The 2026 NFL schedule is out, and the New England Patriots, the team that drove through the weakest 2025 slate all the way to the Super Bowl, will be confronted by much tougher obstacles this year. Their schedule will be much tougher, and they begin the season with seven of their first 11 games on the road.
That will put a lot of pressure on the team and one player in particular — quarterback Drake Maye. The prediction is that Maye will elevate his play again in 2026.
However, Maye's fortunes, as well as those of the entire offense, rest with an offensive line that will ultimately determine how far this team can go.
Having one of the best passers in the league on your squad is a distinct advantage, especially if your offensive line can deliver. The largest question, absent the hopefully pending trade of Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown to the Patriots, will be how well the team patched up its offensive line. That unit allowed far too many sacks, hits, and pressure on its young quarterback in 2025 for anyone's liking but the opposition.
The Patriots’ offensive line could determine whether Drake Maye survives the early gauntlet
The Patriots made some moves to shore up a leaky offensive line in both free agency and the draft. In free agency, they made a big signing but one fraught with risk in oft-injured guard Alijah Vera-Tucker. Their top need was filled nicely on Day 1 of the draft when they traded up for Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu. They couldn't have done much better. Lomu is a lockdown left tackle who allowed no sacks in 2025 for the Utes.
The Patriots' offensive line struggled in 2025, allowing far too many sacks. Lomu could step right into the swing tackle role before eventually pushing either left tackle Will Campbell, who is returning from a knee injury, or veteran right tackle Morgan Moses, who is 35 years old.
Moving over from left guard to center is Jared Wilson, who will be replacing Garrett Bradbury. Wilson was a top center for Georgia in 2024, but hasn't played the position in the NFL. It's another risk to go along with Vera-Tucker on a unit that should be risk-averse. They also failed to add guard depth, another omission of possibly great consequence.
Fortunately, the Patriots have the multi-talented Maye, who is not only one of the NFL's best young passers but also one of the league's top rushing quarterbacks. His mobility makes up for a lot of deficiencies on the offensive line and everywhere else.
Regardless, it will be up to Maye to be the engine for this offense, no matter who plays where or how well. He proved without a shadow of doubt in 2025 that no matter how bad his protection was, he could get the job done.
Patriots Nation can only hope the additions on the offensive line will keep him upright and ensure that Maye doesn't again have to do most of the heavy lifting himself.
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