David Andrews shares his plans after Ironman season

Dec 17, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots center David Andrews (60) warms up before a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
Following the New England Patriots’ 17-3 loss in the 2023 season finale, there was a lot of talk about key figures in the organization moving on. Head coach Bill Belichick’s much-debated future is a mystery for now, and long-time special teams captain Matthew Slater is expected to retire. One other key player’s future hasn’t been discussed as much, but it’s important. Starting center David Andrews just wrapped up his eighth NFL season, will turn 32 years old this summer.
Andrews was a true ironman for the Patriots in 2023. Anchoring an offensive line that used 11 different starters of the course of the year – the most of the Bill Belichick era – Andrews didn’t miss a single snap.
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Not only was Andrews the only Patriots player to play 100 percent of the snaps on either side of the ball this year, he’s the first Patriot to not miss a single snap in a season since guard Joe Thuney had a 100 percent usage rate in the 2018 season (Mike Onwneu would have likely hit the number last year, but injured his ankle in the season finale). It was Andrews’ fourth season without missing a game, and he’s played at least 14 games in all but one of his seasons as a pro.
That kind of reliability and consistency would be a big help to a Patriots’ offensive unit that will likely be younger and more inexperienced playing together next year. Will Andrews be back to help lead the unit again?
“I think I’ve still got some in the tank, but we’ll see. I’m tired. Sore. It’s been a long year,” Andrews said after Sunday’s game when asked about how he views his football future right now. “I’m going to go home, go back to Georgia. I’m going to sit on my tractor with my son, take him deer hunting, and then I’m going to get back to work and see where it goes from there.”
Andrews is still under contract for 2024. It’ll be the final year of a four-year deal he signed in 2021. He would be a candidate for a contract restructure, with a $7.4 million dollar cap hit but only $1.9 million in dead money.
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