The New England Patriots offensive line might be the worst unit in the entire NFL. After Sunday’s loss to the Miami Dolphins, it is clear that New England’s front office needs to use every possible resource this off-season on upgrading the line. Not only to put a more competitive team on the field, but to also protect their rookie quarterback, Drake Maye. Maye looks like he is the future of the Patriots franchise, but he is pretty much the entire offense at the moment. He is getting pressured and sacked way too much, but with a huge amount of cap space heading into the 2025 off-season, New England should be spending big to protect Maye. So the question is, if the front office spends big in Free Agency, and uses the draft on offensive line as well, what could a revamped offensive line look like?
Left Tackle: Will Campbell via Draft
The NFL Draft is huge when it comes to improving an NFL roster. So the Patriots should be looking to hit an absolute home run when the Draft finally rolls around in April. Their ideal first round pick should be Will Campbell, left tackle from LSU. Campbell is the definition of a franchise left tackle, he has great size and elite athleticism. He rarely lets up a pressure, and has a type of swagger that is needed to be a great offensive lineman. Each time he steps between the white lines, it is war, and it shows on his film. He regularly pancakes defenders, and makes edge rushers pay when they attempt to get around him. Some people have expressed concern with the length of his arms, and believe he should move inside to guard at the next level. However, the same things were said about Rashawn Slater coming out of the Draft, and he is now one of the best left tackles in football for the Los Angeles Chargers. Campbell’s film shows he will not only be able to play left tackle at the next level, but that he will thrive there. Having Campbell protect Drake Maye for the foreseeable future, is something that should get Patriots fans more excited than ever.
Left Guard: Mike Onwenu
Mike Onwenu is one of the best guards in football, when he is at his best. However, this season the Patriots have been shuffling their offensive line around almost every week. Onwenu hasn’t been able to settle into one position in the past few years, and has even had to play tackle due to the neglect of the offensive line by the front office. If New England finally addresses the tackle position, it will allow Onwenu to play where he performs the best. Onwenu locking down the left guard spot, paired with a potential Will Campbell draft pick for left tackle, should solidify the left side of New England’s line for the next few years. This would be an ideal situation to protect Drake Maye’s blind side.
Center: David Andrews or Cole Strange
New England has one of the best centers in the game with David Andrews, but he has been out most of the year due to injury. Andrews is a seasoned veteran, and is the leader of the offensive line, so not having him has been detrimental to the entire offense. Assuming he comes back fully healthy in 2025, then the center spot will be locked down for at least one more season. Luckily, the Patriots also seem to have a succession plan after Andrews decides to retire. Cole Strange, who was the team’s first round pick in 2022, has been a guard his whole career but could turn into a solid center. Strange has reportedly been working with Andrews, and with Strange’s athleticism, could be a huge help to the future of the offense as a whole. This would allow New England’s front office to focus on other problem areas on the roster.
Right Guard: Trey Smith via Free Agency
The Patriots have plenty of money to spend heading into 2025 Free Agency, and with an elite guard potentially hitting the market, New England should be all in for Trey Smith. Smith is one of the best guards in the NFL, and signing him would create an incredible guard pairing of Smith and Onwenu. This would create some serious stability on the interior line, and would also be a huge boost in the run game, which has been very underwhelming in 2024. New England has all the resources they need to bring some elite talent to the offensive line, and Smith would be a huge addition.
Right Tackle: Caedan Wallace
Caedan Wallace was New England’s third round pick in the 2024 Draft, and he struggled a bit early on in the season before suffering an injury. Wallace was a very good right tackle in college, but the Patriots threw him to the wolves, by making him play left tackle since they refused to address that position for some reason. But if Wallace moves back to right tackle in 2025, it could allow him to reach his full potential in the pros. If Wallace develops into a great right tackle, the Patriots would have not only a serviceable offensive line, but potentially a great one depending on how Will Campbell develops at left tackle. This would give Drake Maye plenty of time to make the spectacular plays fans have been seeing flashes of recently, and would give New England a serious chance at competing deep into the playoffs for years to come.
