Perhaps Onwenu Is The Bridge OT

[mgteich]

Onwenu is being paid $36.5M for 2024 and 2025 with $7.5M being deferred into 2026's cap. That sound like a reasonable 2-year bridge. Obviously, Andrews is only aa bridge.
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The reality is that we are starting over post Belichick, especially on the OL. We are building the 2026-2027 OL, hopefully having a serviceable OL in 2025.
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STRANGE may or may be part of the future. He is contracted through 2025, so we can see where he might fit is as a starter or backup.
SOW and ROBINSON seem likely to be part of the future OL.
WALLACE could take a year, but he seems to be a 2025-2027 starter or backup.
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BOTTOM LINE START FOR THE FUTURE (5 plus Onwenu is a good start)
OT - Wallace
OC - Jake? (will probably be given a chance to develop in 2025)
OG - Sow, Strange, Robinson

Onwenu COULD be a future RT for us, but it seems that we have guards. If 2 guards fail, we could keep Onwenu.
Also, one of this year's backups could still be around to compete for a spot in 2025.

Obviously, the bottom line for 2026 is that we need a couple of OT's and a center.

 

[Pape]

Would not hurt my feelings if there was a wholesale change to the entire OL next year.

 

[mgteich]

Would not hurt my feelings if there was a wholesale change to the entire OL next year.

The issue is that you don't find 5 starters at once.

My strong preference is to hope that the building of the OL has already started.

 

[hornetfb85]

Future OL plan should be

LT: 2025 1st rounder
LG: Sow or Strange if he shows he’s the guy somehow
C: 2025 Mid rounder
RG: Onwenu
RT: Wallace

But it likely won’t be the plan they choose

 

[mgteich]

Future OL plan should be

LT: 2025 1st rounder
LG: Sow or Strange if he shows he’s the guy somehow
C: 2025 Mid rounder
RG: Onwenu
RT: Wallace

But it likely won’t be the plan they choose

You "choose" Onwenu as our long-term starting RT and think that "they" won't go along. Maybe Wallace won't be good enough to start at RT. Maybe he'll be a LT or a swing LT.

Also, let us say it comes to 2026, and we have 3-4 starting OG's. ill it really be worth it to pay $20M a year in order to have 2 starting OG's as backups?

 

[hornetfb85]

You "choose" Onwenu as our long-term starting RT and think that "they" won't go along. Maybe Wallace won't be good enough to start at RT. Maybe he'll be a LT or a swing LT.

Also, let us say it comes to 2026, and we have 3-4 starting OG's. ill it really be worth it to pay $20M a year in order to have 2 starting OG's as backups?

Confused with what you’re saying here. I want Onwenu as our RG and Wallace as our RT for the next 6-8 years to go with whomever we draft for LT. Then let Strange and Sow battle for LG.

 

[IcyPatriot]

He has too much lead in his ass ... no way he's even a bridge ... he's horrible at RT.

 

[mgteich]

Confused with what you’re saying here. I want Onwenu as our RG and Wallace as our RT for the next 6-8 years to go with whomever we draft for LT. Then let Strange and Sow battle for LG.

I understand what you "want".

I just think that is unlikely that Wallace will be good enough to be a solid starter at RT AND that we will pay Onwenu $20M to play OG (n addition to cutting a starting a starting OG or two to allow Onwenu to play OG).

 

[Ring 6]

I understand what you "want".

I just think that is unlikely that Wallace will be good enough to be a solid starter at RT AND that we will pay Onwenu $20M to play OG (n addition to cutting a starting a starting OG or two to allow Onwenu to play OG).

Who are these starting Gs you are talking about?
Right now the only capable G we have is playing RT. You need 2 starters and a back up. Strange would need to be resigned to be here 2026.
Sow is far from proven.

If Wallace, an early 3rd round pick is deemed unlikely to ever be good enough to start 3 games into his rookie season we need to fire the people drafting.

 

[jmt57]

Four games, four different left tackles.

The front office needs to do something; if not, any and every QB that goes out on the field is going to end up on IR with career-threatening injuries.


I can understand not wanting to sign David Bakhtiari (can't stay on the field) or Duane Brown (almost old enough to start collecting social security). But any of these others would likely be an improvement over the current situation, especially considering the dire depth/injuries situation.

Should the Patriots sign one of these 7 veteran tackles?

The Patriots offensive line needs help. Should they sign one of these veteran tackles?

www.masslive.com

D.J. Humphries​

Age: 30​

​

Humphries earned Pro Bowl honors in 2021. He’s started 98 career games at tackle with most of his work on the left side. Humphries started 15 games for the Cardinals last season at left tackle. According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed four sacks, five quarterback hits, and 28 total pressures. He was released in March.​

​

Charles Leno​

Age: 32​

​

A 10-year NFL veteran, Leno has 141 career starts at tackle with most coming on the left side. He earned Pro Bowl honors in 2018. Leno started every game he played from 2016 to 2023. Last year, he started 13 games for the Washington Commanders. According to Pro Football Focus, Leno allowed three sacks, five hits, and 34 pressures. He was given a positive pass-blocking grade of 77.8. He suffered a calf injury last December, which ended his season. He was released in March.​

The article also mentions Donovan Smith, Cameron Fleming and Dennis Daley.

 

[Sciz]

Four games, four different left tackles.

The front office needs to do something; if not, any and every QB that goes out on the field is going to end up on IR with career-threatening injuries.


I can understand not wanting to sign David Bakhtiari (can't stay on the field) or Duane Brown (almost old enough to start collecting social security). But any of these others would likely be an improvement over the current situation, especially considering the dire depth/injuries situation.

Should the Patriots sign one of these 7 veteran tackles?

The Patriots offensive line needs help. Should they sign one of these veteran tackles?

www.masslive.com

D.J. Humphries​

Age: 30​

​

Humphries earned Pro Bowl honors in 2021. He’s started 98 career games at tackle with most of his work on the left side. Humphries started 15 games for the Cardinals last season at left tackle. According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed four sacks, five quarterback hits, and 28 total pressures. He was released in March.​

​

Charles Leno​

Age: 32​

​

A 10-year NFL veteran, Leno has 141 career starts at tackle with most coming on the left side. He earned Pro Bowl honors in 2018. Leno started every game he played from 2016 to 2023. Last year, he started 13 games for the Washington Commanders. According to Pro Football Focus, Leno allowed three sacks, five hits, and 34 pressures. He was given a positive pass-blocking grade of 77.8. He suffered a calf injury last December, which ended his season. He was released in March.​

The article also mentions Donovan Smith, Cameron Fleming and Dennis Daley.

That’s a really lazy article. Didn’t mention Humphries’ injury at all (ACL 9 months ago) and didn’t acknowledge that it was March hip surgery that leaves Leno unsigned, not the season-ending calf.