After left-back Joe Thuney lost earlier in the free agency, the New England Patriots were able to block a second starter along the offensive line. As first reported Thursday night, center David Andrews will stay on a new four-year contract with the Patriots.
Andrews’ free agency experience was similar to that of Devin McCourty in 2015. The Patriots allowed the longtime captain to test the open market while conducting an open dialogue. Despite that, it seemed like a foregone conclusion earlier this week that he would leave the team after six seasons.
Not only did the Patriots sign veteran inline Ted Karras again after his one-year stint in Miami, but wide receiver Julian Edelman even went so far as to post a farewell message that has now been removed on social media . Like McCourty before him, however, Andrews eventually decided to return to New England, even though he seemed to have one foot out the door.
On paper, therefore, the attacking line will remain a strong point for the Patriots in 2020. Even with Thuney now playing on a record contract in Kansas City, the projected starting lineup has the advantage of an elite unit – all while adding Karras gives New England a positional flexibility behind it:
Projected beginners
LT Isaiah Wynn, LG Michel Onwenu, C David Andrews, RG Shaq Mason, RT Trent Brown
Returning to the middle of the line means that the majority of the starting line-up from a year ago must remain intact. Shaq Mason is undisputedly on the right and one of the best players in the league in the standings, while Isaiah Wynn looked like a top-10 pack last year before suffering a season-ending knee injury in November.
Wynn’s injury history is a definite one after he missed 33 of a possible 52 games during his first three years in the NFL. However, he remains the best option New England has on the left, even with Trent Brown returning recently via Las Vegas Raiders. After all, Brown has the flexibility to also play at a high level on the right and can therefore be tied down to fill the spot that Michael Onwenu had last year.
Onwenu, meanwhile, will be free to move back inland. While he looked very impressive during the rookie season in 2020, the 23-year-old projects even more favorably on the inside after spending his entire career there. His positional versatility is a plus and gives the team options in case the injury bite, but it looks like his future as Thuney’s successor.
All in all, the Patriots’ starting line-up looks impressive. The question is whether it will be maintained beyond the coming season: New England must make a decision on Wynn’s future – the fifth year option is still on the table, but a call must be made until May – while Brown also only plays a one-year contract.
Projected backup
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 domestic back-up has certainly addressed a great need for the Patriots, though his future after 2021 is still unclear. The fact that he has him gives the team an established and experienced depth option.
Meanwhile, Justin Herron is projecting as the number three after the trade that Marcus Cannon sent to the Houston Texans. Herron looked serviceable last year during his rookie season and has already started on the left and right sides of the line. He seems to be the forerunner who deserves the role in the swing suit behind Wynn and Brown.
Obviously, a lot can still happen between now and the regular season, but the Patriots’ move over the past two weeks has enabled them to strengthen their offensive line, despite losing their best player in the open market. For a transgression in the midst of a major reconstruction, it is certainly a welcome development.