New England Patriots Retian Mike Onwenu

Keeping Mike Onwenu in New England was of primary importance to the Patriots organization this offseason. On the first day of legal tampering in free agency, the New England Patriots were able to do just that. According to reports Onwenu has agreed to a three-year deal worth $57 million.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapaport was the first to report the deal. According to Rapaport, this includes a $22.5 million signing bonus with $38 million in total guaranteed.

Mike Onwenu

The New England Patriots selected Mike Onwenu in the sixth round (No. 182 overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft. Onwenu was a starter from Week 1 of his rookie year in New England. He has been incredibly durable for the Patriots, playing in 65 of a possible 68 games during his NFL tenure.

Onwenu has proven to be a versatile offensive lineman. He played 67.2% of his snaps at right tackle as a rookie but also saw time at both guard spots. In 2021 he split time evenly between right tackle and left guard, while also lining up as a jumbo tackle. Onwenu moved to right guard for the entire 2022 season. He remained there to start this past season but was shifted over to right tackle due to others having trouble filling the role.

Last season Mike Onwenu was one of the few bright spots on New England’s offense. He won the John Hannah Award as the Patriots Offensive Player of the Year. Despite missing two games in 2023, Onwenu finished second on the Patriots in offensive snaps (851).

Offensive Line Room

The positional plan for Mike Onwenu with New England remains unclear. He has shown he can play either guard spot or at right tackle. There is some depth along the offensive line, though health, quality, and consistency remain concerns for many of those under contract. Aside from Onwenu…

Tackles under contract in New England: Chukwuma Okorafor, Calvin Anderson, Vederian Lowe, Conor McDermott, Tyrone Wheatley Jr., and Andrew Stueber.

Guards under contract in New England: Cole Strange, Sidy Sow, Atonio Mafi, and Michael Jordan.

Centers under contract in New England: David Andrews and Jake Andrews.

Wheatley Jr. (T/G), Sow (G/T), and Jake Andrews (C/G) can all provide some positional versatility.

Mike Onwenu has been durable, versatile, and productive. He had expressed a desire to return to the New England Patriots, his only NFL home to date. That wish is now a reality for all parties.