Projecting the best 2024 Patriots' starting offense

The Patriots' starting offensive line

The Patriots No. One offseason omission, aka failure, was to neither sign nor draft a true left tackle. Leaving any offensive position other than QB unfilled is risky. Leaving the second most important position on the team, the left tackle position, unsecured, is a huge blunder.

Whatever. The Pats' best available option (unless they get creative and move Mike Onwenu over) is veteran RIGHT tackle, free agent signee, Chukwuma Okorafor. He'll start on the left side. It ain't a great option, but Wolf punted on a left tackle and he'll have to roll with what he has. The right tackle will be the team's best offensive lineman, Mike Onwenu unless he's moved elsewhere.

Many guard options were higher draft choices. Sidy Sow and Atonio Mafi, 2023 fourth and fifth-round picks respectively, are two. Another is the 2023 fourth-round center/guard, Jake Andrews. Also available, is 2024 fourth-rounder, Layden Robinson. The choices here are Sow at left guard and Robinson at right. Former first-rounder, Cole Strange is injured but Sow gets the nod here anyway.

And last, but by no means least, is the Patriots' center, termed here, their, "Rock of Gibraltar". That's the long-time veteran starter, and former undrafted free agent, David Andrews. Andrews, simply put, is as good as it gets, as a combination of top player, teammate, and leader.

So there it is, the suggested 2024 New England Patriots starting offensive lineup. Sure, there can be lots of discussion about certain positions. But one thing is perfectly clear, if the Pats start Drake Maye, they have a chance. If they unfathomably don't, they'll be looking up again at the Jets, Dolphins, and Bills in the AFC East. It should be an easy choice to make.

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