The Patriots came into this season a little thin on the depth chart at various positions on the roster, but they made a move on Tuesday to ensure they keep one player around for the foreseeable future.
According to the NFL’s Ian Rapoport, the Patriots have extended offensive lineman Ben Brown, with the two sides reportedly agreeing to a 2-year deal worth up to $6.6 million.
The deal is a terrific one for the Patriots, who have already benefited significantly from Brown’s contributions this season. Brown’s been called upon several times in 2025 as the club has dealt with various injuries, with Brown stepping in for rookie Jared Wilson at left guard after Wilson suffered an ankle injury in Week 4 against the Panthers.
Brown’s presence has played a role in Drake Maye’s terrific sophomore season, with Brown being part of the reason the club has been able to maintain better continuity up front than they did during Maye’s rookie campaign. New England has used just four offensive lineman combinations this season, which is a significant difference from last season, when the team used 11 different groups on its offensive line in 2024.
The veteran has also been a staple on special teams, playing every snap on field goals and extra points this season. He’s also stepped in for the Patriots offense in various situations where they’ve needed an additional lineman on run plays. Brown played six snaps on offense in that role Sunday night in Baltimore after Thayer Munford stepped in for Morgan Moses at right tackle after Moses missed time with an injury during the contest.
Keeping the 27-year-old in the fold is a great move by the Patriots, allowing them to keep a young, versatile player on their depth chart. He’s been a starter at both guard and center, and while he’s not a Pro Bowl player, he’s been just as valuable as Vederian Lowe, given that he’s been able to allow them to weather various injuries and still be competitive.
Brown was originally signed by New England back in October of 2024 after the club snagged him off the Las Vegas Raiders’ practice squad. Brown saw action right away and ended up being a bright spot for a team that needed help at center after former veteran David Andrews went down with a season-ending injury. Garrett Bradbury has held the role at center and has been an iron man this season, with Bradbury being the only player to play 100% of the snaps on the offensive side of the football so far this season.
Losing Andrews was a tough blow, but after the club turned to Brown, he became the starter and played 100% of the snaps in Andrews’ absence for 10 straight weeks from Week 6 through Week 16.
However, a concussion he suffered against the Chargers in Week 17 ultimately ended his season, with Cole Strange seeing time at center in those final two games. Strange, a former first-round pick in 2022, was released at the end of training camp this season.
The former undrafted free agent began his career in Cincinnati in 2022, and also spent time in Seattle, Arizona, and then Las Vegas before finally finding a home in New England.
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Ian Logue is a Seacoast native and owner and senior writer for PatsFans.com, an independent media site covering the New England Patriots and has been running this site in one form or another since 1997.
