The New England Patriots' offensive line had a dismal postseason performance. Drake Maye was sacked a total of 21 times across four games, with six coming in the Super Bowl. Only Joe Burrow and Roger Staubach were sacked more in February.
Given their horrific postseason showing, it should come as a surprise that this offseason saw some significant retooling of the unit. While tackles Will Campbell and Morgan Moses remain the same, Alijah Vera-Tucker was signed to start at left guard, while Jared Wilson slides to center.
Mike Onwenu returns to his post as the starting right guard despite a pay cut, and Caleb Lomu was selected in the first round to eventually succeed Moses.
Wilson's move from guard to center could pay major dividends. He ranked first at his position in Next Gen Stats' production, athleticism, and overall scores coming out of the draft, and after gaining NFL experience at a new position in his rookie year, we could see a leap in Year 2.
In order to accommodate that leap, 2025 starter Garrett Bradbury was traded to the Chicago Bears. After not allowing a sack the entire regular season, it appeared his departure could destabilize the offensive line, but Bleacher Report's Moe Moton suggests an ominous fate for Bradbury.
Garrett Bradbury listed as potential bust ahead of 2026 season
The sudden retirement of Pro Bowl center Drew Dalman certainly threw things for a loop in Chicago. A week after he announced his retirement, the Bears scrambled to find his replacement and likely overpaid for Bradbury, sending a fifth-round pick to New England for his services.
The 2026 NFL Draft came along later that offseason, and the Bears added Iowa center Logan Jones in the second round after his All-American season. Moton suggests Bradbury could be benched in favor of Jones, but history shows that Bradbury may not even have the chance to be benched.
Garrett Bradbury Post:
— Graham Wilker (@GrahamWilker1) July 15, 2026
The last 5 centers selected in the top-64 picks who have played NFL snaps:
Graham Barton (Pick 26, 2024, TB)
Zach Frazier (Pick 51, 2024, PIT)
Joe Tippman (Pick 43, 2023, NYJ)
John Michael Schmitz (Pick 57, 2023, NYG)
Juice Scruggs (Pick 62, 2023, HOU)
Of the last five centers selected in the first two rounds of the draft, all five have gone on to play significant snaps in their first year, three as Day 1 starters at center. Tippman started at guard but moved to center later in the season, while Scruggs played guard despite being listed as a center during the pre-draft process.
Given that Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson are locked into their respective roles at guard on the offensive line, and Jones only has snaps at center, Bradbury is fighting for his job in camp. Recent history of drafting centers suggests his days as a starter are numbered, even if he wins that role in the first place.
With Bradbury's future in Chicago looking gloomy, the Patriots appear to have made a tremendous move: landing a fifth-round draft pick for a backup offensive lineman.
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