Over the last few years, the Patriots have been fortunate to avoid contract disputes with players that other teams haven't, but it doesn't look like that streak will last much longer in New England.
Going into the offseason, there was some chatter about what might happen with cornerback Christian Gonzalez, because he was due for his first extension, but we haven't heard too much about the negotiations just yet since they picked up his fifth-year option.
Then there were rumors about wide receiver Kayshon Boutte, who posted vacation photos to social media showing he wasn't present for the offseason program ahead of the draft. That sparked trade rumors, which Eliot Wolf seemed to address, and since he didn't get traded this past weekend, he might have been telling the truth.
That doesn't mean there isn't another situation on their hands, however, as ESPN's Mike Reiss revealed that starting right guard Mike Onwenu wasn't present for the training either, and it could be due to his current contract.
That's the last thing New England needs to deal with right now.
The Patriots might not escape the 2026 offseason without at least one contract dispute
Reiss shared that his sources alerted him to Onwenu's absence, prompting more trade rumors after the draft.
There had already been some speculation that the Vrabel staff might look to move him this offseason, mainly because he received a massive contract extension from Jerod Mayo in 2024, but with him arguably the best lineman on the offense in 2025, it seemed like an outlandish idea.
It doesn't feel that way anymore, however, especially if Onwenu is on his way to potentially holding out and expediting the process.
"Onwenu, who is scheduled to earn a base salary of $16 million and carries a $25 million salary cap charge, would forego a $200,000 workout bonus if that continues.
Onwenu has no guaranteed money remaining on his contract, and the Patriots probably would have liked to come away from the draft with someone to push him a bit, but trading their fourth-round picks (125, 131) contributed to them missing out on a potential target such as predraft visitor Jeremiah Wright of Auburn (No. 132, Saints)."
Because the draft didn't work in their favor, either, there's room to speculate that rather than trade Onwenu, Vrabel and Wolf might consider reworking his contract, or even adding another year, to keep him around for the upcoming season.
They made it clear that they want to pack the offensive line room with as much depth as possible, so trading Onwenu doesn't seem like a smart idea. However, if they're unwilling to work something out or if they're uninterested in keeping him around long term, they might consider trade offers to see what they could get for him.
The 2027 Draft class is already projected to be far superior to this year's, so adding more picks to their arsenal will surely be something they'll want to do, and that might mean moving Onwenu is one of the best ways to accomplish that.
They'll just need to make sure they have a proper replacement, and as it stands right now, there isn't any player on the roster that feels like an upgrade over Onwenu or even someone who could just slide in and take over.
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