The New England Patriots offensive line experienced some drastic change the last few years, but through it all one player served as a beacon of stability. Mike Onwenu remains one of the top guards in the NFL, and locked into his position on the right side of the Patriots O-line.
However, with him entering the final year of his contract, the Patriots might have an interest in addressing his position in this year’s draft. At the very least, they have shown some interest in a prospect offering a similar
profile: Auburn’s Jeremiah Wright, who is scheduled to take a 30 visit with the club.
Measuring 6-foot-5 and 331 pounds, Wright is a big-bodied right guard prospect with a wide base and powerful play style. More polished as a run blocker than a pass protector, he appeared in 53 games with 25 starts during his six-year career at Auburn.
While he is taller than the aforementioned Mike Onwenu, Wright offers a similar skillset and would project as a potential replacement for the six-year veteran if indeed drafted by the Patriots in one of the middle rounds. Obviously, the similarities do not necessarily mean the team plans on making a change but the interest is nonetheless noteworthy.
In total, the Patriots have now been linked to 13 prospects through pre-draft visits. Besides Wright, two other offensive linemen — tackles Travis Burke (Memphis) and Max Iheanachor (Arizona State) — are also on the list.
