Longtime Patriots defender could return in Christian Barmore's absence

News of Christian Barmore's recent diagnosis and hospital stay rocked the New England Patriots as the second week of training camp is underway. The new 25-year-old is expected to miss significant time due to the discovery of blood clots and, depending on the seriousness of the matter, might miss months, if not the entire season.

That was the unfortunate fate for David Andrews for the 2019 season, as he dealt with the same health scare prior to the regular season.

It's certainly a scary situation for Barmore, and he's lucky to have taken his symptoms seriously enough to see a doctor. This now leaves the Patriots in a position to possibly look for his replacement, especially since the length of his absence is not yet clear.

It's even more critical with another defensive tackle's future unknown, as Davon Godchaux could possibly not suit up until his contract dispute is settled. The same could be said about Matthew Judon, who was absent for the first time on Tuesday after a chaotic scene on the practice field to start the week.

Because the defense is expected to be the better roster on the team, and the new regime will want to do what they can to ensure that happens as the season approaches, it might be wise for Jerod Mayo and Eliot Wolf to look at the free agent options at defensive tackle and ponder if signing any of the available talent might be worth it.

Although few names stand out on that list, there is a familiar face still looking for a team whose experience with the Patriots would make him the perfect placeholder until Barmore is cleared to return.

Replacing Christian Barmore won't be easy, but signing a former Patriot might do the trick

Lawrence Guy was released by the Patriots early this offseason and is yet to sign with another team for the 2024 season. If he still intends to play a 13th season, the Patriots could look to him as a trusted veteran option to help make up for the loss of Barmore, no matter how short or long that might be.

Based on the list of remaining free agent defensive tackles, Guy would make the most sense in several ways, one of the most important being his familiarity with how the Patriots operate. A new head coach might be calling the shots, but he's a disciple of Bill Belichick, whom Guy played for since 2017.

He also likely wouldn't be too expensive to sign, given that he is 34 years old, heading into his 13th season, and is still unsigned as we enter August. Guy is solid against the run, which is crucial in a league being dominated by running quarterbacks, and has barely missed games throughout his career, making him an incredibly reliable option.

Looking at their choices, Guy would be their best bet. He won't necessarily replicate Barmore's production, as not many players can, but Guy would provide some assurance and take some pressure off the rest of the defensive line to perform even better in Barmore's absence.

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