New England's offensive line has been widely considered one of its weakest parts of the roster over the last few years, prompting Mike Vrabel to use its 2025 first-round pick on the best left tackle of the class, Will Campbell. Installing him on the left side, with seasoned veteran Morgan Moses on the right, made a tremendous difference for Drake Maye, especially for their backups.
The most shocking part of it all was seeing Vederian Lowe's production when he filled in for Campbell during the four games he missed due to injury. The 2024 starter, who most fans wanted off the team, was an invaluable asset to the offense, helping their path to the Super Bowl.
It immediately made him a must-sign candidate going into free agency, and most fans were hoping to see his return. But the 49ers got a deal done first, and now the Patriots will have to look for their next suitable backup left tackle.
Patriots OT Vederian Lowe to the 49ers on a two-year deal worth max value of $12M with $5.75M guaranteed, per sources. pic.twitter.com/zOK5WjW1f8
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 9, 2026
On a day that has been filled with watching their most desired free agent targets sign elsewhere, it doesn't help when their in-house ones are doing the same.
Vederian Lowe signs with the 49ers after the Patriots fail to re-sign him in free agency
Although Lowe had an up-and-down stint in New England, mainly due to his less-than-fantastic performance as a starter nearly two years ago, he really turned things around under Vrabel. He proved he deserved his spot on the roster at one of the most critical times of the season.
The offensive line could have imploded after Campbell suffered an injury, but Lowe's consistency down the stretch almost made you forget that the starter was sidelined, and for that reason, it seemed like a no-brainer to bring Lowe back.
Because of his performance, however, teams around the league were intrigued by what he could add to their roster, hence the 49ers signed him. And there's a chance that Lowe wanted to be a starter, or a backup with a better chance of actually taking the field, and that prompted his decision to leave, too.
We might never know, but this creates another position for the Patriots to address in free agency, as if they didn't already have plenty of others.