![Buffalo Bills center Connor McGovern (66) looks on before an NFL football AFC Wild Card playoff matchup, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Bills defeated the Jaguars 27-24. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_718,y_1107,w_4107,h_2310/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/49/01khqk22kywwtsw7adx5.jpg "Buffalo Bills center Connor McGovern (66) looks on before an NFL football AFC Wild Card playoff matchup, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Bills defeated the Jaguars 27-24. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]")
The New England Patriots were a shock Super Bowl team this season, going 14-3 while winning the AFC East. They didn't manage to get over the hump, however, and one of the major reasons for that inability was the play of the offensive line.
Drake Maye was the most-sacked quarterback in postseason history, as he was taken down 21 times in four games. The Patriots also allowed four 5+ sack games, as many as they did during the entirety of the regular season. Maye was pressured 25 times in the Super Bowl.
Rookies Will Campbell and Jared Wilson were major culprits in the offensive line's abysmal playoff performance, but the entire line is in need of upgrading. Mike Onwenu was excellent this season at right guard, but right tackle Morgan Moses will be 35 in March.
The team could save nearly $7 million by releasing center Garrett Bradbury. In Short, New England's line could potentially see major changes.
The Patriots could look to sign Bills' center Connor McGovern
The Patriots are in desperate need of line help to maximize the window they have with Drake Maye on his rookie contract. While players like Bradbury have their role, upgrading around them wouldn't be difficult, particularly with such a strong center class in free agency.
The most notable center with an expiring contract is Tyler Linderbaum, but the Bills' Connor McGovern is another excellent option. In a recent article, NESN's Daniel Fisher suggests that New England might take an interest in the 28-year-old.
Across the regular season and playoffs, Garrett Bradbury allowed a 3.6% pressure rate and two sacks. McGovern's was just 2.4%, while he didn't allow a sack. That's a difference of 15 pressures over the year.
Additionally, McGovern has guard experience: it was his primary position until the 2024 season, when he moved to center to replace cap casualty Mitch Morse. If New England opts to move on from Bradbury and bump Jared Wilson to center, McGovern could be equally as effective.
While he's pricey, McGovern would offer the much-needed shoring up of the offensive line. Inking him would mean a new center, whether Wilson or himself. No matter how you slice it, he'd be a massive addition to a struggling offensive line.