New England made the Super Bowl, but the playoffs revealed some major weaknesses in the offensive line for quarterback Drake Maye.
Maye was sacked an NFL record 21 times (including six in the Super Bowl) as his completion percentage (58.3%) and yards per attempt (6.9) plummeted in the postseason.
The Patriots signed new starting left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker from the New York Jets in a three-year, $42 million deal. Tucker, a first-round pick by the Jets in 2021, missed last season with a torn triceps after injuries kept him out of most of the 2022-23 seasons.
New England also traded up in the draft to pick Utah OT Caleb Lomu with the 28th overall pick. It’s the first time in franchise history that New England selected offensive tackles in the first round of consecutive drafts. Last year, the Patriots took left tackle Will Campbell fourth overall.
The starting offensive line is expected to include four of its five starters from last season’s Super Bowl: Campbell, Jared Wilson (who started at left guard in the Super Bowl), right guard Mike Onwenu and right tackle Morgan Moses. Wilson, a third-round pick last year, and Campbell were the first pair of rookies to start on the same offensive line in a Super Bowl. Wilson slides into the center spot to replace Garrett Bradbury, who started every game last season, and was traded to the Bears in March.
More below on the Patriots’ retooled offensive line:
Patriots need better offensive line play for Maye
Mike Florio and Chris Simms discuss the New England Patriots offensive line and Will Cmapbell’s struggles in the Super Bowl and how Josh McDaniels can make life easier for Drake Maye this season.
