Mike Vrabel's New England Patriots are in a revamping mode. The Patriots need talent infusions all over the roster. Many good players need to be obtained, but even more importantly, are top or great players.
Great players make plays to win big games. There's no substitute, and the Patriots need more of them. One place to get proven ones is free agency. The cost is cash and a lot of it. Fortunately, in the 2025 offseason, the Pats have up to $131M to do so.
One position warranting a major upgrade now is left tackle. The Patriots' roster is devoid of any NFL-caliber ones. One sound strategy would be to land a quality free agent to start immediately. Then, the Pats can draft another left tackle or two high in the draft to play right tackle and be ready to step in at left. We'll explore four options here.
The Patriots have plenty of solid options at left tackle in free agency
There are several players the Patriots can consider in free agency. Pro Football Focus (PFF) has identified them. We'll take a look at their top four guys, starting with number four, cite PFF's descriptions, and work up from there. Their fourth best is Alaric Jackson from the Rams.
PFF outlines Jackson and his situation,
"The former undrafted free agent out of Iowa has settled in quite nicely over the past few years protecting the blindside of Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, with a career year across the board in 2024 coming at just the right time."
At number four, the massive, 6'7', 345-pound Jackson may command less cash than the top three, although PFF's third option, Tyron Smith from the Jets, is in the twilight of his career. With his size, rating, and age—he's only 26 years old—Jackson would be a solid, long-term, and great starting left tackle option for the Patriots.
Next up is the player mentioned before. Tyron Smith. Smith is a 15-year veteran and a good one. PFF has this to say about him,
"Given Smith's age, teams may not want to commit to him long term, but he remains a solid option at left tackle. His 73.7 PFF overall grade before his injury ranked 21st among all tackles, making him a worthwhile short-term investment for teams seeking offensive line stability. Unfortunately, another injury landing Smith on injured reserve raises questions about whether the longtime stalwart will seek to continue playing in 2025 and beyond."
Assuming he's healthy and in play, Smith makes perfect sense if the Patriots also draft a left tackle high in the draft. Smith could be signed for a year, with the rookie playing on the right, spelling him if necessary, and slotting in on the left in 2026. It's a sound strategy and will drain cap space less.
PFF's top two options at tackle for the Patriots
The second-rated tackle on PFF's board is Cam Robinson of the Vikings. The 6'6', 335-pound Robinson is 29. He's another top option for the Pats. PFF has to say about the big Vikings tackle,
"Robinson was part of a Jaguars team that had a dismal start to 2024. But individually, he was a reliable option at left tackle before being acquired by the Vikings at the trade deadline. His 95.1 pass-blocking efficiency rating this regular season was the worst mark of his career, but if anything, that's a testament to his play over the past four years."
The top left tackle on the PFF's free agency list is Ronnie Stanley from Baltimore. If you're going to drop a bag on a left tackle, you can't do better than Stanley, who's been protecting Lamar Jackson. Robinson is 30 and in his prime.
PFF notes,
"It's hard to argue that any player improved their free-agency stock more this season than the Ravens' 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."
The 6'6", 310-pound Stanley enters his 10th NFL season. He's a top veteran playing at a very high level. It will cost a bag full of cash, but if the Patriots are looking for the best to protect Drake Maye, there's none better than Stanley, and they should spend whatever it takes.
Add Stanley, and e.g., wide receiver Tee Higgins, and free agency garners an A++ grade. You win titles in the NFL with great players; each fits the bill. Spend whatever it takes to get them both, if possible. Then draft and scout the rest. It's up to Mike Vrabel and co. to decide the best use of their cap space and draft capital. That's why he makes the big bucks.