After already losing left guard Joe Thuney at the start of the game, the New England Patriots managed to prevent a second starter along the offensive line from leaving. As first reported on Thursday night, center David Andrews will stay with the Patriots on a new four-year contract.
Andrews’ free agency experience was similar to that of Devin McCourty in security in 2015. The Patriots allowed the longtime captain to test the open market while maintaining an open line of dialogue. Despite that, however, it seemed a foregone conclusion earlier this week that he would leave the team after six seasons.
Not only did the Patriots resume veteran country lineman Ted Karras after his one-year spell in Miami, but wide receiver Julian Edelman even posted a now-deleted message on social media. However, just like McCourty before him, Andrews finally decided to return to New England, despite already appearing to be one foot out of the door.
On paper, the offensive line will therefore remain a force for the Patriots in 2020. Even with Thuney now playing in a record pact in Kansas City, the initial projected lineup has the ingredients of an elite unit – all with the addition of Karras gives New England some positional flexibility behind this:
Projected matches
LT Isaiah Wynn, LG Michel Onwenu, C David Andrews, RG Shaq Mason, RT Trent Brown
Andrews returning to the middle of the line means that the majority of the starting team from a year ago must remain intact. Shaq Mason is undisputed in the right guard and one of the league’s best players in this position, while Isaiah Wynn appeared to be in the top ten left of last year, before suffering a knee injury at the end of the season in November.
Wynn’s injury history is a definite concern after he lost 33 of 52 possible games during his first three years in the NFL. However, it remains the best option New England has left, even with Trent Brown recently returning through the Las Vegas Raiders. After all, Brown has the flexibility to play at a high level also on the right side and, therefore, can be quoted to fill the spot occupied mainly by Michael Onwenu last year.
In the meantime, Onwenu would be free to return to the countryside. Although he looks very impressive in his debut season in 2020, the 23-year-old projects himself even more favorably from the inside, after having spent his entire university career there. His positional versatility is an advantage and gives the team options in case the injured insect bites, but his future appears to be like Thuney’s successor.
In all, the Patriots’ initial level line looks impressive. The question is whether or not it will be maintained beyond the next season: New England will have to make a decision about Wynn’s future – the fifth year option is still at stake, but a call will have to be made until May – while Brown is also playing on a one-year contract.
Projected backups
C / G Ted Karras, OT Justin Herron, OT Yodny Cajuste, OT Korey Cunningham, G Ross Reynolds, C / G Marcus Martin, G Najree Toran
Karras being brought back to serve as a versatile internal backup certainly met a great need for the Patriots, although his future after 2021 remains unclear. Still, having it gives the team an established and experienced depth option.
In the tackle, however, Justin Herron projects himself as number three after the trade that sent Marcus Cannon to the Houston Texans. Herron looked useful during his debut season last year, and has already started on both the left and the right side of the line. He seems to be the pioneer to win the role of swinging striker behind Wynn and Brown.
Obviously, a lot can still happen between now and the regular season, but the Patriots’ moves in the past two weeks have allowed them to solidify their offensive line despite losing their best player to the open market. For an offense in the middle of a major reconstruction, this is certainly a welcome development.