Patriots insider shares major concern about team's future after minicamp

After the disappointing 2023 season for the Patriots, it was clear the offense was going to need to be the focus of the offseason in every aspect possible. Despite being new to the game, Jerod Mayo has accomplished that so far with the help of Eliot Wolf, as they have prioritized the weaker side of the team during free agency and the draft.

They managed to get their presumed next franchise quarterback plus an impressive backup, explosive receivers to bulk up the receiving corps, and a potential secret weapon tight end who could be what the team has been missing over the last few years.

There was also an attempt to improve the offensive line, which was one of the more problematic units on the team last year, but the additions Mayo and Wolf made have remained questionable throughout the spring.

The loss of Trent Brown was a big blow despite his questionable effort last year, and the team's decision not to draft or sign a proper left tackle has been a concern over the past few months. It now appears to already becoming an issue on the practice field, which ESPN's Mike Reiss detailed in his minicamp wrap-up this week.

Patriots offensive line continues to plague team's success

Although there are a lot of question marks surrounding the offensive line ahead of the 2024 season, they are fortunate to have David Andrews under center and Michael Onwenu holding down the right side. Second-year guard Sidy Sow has also been a great addition and is an under-the-radar breakout candidate for the season.

The left side is where things get a little hazy.

With Cole Strange still sidelined with an injury, there are questions at left guard. Rookie Caedan Wallace was picked with the hope of moving from right to left tackle, but with Onwenu getting lots of reps at right guard, he might stay at his natural position instead.

That leaves Chukwuma Okorafor as the top candidate to take over in Brown's absence, which isn't a bad idea. However, the uncertainty of what the offensive line will look like is a big concern in the offseason, which Reiss believes will be the biggest storyline to watch this summer.

"In the big picture, we know that expectations are low for this Patriots team from a national perspective-- and it showed at times on the field throughout the spring. To me, it's sort of simple. When the offensive line could protect, the offense could do some things... When they couldn't there was trouble, and there was a lot of trouble out on the field...

So, who are the best five offensive linemen for the Patriots? That is going to be, to me, the top storyline going forward."

It's certainly not ideal for a team hoping to eventually start their rookie quarterback, but even before Maye takes the field, it's not a good position for Jacoby Brissett to be in either. Without proper protection from the linemen, it will be nearly impossible for any productive quarterback to play, no matter who is on the field, and the hope is for the Patriots to be a better team than they were a year ago, not worse.

Hopefully, as summer practices resume next month for training camp, the plan for who will be where will become clearer.

If there is still uncertainty, the team has plenty of cap space left to use after signing all of their 2024 draft picks so that they could look at any remaining free agents for some extra help.

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