After ending out the 2025 NFL season with one of many worst offensive line items within the NFL, it is clear the New England Patriots must make some modifications up entrance to maintain Drake Maye protected in his sophomore season.
Happily, the Patriots have an absolute boatload of cap area – $119.8 million, to be actual – and can be capable to just about construct their roster as they see match earlier than the 2025 NFL Draft.
One suggestion, offered by the nice people over at Professional Soccer Focus, was to not simply signal one of the best offensive deal with in free company, which is able to probably be Ronnie Stanley if the Baltimore Ravens let him stroll, but in addition seize the highest guard, Trey Smith of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, to pair him up with, checking two names off their record to make sure Maye would not fail for a similar causes as Mac Jones earlier than him.
“As PFF’s Zoltan Buday identified when figuring out the potential touchdown spots for the highest offensive lineman on this free-agency cycle, the Patriots have the cap area ($119 million) to signal any lineman, and the necessity extends throughout the complete unit, so there is no such thing as a motive they should not pursue the highest choices,” Buday wrote. “Including each Trey Smith and Ronnie Stanley would examine that field and provides New England’s front-five a facelift in a single day.”
Associated InformationArticle continues beneath
Digging into Buday’s earlier publish, Stanley is sensible for the Patriots for numerous causes, as New England has some critical must fill and the cash to do some in the very best manner.
“The Patriots have the cap area to signal just about any offensive lineman, and with wants throughout the complete unit, there is not any motive they should not pursue one of the best out there deal with — Baltimore’s Ronnie Stanley. New England’s left deal with play was a obvious weak spot in 2024, because the place group earned a cumulative 49.5 PFF general grade (thirty first within the NFL) and a league-worst 44.5 PFF run-blocking grade,” Buday wrote.
“Although Stanley hasn’t been the identical since his important damage in 2020 and can flip 31 in March, he confirmed sturdiness in 2024, logging a career-high 1,221 snaps. He additionally delivered arguably his finest season since 2019, when he was the second-highest-graded deal with within the NFL. The Notre Dame product completed this previous season with a 72.8 PFF general grade and an 80.9 PFF pass-blocking grade—each of which might have been the best marks on New England’s offensive line.”
Would it not be lavish so as to add a pair of offensive tackles who may account for as a lot as $40.5 million mixed primarily based on PFF’s personal projections? Sure, that’s the form of determination that both goes rather well or actually poorly, relying on how issues shake out. However with the property to tug it off and a large want at each positions, signing Stanley and Smith may unlock the Patriots to draft defensive deal with Mason Graham out of Michigan at decide 4 as a substitute of settling for a lesser prospect like Will Campbell, so such a heavy free company spending spree in March may have extra advantages in April.