Offensive guard is a position that doesn't garner lots of attention when compared to other more glamorous positions. Yet, when play falters there, you have big problems. Last season, the Patriots guard play was not great.
Their best guard, Mike Onwenu, showed up for camp a bit overweight, to say the least. Additionally, former first-round pick Cole Strange was out for most of the season. He's on the verge of being labeled a complete flop anyway. Former mid-round draft picks Sidy Sow and Layden Robinson were underwhelming, at best.
While guard isn't a top priority, adding a veteran, even as a stop-gap, to partner with Onwenu (if he's not traded) makes sense. Drafting one or two late in the draft is also advisable. One way to add a guard is through free agency. The Pats have plenty of cap space. While guard is down the list of priorities, it's still a position of need. Here, we'll take a look at options in free agency.
Two solid options at guard for the New England Patriots
Pro Football Focus has listed their top options in free agency at guard. Let's look at a few they've noted, quote their brief comments on each, and see if they might fit the Patriots. First up is PFF's fourth-rated guard, Kevin Zeitler of the Lions.
Zeitler is a 13-year veteran of the NFL, most recently for Detroit. In 2024, he started all 16 games for the playoff-bound Lions. While he won't be considered a long-term option at age 34, Zeitler would probably be the best guard on the Patriots in 2025.
PFF notes this about the 6'4", 340-pound, 13-year veteran,
"After spending the past three years in Baltimore, Zeitler joined Detroit, which was a near-seamless fit. His 86.8 PFF overall grade in the regular season was his best since 2014, and his 87.2 PFF run-blocking grade was a career-high mark. The 34-year-old could be a cheap yet effective guard option on the open market."
The optimum words are "cheap yet effective." Zeitler would be an upgrade over anyone on the Patriots. If he can be signed on the cheap, it's a no-brainer for Mike Vrabel, who has many other needs to fill.
PFFs' third-rated guard on the open market is Teven Jenkins of the Bears. The 6'6", 321-pound, 26-year-old Jenkins is a four-year veteran. He's a long-term solution. The cost will increase, accordingly, if the Pats pursue the young guard. It's just a question of cap space.
PFF outlines Jenkins profile,
"Jenkins is a force to be reckoned with on most Sundays; the issue over his career thus far has been getting on the field on Sundays. There are some occasional whiffs to clean up in pass protection, but it can’t exactly help his pass-set footwork going from right tackle to left tackle to left guard while also rehabbing a bunch over his rookie contract."
PFF's top 2 guards in free agency
Third on PFF's list is Will Fries from Indianapolis. The 6'6', 305-pound Fries is a 26-year-old, four-year veteran. Signing a young veteran like Fries is a solid investment in the future. Yet, despite spending an estimated $131M, the Patriots don't have unlimited funds. Prudent allocation is key.
PFF notes the young guard's progress,
"Fries made tremendous strides over the duration of his rookie contract and could be the next guard to cash in during the free agency period after a wave of big deals landed in 2024. Unfortunately, Fries fractured his tibia in Week 5 against the Jacksonville Jaguars and underwent immediate surgery, but he had earned an 86.8 PFF overall grade up to that point on 268 snaps."
Next is the top guard on the market in 2025, Trey Smith. Unfortunately, he resides in Kansas City, the team that purloined All-Pro guard Joe Thuney from the Patriots. Will they cut ties with the still only 25-year-old, four-year veteran? Maybe. They did just that with the best left tackle in the league, Orlando Brown Jr., and have done reasonably well since, so ...
Here's PFF's brief rundown on Smith,
"Smith's 78.8 PFF overall grade in the regular season ranked 11th among all guards, and he will still be only 25 years old when free agency opens. That's a good combination for a big payday, given that multiple players at the position signed deals at or exceeding $20 million per year in 2024."
Those are the top 2025 free agent guards. All may be re-signed by their respective teams. Regardless, money talks. If the Patriots pay the freight for any of them, who knows? The advice here is simple: pay for the best and scout the rest.