David Andrews strategically announces his return during NFL Draft

Center David Andrews has been solid for the New England Patriots throughout his career, but he’s also coming back from a serious health condition.

Coincidence or calculation?

That’s the question many of us should ask regarding the curious timing of New England Patriots center David Andrews’ announcement that he’s been cleared to return to the NFL.

Andrews missed the entire 2019 season after it was discovered that he had blood clots in one of his lungs. He has slowly but surely been working with team doctors and medical personnel to dissolve the clots and get himself back in football-shape, and it appears that he’s finally good to go.

Andrews announced his medical clean bill of health on Thursday, per Bleacher Report’s Timothy Rapp. Thursday, of course, was also the same day as the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Most likely, Bill Belichick and the rest of the Patriots brain trust have known for quite some time that Andrews is ready to return — that’s what you’d think, at least. If you’re Andrews, why not give Belichick and the team that cuts your checks as much communication and clarity regarding your frightening injury scare as possible throughout this whole ordeal.

Still, it’s interesting that his announcement was timed to coincide with the draft. While it may have been a random occurrence, it would seem awfully strategic to indicate you’re good to go and ready to rock at the exact same time your bosses could be considering drafting your replacement — or at the very least an insurance policy.

To be honest, the Patriots probably need to draft a center anyway — regardless of whether Andrews would have been cleared to return this season in time or not.

His backup last year, Ted Karras, played so admirably that the Miami Dolphins pursued him hard and convinced him to take less money than what the Pats offered for the chance to actually start all 16 games for them.

With Karras gone, New England is almost guaranteed to take at least one or two interior offensive linemen in this draft. The Patriots have a league-high 13 picks remaining on Friday and Saturday, the second and third days of the 2020 NFL Draft.

However you want to spin Andrews’ announcement, it’s good news for the Patriots. He’s been incredibly solid and healthy throughout his career with the team, so this news should be a welcome relief to New England fans — even if the timing of it is just a tad curious.