It was obvious that the New England Patriots had a glaring issue last season. They lacked talent on the offensive line, and it wasn’t all their fault. Doctors found blood clots in David Andrews’ lungs, which cost him the entire 2019 season. Left tackle Isaiah Wynn missed half the season with a toe injury. That put Marshall Newhouse, a below-average veteran tackle, and Ted Karras, an unproven backup, into starting roles.
While Wynn returned later last season and Andrews seems to be trending towards playing in 2020, the Patriots will have another thing to worry about on the line. Joe Thuney, who started all 64 possible games in his career, is set to hit the market and get paid handsomely. It’s unlikely New England matches the offers that will come, especially if they’re around the $15 million per year that’s been estimated.
Karras is also expected to get some money as he hits free agency as well. In the same report as Thuney’s $15 million, The Athletic’s Jeff Howe reported that Karras could see upwards of $10 million annually. New England won’t come close to that. Oh, and don’t forget that long-time offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia retired in January.
The Patriots will likely need to find a new left guard and some more depth without arguably the greatest positional coach in NFL history. Here are five offensive linemen that the Patriots could bring in through free agency.
Michael Schofield, guard
Schofield was selected in the third round of the 2014 draft by the Denver Broncos. He was in Denver for three seasons where he started at both tackle and guard. Before the 2017 regular season, Schofield was waived and claimed by the Chargers. Once he became a full-time guard in 2018, his play really jumped. He went from a below-average tackle to a competent guard following that change.
His athleticism has made the difference at the guard spot. He could make a very athletic guard duo with Shaq Mason on the right side. Like Spain, Schofield’s versatility to play tackle in emergency situations may help out as well. The most important part is that his contract won’t be a killer, either.
Ereck Flowers, guard
The name “Ereck Flowers” has a poor connotation. That all stems from his play during his time with the New York Giants, who selected him ninth overall in 2015. During his stint with New York, Flowers was heavily scrutinized and was widely considered one of the worst offensive lineman in the league. He was cut and signed with Jacksonville, playing in the final eight games of the season, but his reputation wasn’t fixed.
Last season, as a free agent, Flowers signed with the Washington Redskins to be coached by offensive line coach Bill Callahan, one of the more respected coaches in the league. Callahan ascended to head coach when Jay Gruden was fired midseason, and, under his tutelage, Flowers switched from tackle to guard. It was evident that this was the position he was supposed to be playing along. He caught the eye of those around him while many were many on the outside were still critiquing.
Shockingly, Flowers will likely be the most expensive option that’s discussed today. Last season, even after the disaster that occurred in New York, he was still worth over $3 million to Washington. That was before he went on to play 99% of their offensive snaps. He’ll command at least $7 million, and if Karras is getting $10, Flowers should be making close to that.
For New England, Flowers could be a great fit, and he could be around for years to come as he’s not even 26 yet.
Joe Haeg, tackle
Haeg was taken by the Colts in the fifth round of the 2016 draft. He was a starter immediately, playing both right tackle and right guard in his first two seasons in Indianapolis. In 2018, he showed more versatility, playing both tackle spots and right guard even though he missed half of the season with an ankle injury. Last year, he didn’t record a single start but played sparingly in every game of 2019.
The 26-year-old may continue as a backup going forward, but he should look for a starting opportunity. It wouldn’t be given to him, but Haeg could be brought into New England to compete for the starting job with a rookie or another veteran free agent. He’s another guy with versatility that won’t break the bank.
Stefen Wisniewski, guard/center
After a solid career at Penn State, Wisniewski was selected in the second round in 2011 by the Raiders, where his uncle, Steve, played for 13 seasons. In his days in Oakland, Wisniewski started at left guard before eventually finding a home at center. He started 45 of 48 potential games in his four years.
Wisniewski signed a one-year deal with Jacksonville to be their center and started 16 games. He then went on to Philadelphia where he moved back to guard but was mainly a rotational piece and helped the Eagles on their way to a Super Bowl.
Last season, Wisniewski went unsigned during the offseason but was picked up in October by the Chiefs. He’d start the final two weeks of the regular season as well as the postseason en route to a championship.
At this point, Wisniewski probably won’t be a full-time starter in the NFL, but he could still play a valuable role. He could be a veteran that provides some much-needed depth to the interior offensive line. His ability to play both guard and center would help drastically if Karras were to leave. On top of that, his experience could help out some of the younger guys that will join the team this offseason.
