In the early stages of training camp, there are always plenty of overreactions in one way or another, and that is already very apparent for the New England Patriots. Despite it being just the first few practices of the summer, broad-brushed takes are already being shared, especially regarding the progress of the offense.
There is a hyper focus on the group now that it appears they have finally found their next franchise quarterback in Drake Maye, on top of the numerous upgrades they made to the roster through free agency and the draft. Besides the receiving corps dominating headlines, the offensive line is also hogging the spotlight, but so far, it's not for good reason.
They had a rough outing on the first day of training camp, allowing four sacks and a lot of pressure on the quarterbacks. They have since had more of a break due to the implementation of drills, forcing Maye to get the football out faster, so there wasn't much to sway the negative opinions surrounding their efforts.
But it's far too early to jump to conclusions about what the new and improved offensive line will look like this upcoming season. That is especially true before the padded practices even begin.
Morgan Moses asked if he still gets excited for padded practices: “Hell yeah! It’s hard to block them when they’ve just got jerseys on.”
— Alex Barth (@RealAlexBarth) July 24, 2025
Adds these practices are important for working on technique and building chemistry: “Rome wasn’t built in a day.”
The offensive line has plenty of time to get into the swing of things before the Patriots' 2025 season
There will be a lot of pressure on the offensive line to be a massively improved unit from last season, and on paper, that's exactly what should happen. Although no superstar player was signed or traded for, the additions of seasoned veteran Morgan Moses and top left rookie tackle Will Campbell are exactly the caliber of players the Patriots needed.
On top of that, there are high expectations for guard Mike Onwenu to return to form and be one of the best players on the offense once again, which is what led to his contract extension last year. And there appears to be competition for the other spots on the line, including center, adding even more depth to what has been a weak group.
Getting lost in all the concern about how they will fare this fall is the growth and development of Drake Maye under center, an improved offensive line coach in Doug Marrone, and offensive additions that can help on the line if needed.
That includes rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson, who was known for being a solid blocker during his college career, and the likely presence of fullback Brock Lampe, as Josh McDaniels is known for using the underutilized position within his offenses.
Everything the team has done this offseason puts them in a better position to succeed as soon as Week 1 begins, including the offensive line. There is plenty of time for the group to gel and improve, with padded practices yet to start, so any concerns are not valid at this point.
If the group continues to struggle once training camp intensifies and the preseason approaches, then a conversation needs to be had. A blockbuster trade could even become part of the conversation. But we're not there just yet.