Mike Onwenu has had a four-year streak of reliable play for the New England Patriots.
Drafted in the 6th round of the 2020 NFL Draft, which coincidentally would happen to be the same round of the draft another former Patriot was drafted, Mike Onwenu has not allowed any sacks in his four seasons of service for the Patriots. He tests the markets for the first time following Bill Belichick leaving the team. There will be several potential suitors for Mike Onwenu and his services.
Mike Onwenu Free Agency Destination #1: Chargers
Mike Onwenu’s first potential stop in Free Agency should be with a suitor who may soon be on the rise.
Jim Harbaugh will return to the NFL for the first time since 2014, and with it, he is seeking to shake up his roster and get the Chargers into contention. The 2023 edition of the Chargers, coached by Brandon Staley until Week 15, allowed 43 sacks onto both Justin Herbert and his injury replacement, Easton Stick. Behind this same offensive line, Austin Ekeler also turned in one of his worst outings as Los Angeles’s lead back.
The Chargers need to get to work ASAP on getting under the cap, and three of their stalwarts may be at risk of being cut or traded. Still, Harbaugh, reuniting with his Offensive Coordinator from San Francisco, Greg Roman, may seek Mike Onwenu’s services to protect both Justin Herbert and to return to the style of play they knew best that landed them major successes in three of their four seasons by the Bay from 2011-14.
Las Vegas Raiders Should Also Want Onwenu
Mike Onwenu and his Patriots have played these Raiders twice in the past two seasons. Both times, the Raiders would get the best of the Patriots.
New Head Coach Antonio Pierce, whose team has questions as quarterback, has established his desire to make his time employ a run first system. Josh Jacobs, whom the Raiders will seek to keep around in Free Agency, would be a critical piece for building towards that style of play.
The Raiders will have cap space to make a huge move towards acquiring Mike Onwenu, whose services would be critical for Pierce and his desire to move to a smashmouth offense.
Lions Need More Pieces for Lombardi Push
The Detroit Lions became a fan-favorite underdog in the 2023-24 season. The oft-basement dwelling team finally found their stride under third-year coach Dan Campbell, turning in a 12 win season and winning their division for the first time in 30 years. This turned into postseason success, and the Lions found themselves one half away from a trip to the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history, before losing to San Francisco.
A huge part of this success in 2022 was Offensive Coordinator Ben Johnson’s ability to use the run game to a major advantage in a variety of ways, best shown by Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery both breaking double digit totals in rushing touchdowns. However, three important pieces of this line may all be lost to Free Agency, while Jared Goff and Amon-Ra St. Brown need extensions of their own.
Mike Onwenu’s free agency destinations should include the Motor City, which would feature a homecoming as he was born and raised in the city, and may be cheaper than trying to reel back in some of Detroit’s potential Free Agency losses.
Cincinnati Needs Protection for Joe Burrow
Mike Onwenu will know a thing or two about how to protect a quarterback, something the Bengals were grimly reminded of in 2023. Joe Burrow injured his hand in Novemeber, just as the Bengals were finally turning things around from their early year struggles, and would miss the remainder of the year.
The Bengals possess plenty of cap space to pursue Mike Onwenu and his services, and should plan to do so. The Bengals have had an excellent recent history with signing players to lead the charge in protecting the former #1 overall pick–of the multiple signings they’ve done in those positions as of late, only one has failed to remain on Cincinnati’s roster.
Conclusion
Despite the needs of the other teams on this list, the Bengals may just be the team and scheme that best fit Onwenu’s services. Expect Onwenu to strongly consider the Bengals in Free Agency, but all of these four teams will make pushes to acquire the four-year veteran.