Heading into the second preseason game of the summer, the Patriots are getting a clearer look at the parts of the roster they still need to upgrade. Whether through free agency or a trade, their biggest weaknesses are clear and must be addressed before their Week 1 Super Bowl rematch.
The current pool of free agents at the positions they need the most help, however, isn't the most exciting, so they might be forced to wait until teams start making their roster cuts and jump ahead of others for the players they could use most.
The Bears are a team the Patriots should have near the top of the list, mostly due to the fact that they're already on the verge of cutting 2024 third-round offensive lineman Kiran Amegadjie, and he could be the right backup that the offense needs, especially after two players went down with injuries against the Colts last week.
We already know that Andrew Rupcich is done for the season, as he was placed on injured reserve this past weekend, and Ben Brown is dealing with an injury, with little update about how much time he will miss.
That's already led to signing Greg Van Roten, an experienced and versatile guard, but there is still plenty of reason to bring in Amegadjie if the Bears make him available, and it's an opportunity the Patriots cannot pass on.
Kiran Amegadjie might be the perfect solution to one of the Patriots' biggest problems
Because upgrading the offensive line was a priority this offseason, it's a brutal blow to have two of their best backups go down with injuries in the first preseason game, and that should push the Patriots to keep the door open for more players to be signed.
And although Amegadjie isn't the most impressive, he does have a valuable versatility that would make him an asset throughout the season, similarly to rookie Caleb Lomu, and with the need for a solid backup, he could serve the same role as a swing tackle this fall.
That's what his future looks like with the Bears, as he is competing for the main backup role behind starting left tackle Ozzy Trapilo, who is currently dealing with an injury that might keep him sidelined for the season opener.
The problem is that Amegadjie didn't look too good in their first preseason game, which head coach Ben Johnson pointed out, and unless he can drastically turn things around, he's already considered an easy release ahead of roster cutdowns later this month.
He has an uphill climb to make that happen, as he is also not considered the primary swing tackle option in Chicago at this point.
Instead, he could be that for the Patriots alongside Lomu, providing the insurance they currently lack while working with well-respected offensive line coach Doug Marrone. On top of that, he would be around some talented players with mentoring skills, too, like Morgan Moses, while also working hand in hand with Will Campbell, who has been impressive at training camp thus far.
It feels like a win-win for everyone involved, and the Patriots would seriously luck out if they cut Amegadjie before the Bears are forced to narrow down their roster. That would be the best-case scenario for Drake Maye's offense, and he could be their best option, too.
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