The New England Patriots find themselves in a much different position than they were at this time last season. After overhauling the roster in Year 1 under Mike Vrabel, the Patriots turned things around and advanced to Super Bowl LX.
Entering free agency in 2026, the list of needs is significantly shorter for Vrabel and the front office. As they now look to further upgrade the roster and fill just a handful of holes, the Patriots are projected to have more than $40 million in cap space to work with.
After a poor performance in the Super Bowl, New England’s offensive line is an area that is expected to see added competition this offseason.
Patriots’ current offensive line situation
Starting at tackle, New England has been firm in their stance that 4th overall pick Will Campbell will remain at left tackle this season. The expectation is also that veteran Morgan Moses will return for another season, leaving the Patriots with their starting tackle duo.
Behind them both Vederian Lowe and Thayer Munford Jr. are free agents. The team would like to re-sign Lowe, who has proven to be a valuable backup left tackle, while last year’s seventh-round pick Marcus Bryant and Yasir Durant round out the depth chart.
While the Patriots will be in the tackle market this offseason largely due to Moses’ age, the picture there is clearer than the interior group. After starting 17 games at left guard as a rookie, struggles down the stretch could result in Jared Wilson moving back inside to his natural center position. That would put Garrett Bradbury’s future in question as the veteran center has no guaranteed money left on his deal.
On the right side, Mike Onwenu is coming off of one of his better seasons but also has no guaranteed money left in the final year of his contract. New England could extend the 28-year to additionally create cap space in the process. As for depth options, Ben Brown remains the top interior backup after signing a two-year extension in the middle of last season while 2024 third-round pick Caedan Wallace also spent last season on the 53-man roster after making the transition from tackle to guard.
Internally, the priority for the Patriots line will be focused on adding strength. Both Campbell and Wilson will need to take advantage off their first offseason in a NFL weight room to add muscle to better handle power. That could ultimately reside with Wilson sticking at left guard, but New England will likely add competition at the position. The middle rounds of the NFL Draft are a place to do that, but in a strong guard market, adding a big-bodied veteran between the two youngsters could be a smart option in free agency.
Patriots free agency targets at offensive line
David Edwards (UFA): After beginning his career with the Rams, Edwards has gone on to be a full-time starter at left guard for the Bills the past two seasons. Edwards allowed just one sack his first-year starting in Buffalo and four this season as the 29-year old has developed into a strong all-around guard in addition to one of the league’s top pass protectors at the position.
Isaac Seumalo (UFA): The veteran remained one of the best guards in football last season as he ranked second in pass block win rate and fifth in run block win rate. Seumalo would be a strong veteran to slide in between Will Campbell and Jared Wilson, but the 32-year old has dealt with reoccurring soft tissue injuries to his pectorals before missing time with a triceps injury last season — leaving some wondering if he’ll even play football moving forward.
Joel Bitonio (UFA): The 12-year veteran remained one of the best pass blocking guards in football last year as he allowed just two sacks across 686 pass blocking snaps. A multi-year captain, Bitonio would again be a reliable veteran to slot in in-between the youngsters and is a player Mike Vrabel is familiar with from the coach’s time in Cleveland in 2024.
Alijah Vera-Tucker (UFA): One of the best guards in football in 2024, Vera-Tucker’s 2025 campaign never got started as he tore his triceps in the preseason. That’s been the story of the 26-year old’s career, as he suffered season-ending injuries in 2022 and 2023 to his opposite tricep and achilles, respectively. Vera-Tucker has proven his ability and versatility to play both guard spots, but durability is a concern.
Cade Mays (UFA): After starting down the stretch at center in 2024, Mays played a career-high 793 snaps at center for the Panthers this past season — where he did not allow a sack for the second straight year. Mays also has starting experience at both guards spot, including over 360 snaps at left guard for Carolina in 2023. Work remains to be done in the run game, but Mays will only turn 27 before the season begins.
Greg Van Roten (UFA): After turning 36-years old in February, Van Roten profiles as another short-term stop gap option. But, the veteran has remained reliable starting all 17 games each of the last three seasons — playing at least 98 percent of the team’s offensive snaps in the process. Those starts largely came at right guard, which included time under Josh McDaniels in Las Vegas and Ryan Cowden in New York. Van Roten additionally brings over 1,750 career snaps at left guard along with 306 at center.
