From the moment the offseason began, it was clear the Patriots needed to prioritize adding depth to their offensive line after a disappointing Super Bowl. The group performed mostly well throughout the year but fell apart down the stretch, proving beyond a doubt that changes were needed.
That led to signing Alijah Vera-Tucker in free agency to become their next starting left guard and to their first-round pick becoming Caleb Lomu, a versatile tackle with a promising future.
They continued to add players over the next few months, hoping to strike gold for their weakest group, and for the most part, they have lived up to what the Patriots needed.
Unfortunately, it took just one preseason for that optimism to fall apart, as backup center Ben Brown left the game with an injury in the first half, and not much later, Andrew Rupcich did, as well. It was a major hit to the depth chart, and it should force the team to call up a player who recently visited about signing to the roster, even if only temporarily.
Greg Van Roten is the easy choice, and given his starting experience, he could be much more valuable than a stand-in until Brown or Rupcich return.
Unfortunate injuries should have the Patriots calling Greg Van Roten as soon as possible
Over the last few years, the Patriots have struggled to find adequate depth across their offensive line, and they still haven't found the reliable starters they needed. Now that it looks like they have the right pieces in place, they can't afford to lose their best backups, and right now, it looks like that might be the case, at least for the time being.
With Jared Wilson taking over at center after starting at left guard during his rookie season, it's important that they have a proper backup in case something goes wrong.
The same goes for the guard positions, even though Lomu has been practicing on both the right and left sides over the past few months. Because he's a rookie, he's still questionable at best, which makes signing Van Roten even more important.
Given his versatility and experience in the NFL, as he's about to enter his 12th NFL season, there's a lot to like about what the veteran can bring to the Patriots. He's known as a beloved teammate and was only cut by the Giants because of overcrowding on the offensive line and the priority of going with youth over everything.
He has far exceeded expectations throughout his career so far; after going undrafted in 2012, he has proven a reliable option by not missing a single game over the last three seasons. It's that kind of consistency that the Patriots could benefit from at this point, and they could probably sign him to a wallet-friendly contract that allows everyone to be a winner.
Based on all of his intangibles, it appears to be a no-brainer decision for the Patriots to bring Van Roten back to Foxborough. Although he didn't receive an immediate offer after his visit, which might suggest they weren't all that impressed, injuries might change their minds.
Ensuring Drake Maye has the best group around him should be a priority, and building solid depth is just as important, so hopefully the team will take their current situation seriously and bring in the veteran.
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