Investing in the OL

[mayoclinic]

I was not addressing replacing Onwenu for 2026, just where I would rank him among offensive guards.

Onwenu was a solid starting RG last year. He was somewhat overpaid, and limited in what he allows the Pats to do, but he was not a liability, and he provided continuity and consistency on an OL with 4 new starters. That's not to be despised.

I could see a scenario in which the Pats chose to extend Onwenu past 2026, though I don't think he had the athleticism for outside zone schemes. I think it more likely that the Pats move on.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Vrabel didn't replace Onwenu. Surely, he could have gotten a better OG for $17.5M of new money, or not.

He might even have used a 3rd for a guard since it so easy to find a 3rdd rounder who can start ay OG, or not. After all, if Onwenu was cut or traded (ever for a 6th), the cap money and pick could have been use for another player.

I think that the bottom line is that Vrabel thought that Onwenu was worth the money and that it wasn't that easy to find a starting guard in the draft (or in free agency).

My suspicion is that we will sign a top free agent OL as we did this year.

Much will depend on how AVT plays this season - his contract has an easy "out" after this year, and the cap hit on the remainder of his $7.2 signing bonus won't be hard to eat if he's unable to play or play well.

A good portion of his so-called $42 million contract is in games played incentives through the duration of the contract so he may or may not be around depending on how or if he plays as LG is an important position to help Campbell protect Maye.

With no games played at Center we'll have to see how Wilson does this year too as they might want to upgrade there or in the draft (Center is getting to be an expensive position!)

 

[mayoclinic]

Keep obsessing.

 

[Gunslingerheel]

Thanks for allowing me to join this board. As someone who grew up in Chapel Hill and is a huge UNC homer, I was blessed to see Drake do some incredible things on the football field. Now I just want to see him play behind a really good O-line. He certainly never had one here.

 

[bakes781]

Thanks for allowing me to join this board. As someone who grew up in Chapel Hill and is a huge UNC homer, I was blessed to see Drake do some incredible things on the football field. Now I just want to see him play behind a really good O-line. He certainly never had one here.

Agreed. His ability to run will only last so long.

 

[mayoclinic]

Much will depend on how AVT plays this season - his contract has an easy "out" after this year, and the cap hit on the remainder of his $7.2 signing bonus won't be hard to eat if he's unable to play or play well.

A good portion of his so-called $42 million contract is in games played incentives through the duration of the contract so he may or may not be around depending on how or if he plays as LG is an important position to help Campbell protect Maye.

With no games played at Center we'll have to see how Wilson does this year too as they might want to upgrade there or in the draft (Center is getting to be an expensive position!)

With the Pats restructuring Mike Onwenu, 2026 seems locked in.

If Onwenu kicks butt in 2026, an extension could be possible, especially if AVT has issues.

OTOH, if AVT does well, the Pats could look to find a more athletic guard alternative to Onwenu, either in FA or the draft. AVT can play either side, which gives some flexibility. Ikem Okwenu is my current fantasy.

 

[mgteich]

With the Pats restructuring Mike Onwenu, 2026 seems locked in.

If Onwenu kicks butt in 2026, an extension could be possible, especially if AVT has issues.

OTOH, if AVT does well, the Pats could look to find a more athletic guard alternative to Onwenu, either in FA or the draft. AVT can play either side, which gives some flexibility. Ikem Okwenu is my current fantasy.

I think that we all expect to an OL in 2027. The open question is how much of a need that we will have, and at what position.

I'm fine with Lomu, Campbell, AVT and Onwenu in 2026 and 2027 and beyond as long as they all stay reasonably healthy.

For me, the weak link is Wilson in 2026. I expect him and Brown to be at least backups in 2027.

Obviously, we could sign a replacement for Onwenu, but I suspect that he can continue as a better-than-average $10M RG.

 

[mayoclinic]

I'm fine with Lomu, Campbell, AVT and Onwenu in 2026 and 2027 and beyond as long as they all stay reasonably healthy.

For me, the weak link is Wilson in 2026. I expect him and Brown to be at least backups in 2027.

Obviously, we could sign a replacement for Onwenu, but I suspect that he can continue as a better-than-average $10M RG.

There is no reason at this point to expect Wilson not to be a long-term starter at C.

If the team had wanted to extend Onwenu beyond 2026, they could have done so instead of just restructuring his contract for 2026. Obviously, they can still do so if he plays well, or if other options do not materialize, but they could have locked that in had it been the plan.

There is never 100% certainty, but I expect C to be stable, and snd IOL to change for 2027.

 

[mayoclinic]

My current obsession has the Pats signing Ikem Ekwonu if he hits FA and moving him inside to LG, with AVT moving to RG.

Recent video of the Panther's draft room suggests that they were keyed on drafting Monroe Freeling at 19, calling him their "tackle of the future". They tried to trade up to 17 with Detroit to get him, and turned down a trade offer with Philly to 23. Ekwonu has a decent chance of hitting the FA market.

Panthers just made their conviction in first-round rookie crystal clear

The Carolina Panthers made it clear they wanted Monroe Freeling.

catcrave.com

Panthers may have revealed a heartbreaking truth about Ikem Ekwonu

The first-round pick faces a murky future.

catcrave.com

Such a signing would let the Pats focus almost entirely on the defense for 2027.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

My current obsession has the Pats signing Ikem Ekwonu if he hits FA and moving him inside to LG, with AVT moving to RG.

Recent video of the Panther's draft room suggests that they were keyed on drafting Monroe Freeling at 19, calling him their "tackle of the future". They tried to trade up to 17 with Detroit to get him, and turned down a trade offer with Philly to 23. Ekwonu has a decent chance of hitting the FA market.

Panthers just made their conviction in first-round rookie crystal clear

The Carolina Panthers made it clear they wanted Monroe Freeling.

catcrave.com

Panthers may have revealed a heartbreaking truth about Ikem Ekwonu

The first-round pick faces a murky future.

catcrave.com

Such a signing would let the Pats focus almost entirely on the defense for 2027.

If he heals well, having Ekwonu as the LG with AVT at RG and Lomu/Campbell at RT would completely remake the line in 2027. 4 1st rounders and 1 3rd round pick. Impressive. Let's hope Wilson adapts well to the move to Center.

 

[mayoclinic]

I think Ekwonu is better suited to LG. Unlike Will Campbell, he has prior experience, having played both guard and tackle in college. He is powerful and explosive, a tremendous run blocker, and his tackle feet and athleticism would allow the Pats to run outside zone schemes as well as power schemes.

Lomu - Ekwonu - Wilson - AVT - Campbell

That's my preference. But I'm OK with:

Campbell - Ekwonu - Wilson - AVT - Lomu

Ekwonu also has the versatility to kick outside to OT in case of injury. And for those in the "Will Campbell to LG" camp:

Lomu - Campbell - Wilson - AVT - Ekwonu

If Crownover and Bryant develop, with Ben Brown already in place, we are one backup IOL away from having the most athletic, versatile and deepest OL in the NFL.

Two other advantages:

1. This would allow the Pats to focus almost completely on defense/BPA in the 2027 draft.

2. Ekwonu will be 26 and ACT 27 in 2027, both experienced, but still young. The mixture of experience and youth would benefit the entire OL, IMO.

That's my fantasy, and I'm sticking to it. It is not that far-fetched, as my fantasies go (e.g., me and Olivia Cheng or Li Jun Li on a lonely beach, or Arvell Reese to the Pats).