeah, the decision not to stick with the hot hand of Lowe and Brown down the stretch was a curious one that has already been debated endlessly. But I can't remember back in training camp if the feeling was that Brown was better than Wilson then. I think the feeling was that Wilson was better and that having Brown backup the IOL made a lot of sense. But if someone says they remember Brown being better then, I'll probably believe it.

Love The Drake · Feb 20, 2026

mike_usagisan said:
Yeah, the decision not to stick with the hot hand of Lowe and Brown down the stretch was a curious one that has already been debated endlessly. But I can't remember back in training camp if the feeling was that Brown was better than Wilson then. I think the feeling was that Wilson was better and that having Brown backup the IOL made a lot of sense. But if someone says they remember Brown being better then, I'll probably believe it.

I was saying it from the jump, keep them in there especially if Campbell isn’t fully healed. It was a huge difference in protection and we just let it happen.

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