After the first month of the season, New England Patriots fans have many questions about the state of the team’s offensive line.
One month into the 2024 season the New England Patriots are 1-3. Issues with the offensive line are a big reason the team has that record.
Through four games, the Patriots are allowing their quarterback to be pressured on a league-high 47.4 percent of all dropbacks. Over the last couple of games the unit has also struggled to create room in the run game.
Injuries haven’t helped, as multiple players have been put into the line up earlier than expected and/or are playing out of position. That’s especially been a problem at left tackle where the team has used four starters in four weeks – including two players who are primarily right tackles.
With all the moving parts, it’s not surprising fans have a lot of questions about the offensive line this week. We’ll get to those and more in this week’s Mailbag…
Matt DiGangi on X (formerly Twitter): "At what point can we at least get guys who have actually played LT in the building? Charles Leno or DJ Humphreys. I don't expect them to save the day but provide legitimate depth. There's no reason a PA player should be 1v1 Nick bosa. At least have them in for a workout / X"
At what point can we at least get guys who have actually played LT in the building? Charles Leno or DJ Humphreys. I don't expect them to save the day but provide legitimate depth. There's no reason a PA player should be 1v1 Nick bosa.
I’ve mostly been against signing a veteran tackle to this point because players still being available this time of year is generally a red flag, especially at a position like tackle where the talent is so scarce league-wide. But with the Patriots now having to turn to multiple recently-signed players with little to no NFL experience, adding a more steady veteran – even one with a low floor – suddenly looks like a more attractive option.
As for the specific player, Charles Leno and D.J. Humphries may not truly be immediately available as they recover from recent procedures (Leno had hip surgery in March, and Humphries tore his ACL in January). As for which players might be ready to go now, I covered that earlier this week here.
Badger on X (formerly Twitter): "why should the patriots NOT sign a guy like Bakhtiari or Leno or Humphries? the left tackle position is absolutely horrible right now and there's no way those guys are any worse. / X"
why should the patriots NOT sign a guy like Bakhtiari or Leno or Humphries? the left tackle position is absolutely horrible right now and there's no way those guys are any worse.
Is there still an argument against signing a veteran? Sure. For a ‘draft and develop’ team, giving those tackle snaps to younger players may be more valuable than an aging player who isn’t a part of the long-term plan. However, if the Patriots want the line to be in the best shape possible to put Drake Maye in, they may have to choose between getting Maye reps versus getting their young linemen reps. If it comes down to that, there should be an obvious choice.
Leo☘️ on X (formerly Twitter): "Why does everybody think waiting longer will help maye? Do they think joe Thomas is coming through that door week 12? / X"
Why does everybody think waiting longer will help maye? Do they think joe Thomas is coming through that door week 12?
It’s not about the personnel changing so much as it is the current players improving. Limited practice time in the summer impacts offenses more than defenses, so there’s more room to grow on the offensive side of the ball. That, plus players hopefully getting healthy over time, could make it a better situation for Maye a few months into the season. How much better? That’s a fair question. But the general philosophy behind waiting is internal growth. That includes Maye’s own growth, as he continues to work behind the scenes.
Will Malone on X (formerly Twitter): "Given the roster of the offense last season, I doubt any GM would have been able to 'fix' the offense in one off-season. Was there an actual path to both reinvigorate the offense this year without sacrificing the future (ie. Passing on Maye), or was 2024 always doomed? / X"
Given the roster of the offense last season, I doubt any GM would have been able to 'fix' the offense in one off-season. Was there an actual path to both reinvigorate the offense this year without sacrificing the future (ie. Passing on Maye), or was 2024 always doomed?
The offense was never going to be great this season but it certainly could have been better. Finding better bridge options at tackle is the immediate second-guess. Better depth at tackle would have helped too – between their active roster and practice squad the Patriots currently have just one healthy tackle who was with them in camp, and that’s Mike Onwenu who is primarily a guard. Upgrades at receiver may have helped as well, but we know the team at least tried in that regard offering big contracts to Calvin Ridley and Brandon Aiyuk.
queque on X (formerly Twitter): "Will Campbell or Kelvin Banks? Does Campbell arm length concern you? / X"
Will Campbell or Kelvin Banks? Does Campbell arm length concern you?
While we don’t have an official number on Will Campbell’s arm length yet, Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy did report it at 32 7/8-inches, which would be just under the typical 33-inch threshold for a tackle. That’s a little worrying, but the reality is the draft isn’t tomorrow and the team will have that official number before it’s time to make a selection. For now the best thing to do is simply evaluate his play as-is, and he’s been impressive so far this season.
At the same time, Kelvin Banks has been impressive as well. I give the Texas tackle a slight edge right now given Campbell has had multiple false starts already this year. Still a lot of football left to be played though, so that’s hardly a definitive take.
evan Collins on X (formerly Twitter): "Should pats just say screw it and use all their draft picks on o-lineman? / X"
Should pats just say screw it and use all their draft picks on o-lineman?
The Patriots are going to need to invest heavily in the offensive line in the upcoming NFL Draft. They’ll need at least one tackle, and should probably look at centers too so they can be prepared if David Andrews retires in a year or two. However they do have other pressing needs they’ll have to address either by selecting players or trading draft picks. Wide receiver and edge rusher stand out on that list, with linebacker, cornerback, and running back also notable needs.
David Patrick🇺🇲 on X (formerly Twitter): "What was the point of drafting a QB when he has to wait 3 years for the team to be "ready"? It's ridiculous to have the kid rot on the bench and subject the fans to another tanking season / X"
What was the point of drafting a QB when he has to wait 3 years for the team to be "ready"? It's ridiculous to have the kid rot on the bench and subject the fans to another tanking season
If Drake Maye sits for three years, that’s a major mistake by the Patriots. He should play at some point this season, and waiting a few months – while frustrating – is not the same as basically burning his entire rookie contract. The point of drafting him is he is an elite quarterback prospect, and those kinds of players aren’t available often. Sometimes it’s just about drafting them when possible, and building from there. He’s also not ‘rotting’ on the bench. There are still opportunities for him to work and improve behind the scenes.
While none of that may not be what the fans want to see right now, the idea is it’s what will yield the better result in the long-term. If they get to the point where Maye is playing by the end of the year, they’re still on track. If he’s still not playing into next season, then it’s worth revisiting the selection.
BostonSportsFan73 on X (formerly Twitter): "Who has the longer leash, Wolf, or Van Pelt? / X"
Who has the longer leash, Wolf, or Van Pelt?
Tough to say for sure, but I’d go with Eliot Wolf by nature of him holding a ‘higher’ position. Going one-and-done on a general manager-equivalent who was handed a roster that clearly needed a multi-year rebuild isn’t going to solve much. There would be risk in doing the same with Alex Van Pelt too, giving Drake Maye his second offensive coordinator in two years, but that’s not as out of the ordinary.
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If he were to become available, Brian Daboll would be a great addition for the Patriots. Drake Maye has some similar prospect traits as Josh Allen, who Daboll had a lot of success working with in Buffalo. However, therein lies the problem. If the Giants do move on from Daboll, it’s hard to see how the Bills don’t do everything in their power to reunite Daboll and Allen, which would likely be a much more attractive option for him giving he has more recent experience with that organization.
David Jacobs on X (formerly Twitter): "It seems like QBs are scrambling a lot against us with success, is setting the edge a personel problem, a scheme problem or both? / X"
It seems like QBs are scrambling a lot against us with success, is setting the edge a personel problem, a scheme problem or both?
This is a good question, and we’re going to need to kind of wait and see to get the answer. Patriots edge defenders losing contain – both on quarterbacks in the passing game as well as outright in the running game – has been a big issue for the Patriots. Joshua Uche has been the biggest example of this, and really struggled against San Francisco.
Are the Patriots coaching Uche to play this way, or leaving him in the game while he goes off his assignment. Last week the team didn’t have much room to bench him with injuries limiting them on the edge, and Curtis Jacobs didn’t replace him until late in the game. With a full week to gameplan and Anfernee Jennings potentially returning, the Patriots should have more flexibility on the edge this week. It will be telling to see how Uche’s snaps are or aren’t changed after last week’s performance.
Ed Helinski 🇺🇸🇵🇱 on X (formerly Twitter): "Good or bad, what has surprised you the most about the Pats' first month of the season? / X"
Good or bad, what has surprised you the most about the Pats' first month of the season?
The good surprise for me this season so far has been the play of Ja’Lynn Polk. He hasn’t had a ton of chances to show what he can do with the overall issues of the offense, but he’s made the most of the opportunities he’s been given and certainly seems ready for a bigger role once things start clicking on that side of the ball. Going the other way, my biggest surprise has been the performance of Mike Onwenu. He’s always been a better guard than tackle, but the disparity between the two looks bigger now than it has in the past.
