We absolutely should sign an LG in FA:

[Brady85-23]

They're not moving Onwenu to center.

Zion Johnson is bad. No thanks.

Austin Corbett just had his contract voided. So that's another name people will have to consider. Corbett has played all 3 IOL positions. I still prefer McGovern.

I said I don't think they will move him to center just thought it would be interesting.
Zion was the 2nd best run blocking guard in the league last year. Pass pro needs work, technique.
Evan neal at guard would be interesting. Assuming low cost

 

[JoeSixPat]

We have a LG that should have been playing in the playoffs - Ben Brown. He was great in his fill-in duty again this year when Wilson was out. I don't get the hate. He's bigger, stout, mean-streak, now has 2 years of experience here. Give him a shot.
We also have Wallace that was inactive all year, but slotted as a LG. I don't know if paying a top-$$ LG in free agency is necessary.

He is indeed quality depth and would be happy to see him claim the job - but he didn't claim it from Wilson this year so they may indeed go shopping.

He sure isn't going to be cut at @ $2 mil on the cap

But I'm leaning your way - investing FA money at Center and #31 in the draft at someone who can compete at LG (and ideally be a backup LT or RT) like Caleb Lomu strikes me as a good way to go.

I mock PFF most of the time but when you see grades for Wilson compared to Brown, you have to think that he's moved ahead of Wilson at this point. Brown comes in above average - Wilson comes in WAY below average. Now he IS a 3rd round pick and still young - which makes me think either a late 1st round pick or someone like Brown will beat him out.

I also think playing alongside a pro-bowl caliber Center would make Brown or any LG's job that much easier and makes the OL that much stronger on both the L and R

 

[mgteich]

Campbell's short wingspan would be bolstered by a move inside to guard. Jared Wilson could eventually take over for Bradbury at center once he hangs up his cleats or gets injured.

And yeah I get it, Vrabel came out and said Campbell was staying at tackle. But a coach's job is to say all the right things and support his young players mental health. That being said, a GM's job is the field the best team possible and give that coach the best talent available.

If they find a massive stud OT in the draft, and he's unquestionably the best player available at that point, it would be criminal to not take him. Not only is left tackle a question, but Morgan Moses is old. You get the best group you can find and let camp competition sort it out. We all have great plans in life... but life often has other ideas and you need to be flexible.

If there is a top starting LT available at 31, there are lots of folks who should be fired.

 

[mgteich]

We have a LG that should have been playing in the playoffs - Ben Brown. He was great in his fill-in duty again this year when Wilson was out. I don't get the hate. He's bigger, stout, mean-streak, now has 2 years of experience here. Give him a shot.
We also have Wallace that was inactive all year, but slotted as a LG. I don't know if paying a top-$$ LG in free agency is necessary.

There is certainly an argument to consider Brown as a starter or competing for the starting position (at either LG or center).

Yes, Brown was probably better than Wilson coming back from injury, much as Lowe was probably better than Cambell coming back from injury.

For 2026, Vrabel may think that he already has two potential starters at LG. One option is to bring in a veteran IOL, although not a top-level player. We now have Brown-Wilson-Bradbury. We could simply add an upgrade to Bradbury or a player to compete with him for a roster spot.

 

[DaBruinz]

I said I don't think they will move him to center just thought it would be interesting.
Zion was the 2nd best run blocking guard in the league last year. Pass pro needs work, technique.
Evan neal at guard would be interesting. Assuming low cost

Who says that Zion Johnson was the 2nd best run blocking guard in the NFL in 2025? Feel free to show the metric that proves your claim.

Evan Neal can't stay healthy.

 

[Toofy]

What about Wyatt teller the guard from Browns .

 

[DaBruinz]

What about Wyatt teller the guard from Browns .

I'd rather have Zeitler.. Who is as old as Moses. That should tell you what I think of Teller.. Since I've been beating the drum to get younger.. LOL

 

[Brady85-23]

Who says that Zion Johnson was the 2nd best run blocking guard in the NFL in 2025? Feel free to show the metric that proves your claim.

Evan Neal can't stay healthy.

Who says that Zion Johnson was the 2nd best run blocking guard in the NFL in 2025? Feel free to show the metric that proves your claim.

Evan Neal can't stay healthy.

Run block win rate. I googled it. 2nd to grey zabel. But pass blocking needs a lot of work.
Former 1st rounder. But if its low cost id try him out. Him ben brown and rook can battle it out

 

[Wozzy]

If there is a top starting LT available at 31, there are lots of folks who should be fired.

We could have taken a top LT prospect in the 2nd round the year prior in Patrick Paul, even after trading back… but Wolf took Jaylin slow Polk instead.

There’s good players found in every round of the draft, depending on how strong the draft class is.

 

[DaBruinz]

Run block win rate. I googled it. 2nd to grey zabel. But pass blocking needs a lot of work.
Former 1st rounder. But if its low cost id try him out. Him ben brown and rook can battle it out

You googled it. Hmm.. That has as much validity as you saying "Because I said so".

It's a stat that ESPN created in 2020. Contrary to their claims that it's objective, it's not. It's subjective. Because they can't know what the offensive player's assignment is on each play. They also don't tell how they account for TEs or FBs. Not to mention that there are designed run plays that allow a defender up field to take them out of the play. When an article explaining how it works says " It does this by using a large set of rules based on relative distance to the runner, relative velocity to the runner and many other more complicated measures", they're telling you they don't think you're smart enough to understand. They're also telling you that they're putting their finger on the scale to make it work.

Introducing new NFL run-blocking and run-stopping stats: How run block win rate and run stop win rate work

We created better metrics to measure run-blocking and run-defending. Here's how our model works, and what these stats can do.

www.espn.com

Ask yourself this.. If RBWR was such a great stat, why don't they list it on the player pages on their own web-site the way they list sacks, stuff yards, etc.

Out of curiosity, I went to go look at Ben Brown's player page on ESPN. Nothing. Not Stats at all. So, to say that Zion Johnson is the 2nd best because that's the list that ESPN put out is nonsense. Especially when they don't make the results for each player available.

 

[Dec54]

I actually found a clip where he was at his locker after a game and a reporter asked if he wanted to stay in Baltimore and he said he did. But free agency is going to be a battle for his services and I think the Patriots can win that battle.

With you there Huck, getting Linderbaum would be a great move. Strengthen the line no end..

 

[Brady85-23]

You googled it. Hmm.. That has as much validity as you saying "Because I said so".

It's a stat that ESPN created in 2020. Contrary to their claims that it's objective, it's not. It's subjective. Because they can't know what the offensive player's assignment is on each play. They also don't tell how they account for TEs or FBs. Not to mention that there are designed run plays that allow a defender up field to take them out of the play. When an article explaining how it works says " It does this by using a large set of rules based on relative distance to the runner, relative velocity to the runner and many other more complicated measures", they're telling you they don't think you're smart enough to understand. They're also telling you that they're putting their finger on the scale to make it work.

Introducing new NFL run-blocking and run-stopping stats: How run block win rate and run stop win rate work

We created better metrics to measure run-blocking and run-defending. Here's how our model works, and what these stats can do.

www.espn.com

Ask yourself this.. If RBWR was such a great stat, why don't they list it on the player pages on their own web-site the way they list sacks, stuff yards, etc.

Out of curiosity, I went to go look at Ben Brown's player page on ESPN. Nothing. Not Stats at all. So, to say that Zion Johnson is the 2nd best because that's the list that ESPN put out is nonsense. Especially when they don't make the results for each player available.

Interesting. I just assumed the stat had some semblance of validity. Id still sign zion if it was cheap. Boston college if I remember correctly. Very good measurables. Got some nfl reps, still young. Whats said about Zion now was said about Chaisson last year. Low risk I dont know call me biased. Sometimes you get hunches on players. Them hunches have been right and wrong. Least I know not to take those kinda stats too seriously.

 

[VJCPatriot]

How about this...

Cut Onwenu to save $17.5M cap space. Sign Kevin Zeitler for RG. Last year he signed for 1 year $9M so I'd expect similar. Net savings of $8.5M.

Sign Joel Bitonio as another 1 year stop gap, veteran guard for the left side.

Release Bradbury to save $5.7M and sign Connor McGovern to play C.

Re-sign Munford as the swing tackle.

Starting OL next year is Campbell / Bitonio / McGovern / Zeitler / Moses. Backups are Brown, Wilson, Munford and then ideally a highly drafted OT that you plan to take over for Moses in 2027. Maybe Marcus Bryant is already that guy in waiting though as many here seem to believe (I personally think he's just a back end roster guy at this point and while maybe he develops into a starter there's no specific expectation on that).

McGovern has experience at both guard spots so the idea would be that Wilson eventually takes over centerand McGovern kicks out to whichever guard spot is playing worse. But this forces Wilson to step up his play because he didn't look strong enough this past year. Both of the guards would be one year deals so the opportunity is there for 2027 and could be sooner if his play/their play warrants a switch.

You need some continuity along the OL. I believe this overhaul is a bit too drastic to work.

It feels like the Patriots hope Campbell can hit the weight room to overcome his inability to handle power rushers. And maybe they will sign a veteran LG to step in for Wilson.

We should draft a couple of young guys to compete on the OL. I don't think we have money to cut pretty much the entire OL and bring in new guys from free agency.

 

[mgteich]

We could have taken a top LT prospect in the 2nd round the year prior in Patrick Paul, even after trading back… but Wolf took Jaylin slow Polk instead.

There’s good players found in every round of the draft, depending on how strong the draft class is.

There is often a player you want in 100% hindsight.

IMO, the best choice then, and in 100% hindsight was DeJean.
=========
And I think it a truly terrible strategy to expect to draft a starter at a particular position at 31 or later.

 

[Wozzy]

There is often a player you want in 100% hindsight.

IMO, the best choice then, and in 100% hindsight was DeJean.
=========
And I think it a truly terrible strategy to expect to draft a starter at a particular position at 31 or later.

Except I was pounding the table in the draft threads to take him in real-time. It wasn’t hindsight.

A starting left tackle has more inherent value than a DB… so disagree.

It was dumb not to take Paul, outright stupid to take an average athlete WR Polk instead, then reach for Wallace after when fans were scorching Wolf for ignoring OLine. Patrick Paul was an athletic stud, wide as a house and strong. Sure, he was a small school prospect but he showed out at the Senior Bowl.

Terrible drafting, terrible team building from top to bottom in 2024.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Terrible drafting, terrible team building from top to bottom in 2024.

Agree. Terrible. Still hurts today. And then Mayo won the last game of the season robbing us of at least 2 1st round picks by trading down.

 

[mgteich]

Except I was pounding the table in the draft threads to take him in real-time. It wasn’t hindsight.

A starting left tackle has more inherent value than a DB… so disagree.

It was dumb not to take Paul, outright stupid to take an average athlete WR Polk instead, then reach for Wallace after when fans were scorching Wolf for ignoring OLine. Patrick Paul was an athletic stud, wide as a house and strong. Sure, he was a small school prospect but he showed out at the Senior Bowl.

Terrible drafting, terrible team building from top to bottom in 2024.

OK, it turned out that you were right. Paul turned out to be a fine choice at LT. So, your analysis was better than others. have you watched the Super Bowl this time. Will there be a LT underrated by one and all available at 31?
==================
Mine analysis wasn't better than the world. DeJean was the BPA and was projected by the vast majority of analysts to have a better future than Paul.
==========
You position seems to be that a team should pick a LT instead of a CB because a top LT is more valuable. OK, I disagree. BPA includes the value of the position.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

A theme for a lot of free agents they signed last year was familiarity with our coaching staff. Thomas Brown was with the Rams when David Edwards started for them. He's going to be 29 so not exactly super young but a good, solid player you'd think you could pencil into the starting LG spot for 2-3 years and not worry about it a ton.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Except I was pounding the table in the draft threads to take him in real-time. It wasn’t hindsight.

A starting left tackle has more inherent value than a DB… so disagree.

It was dumb not to take Paul, outright stupid to take an average athlete WR Polk instead, then reach for Wallace after when fans were scorching Wolf for ignoring OLine. Patrick Paul was an athletic stud, wide as a house and strong. Sure, he was a small school prospect but he showed out at the Senior Bowl.

Terrible drafting, terrible team building from top to bottom in 2024.

I looked it up out of curiosity and you were pushing for Paul draft time.

 

[Wozzy]

Agree. Terrible. Still hurts today. And then Mayo won the last game of the season robbing us of at least 2 1st round picks by trading down.

Probably blind luck, ending up with Maye was the best possible outcome. We’re just lucky they didn’t screw that up as well by trading out.