The start to free agency was hot for the Patriots, signing player after player during the legal tampering period and seemingly setting the tone for what was to come during the Mike Vrabel era in New England. The players brought in had many attributes in common: aggressive and dominating at their given positions, which is exactly what the team needs.
The problem is that nearly every signing was a player for the defense. The group needed to be upgraded after their underwhelming 2024 season, but fans and reporters began to express concerns about the apparent decision to abandon improving the offense with free agents.
The new regime made a great signing on the offensive line by adding right tackle Morgan Moses, but they followed that up by releasing longtime starting center David Andrews, making the group even more vulnerable.
It's not a great start for what was supposed to be an offseason spent putting the best players around Drake Maye for his second season, especially since their free agent options continue to dwindle as the days pass by. To make matters worse, new reports claim they were in on one of the best left tackles in the league before he was traded, but gave up on the pursuit.
The Patriots passed on getting seriously involved in trade talks for LT Laremy Tunsil
Because the remaining unsigned left tackles are not up to snuff and their main free agent targets re-signed with their teams before even hitting the market, the Patriots are in a rough spot to find the offensive linemen they desperately need. They have seemingly settled the right side with Moses and Mike Onwenu, but are now in more trouble with the departure of Andrews.
That's partly why it makes sense to hear they were intrigued by acquiring Laremy Tunsil from the Texans, who was traded to the Commanders earlier this week. It seemed like a big miss for a team in a position like New England, who need a solid left tackle, but Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston reports they actively chose to pass on getting into a bidding war in hopes of establishing the culture they're trying to create.
“They understand as well as anyone that they need help at left tackle. Tunsil undoubtedly would have represented a significant upgrade at the position and would have dramatically improved their on-field product. But the Patriots — unlike the Commanders, it could be argued — are not a player away from championship contention.
They’ve made it a very clear goal to prioritize adding positive influences on the culture that new coach Mike Vrabel is trying to establish in Foxboro. And bringing aboard Tunsil, not to mention his nearly $21 million salary, had the potential to send a contradictory message to the rest of the locker room. Ultimately, then, the decision was to stay out of the bidding for the 30-year-old’s services.”
While it makes sense they want to stay true to what they're trying to create in the locker room, it's hard to wrap your head around passing on perhaps the best left tackle that was made available when they have long needed a trustworthy and dominant player at that position, even more so when surrounding Maye with the right talent was said to be a primary goal of this offseason.
Tunsil's contract was massive and wouldn't have been the best to take on, but locking down the left side of the offensive line is imperative and he would've done that for the next two years of his current contract.
It's the kind of decision that could come back to haunt the new regime before the 2025 season is even over, as it's looking like they'll have to rely on the draft to find their next starter rather than bringing in a trusted veteran. That's not exactly the situation anyone hoped they'd be in, but quality players like Tunsil are rarely made available, so their decision to pass was significant and will hopefully not be one they'll regret.