Patriots: 3 depth chart problems fans should worry about

The New England Patriots and head coach/de facto GM Bill Belichick will be facing a ton of pressure in 2021 after they finished 2020 with their worst record since 2008 and went on the biggest free agent spending spree in franchise history in order to right the ship.

However, all the cap space in the world (and the Patriots certainly had a ton of it entering the offseason), was never going to be enough to mask all the deficiencies of this roster, which was arguably one of the least-talented in the NFL last campaign.

While the Patriots should be expected to enjoy a bounce-back season and return to the playoffs, don’t be surprised if this roster’s weaknesses prevent the team from reaching its full potential in 2021.

In fact, these three specific issues could spell doom for Belichick and Co.

These three depth chart problems should concern Patriots fans.

3. Offensive Line

Though the Patriots made a cavalcade of additions to their defense this offseason, they spent most of their time putting Cam Newton in a better position to succeed.

Perhaps the most surprising was the extent to which New England overhauled the offense line.

Not only did the Pats complete a last-ditch effort to re-sign David Andrews, but they swapped Marcus Cannon for Trent Brown in separate trades, clearing the way for Isaiah Wynn and 2020 sixth-rounder Michael Onwenu to maintain their starting roles.

Could the Patriots’ offensive line depth be an issue next season?

Barring any unforeseen changes, the starting five figures to have Wynn at left tackle, Onwenu at left guard, Andrews at center, Shaq Mason at right guard and Brown at right tackle. Objectively speaking, that’s as talented of an offensive line unit that the NFL has to offer.

However, the options behind that starting five aren’t what we would call reliable. In fact, backup center Ted Karass, who re-signed with the Patriots in free agency after a year in Miami, is likely the best of the OL reserves, and that just doesn’t bode well for New England.

As a five-year veteran, James Ferentz will offer some needed experience, but rookie William Sherman, undrafted free agent Marcus Martin, and the always inconsistent Korey Cunningham leave a lot to be desired as the top backup options.

Throw in the fact that Wynn and Brown have durability concerns — Wynn’s played just 18 games over his first three campaigns, while Brown has played all 16 games just twice in six years — and you’ll come to the realization that offensive line could be an area of concern for the Patriots.