Patriots: 4 players New England needs to extend before 2020 concludes

3. OL David Andrews

The Patriots should keep continuity along the OL and try to keep David Andrews.

This one’s a toughie. Andrews missed all of 2019 after being diagnosed with blood clots in his lungs, which were initially believed to potentially be career-threatening. But the good news is that the starting center has been cleared and plans to play in 2020, which will be a contract year for him.

Ted Karras filled in nicely during Andrews’ absence, but he signed with the Miami Dolphins in the offseason, so the Pats don’t necessarily have anyone that can immediately take over in the event Andrews isn’t back in 2020. Rookie Tyler Gauthier is the only option on the depth chart, and in a year in which rookies will be significantly disadvantaged, this should be avoided.

Andrews signed with the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2015 and immediately jumped into the starting role, logging 14 games (11 starts) at center that year. Since then, aside from being ruled out last year, he’s only missed two games over that span. He played 100% of the offensive snaps in 2016 and 99% in 2018 — both Super Bowl-winning campaigns.

If he’s able to get back to speed quickly and the medical issue remains at bay, he needs to be an extension candidate before the season ends. He’s a key member of the offensive line and, at 28 years old, has plenty of good football ahead of him.