The New England Patriots have lots of positions to fill in the 2025 offseason under new Head Coach Mike Vrabel. One of the most urgent needs is overhauling the porous offensive line.
After years of neglect at the left tackle position, and generally at tackle, along with a string of failed higher draft picks, the cupboard is bare. Major investments are required on Vrabel's O-line, or the Pats will wind up in a dismal situation, as Jerod Mayo did in 2024, last place in the AFC East.
Let’s explore the Patriots' offensive line situation and suggest a 2025 version that is both doable and advisable. As mentioned before, major investments are necessary, or their offense will sputter again in 2025.
The Patriots will invest in the top free agent left tackle
The Patriots have over $131M to spend in free agency. A good chunk of that should go to a No. One wide receiver, aka Tee Higgins. Regardless, a significant investment in a left tackle is still advisable, no matter the investment. The man suggested is the best available on Pro Football Focus' (PFF) list, Ronnie Stanley of the Baltimore Ravens.
Here's what PFF says about the Ravens' left tackle,
"It's hard to argue that any player improved their free-agency stock more this season than theRavens‘ left tackle. After a devastating ankle injury in 2021 seemed to stall his career, Ronnie Stanley was back to top form in 2024, posting an impressive 79.6 PFF pass-blocking grade through the first 12 weeks."
That will cost the Pats another bag, but no NFL team has more cap space or a bigger need at the second most important position on any NFL team than the Patriots. If he is willing, they are financially able, and they should make the case when free agency begins and try to sign the Ravens' superb veteran left tackle.
The second tackle spot after signing Stanley can still be a major investment in the draft. You never have enough left tackles or tackles in general, as the Patriots learned much to the chagrin of Drake Maye in 2024. Having already signed Stanley, however, gives the Patriots some leverage.
They can trade down for more picks and still take a top tackle like Kelvin Banks Jr. from Texas. Alternatively, they can use the fourth pick and select a blue-chip instant starter, e.g., Colorado wide receiver Travis Hunter, Penn State edge Abdul Carter, or Michigan's pocket-crushing defensive tackle Mason Graham. All are A+ first-round picks. Signing Stanley makes this feasible.
The right tackle spot will be manned by a draftee. In the third round, the choice is Grey Zabel, a left tackle from North Dakota State. Why left? He can easily switch over to the right; this is a contingency plan should Stanley get injured.
Patriots' 2025 starting center and guards
A position that is in as little doubt as the quarterback, Drake Maye, is long-time center, David Andrews, assuming he is fully fit. Andrews is expected back from injury and he'll man the starting center spot as he's done every season since 2015. It's a no-brainer.
One guard spot will likely be manned by Mike Onwenu. He's a trade candidate here after an eminently forgettable 2024 season. Yet, that's unlikely with the current status of the O-line overall. Onwenu starts at right guard.
The most questionable position at this point is the left guard. Over the past several years, the Patriots have spent heavy draft capital on guards with little return. Examples include Sidy Sow, Atonio Mafi, and last year's Layden Robinson. All have underwhelmed. Mafi was waived.
Yet, the most poignant investment was a first-round pick spent on guard Cole Strange. A first-rounder on a guard not named John Hannah or Zack Martin is seldom advisable. However, the Bill Belichick-led Patriots rolled the dice and threw snake eyes on Strange. He was a huge reach in the draft, not even a consensus third-round pick, never mind a first. He's a borderline bust.
Regardless, since he was drafted with the still-current personnel group, titularly led by Eliot Wolf, who advised Bill Belichick, the thought here is that Strange, if healthy, will start at left guard. This is football politics at work and nothing more. Strange is a barely roster-worthy NFL offensive lineman.
That's a predicted offensive line beginning pre-season camps for the Patriots. Ronnie Stanley at left tackle; Cole Strange at left guard; David Andrews at center; Mike Onwenu at right guard, and Grey Zabel at right tackle. It's a major upgrade over 2024 at tackle, and Andrews is back. Stanley is the team's best offensive lineman, and Zabel will outperform any right tackle who suited up last season.