Patriots Analysis
Training Camp Competition: New England’s Offensive Line

The New England Patriots 53-man roster has more openings up for grabs than in the recent memory. There could be over 20 roster spots determined by training camp and preseason performance. Leading up to final roster cutdowns, Patriots Football Now will continue to feature training camp competitions. These could involve players battling for starting positions or roster spots. Today’s feature is New England’s offensive line.
New England’s offensive line struggled in 2023. The most consistent lineman over the first half of the season was left tackle Trent Brown, who appeared to quit on the team down the stretch. Left guard Cole Strange was lost for the season just as he was playing his best football. The Patriots were also without offensive line coach Adrian Klemm for much of the season.
This offseason brought several changes to the unit. Strange beginning the season inactive as he continues to rehab is likely. Brown and Riley Reiff are among the departed. Klemm was replaced by Scott Peters as offensive line coach. The Patriots also spent draft capital bringing two rookies to the room.
Also Read – Scott Peters Hired as Patriots Offensive Line Coach
Head coach Jerod Mayo stressed that his starting offensive line will be the best five players, regardless of where they play. This means Mike Onwenu, the most prominent player of the group, will play wherever he is needed most. Aside from Onwenu starting somewhere, center David Andrews is the only other player virtually assured of a starting spot. That leaves a large group of players fighting out for the remaining three starting jobs and roster spots. Let’s take a look at how things could shake out for the unit.
Opening Starting Lineup in Training Camp
The Patriots kicked off training camp this past week with the following group as the first offensive line unit:
LT – Chukwuma Okorafor
LG – Sidy Sow
C – David Andrews
RG – Mike Onwenu
RT – Calvin Anderson
The only surprise here (and it was only a mild one) is Onwenu playing guard and Anderson starting at right tackle. Anderson experienced a serious health scare in 2023. He was never 100% and Patriots fans never got to see what the big man was truly capable of. He is a tremendous wild card entering camp.
Okorafor signed with New England this offseason. He wanted a chance to start and the Patriots provided that. His NFL experience has been at right tackle, so his comfort level moving over to the left side will be monitored closely. Sow played well at right guard as a rookie last season. He moves over to the left side to fill the void left by Strange’s absence. Onwenu kicked into guard to make way for Anderson on the right edge.
This unit playing together could provide familiarity that last season’s squad never got to enjoy due to injuries and inconsistent play. But this unit is certainly not etched in stone as the strarting lineup. Others will be given a chance to show they deserve to start for the 2024 Patriots as well.
Veteran Potential Starters
There are several NFL veterans with starting experience among the Patriots offensive linemen in camp. This group consists of Nick Leverett, Atonio Mafi, Vederian Lowe, and Michael Jordan.
Leverett and Mafi appear the most likely to compete for a starting role. Both are primarily guards who took snaps at center during minicamp sessions. Neither will displace David Andrews as the team’s starting center. However, assuming Mayo is telling the truth when he states the best five offensive linemen will start, either could work their way into a starting job at guard. This would mean either supplanting Sidy Sow at left guard, or replacing Mike Onwenu at right guard and moving him back to tackle.
Lowe started eight games at tackle for New England in 2023. He struggled, but so did the line as a whole. He has more experience at left tackle than Okorafor. Lowe could make a case for a tackle spot with a solid camp, either as a starter or as a swing tackle reserve. Jordan last started in 2022. like Mafi and Leverett, he is a guard who would kick Onwenu back to tackle with a strong camp.
Rookie Draft Picks
The New England Patriots used draft capital on Caedan Wallace (Round 3) and Layden Robinson (Round 4) in the 2024 NFL Draft. Due to their relatively high draft selections, both should be locks to make the 53-man roster. Wallace played right tackle at Penn State. He would have to beat out Anderson (among others) for the starting spot at right tackle. He will also see time at left tackle in camp.
Robinson started at right guard at Texas A&M. If he impresses in camp Onwenu would slide back to right tackle. The opportunity exists for either of these players, perhaps both, to earn starting roles on the squad. The front office is clearly a fan of both and wants to see them succeed.
Other Veterans in the Room
In addition to the NFL veterans with starting experience, New England has veterans Tyrone Wheatley Jr. and Jake Andrews in camp. Both of these players were brought in by the previous regime last season. Wheatley came to the New England Patriots via trade before the start of the 2023 season. He spent nearly the entire season on IR. Andrews came to New England as a 2023 NFL Draft pick. He appeared as the heir apparent to David Andrews as the team’s center but has competition on the roster. In addition to Leverett and Mafi taking snaps at center, UDFA Charles Turner III is also with the team. Jake Andrews has also been unavailable, hindering his chances of making a push for a roster spot.
Undrafted Free Agents in Camp
The New England Patriots have two undrafted free agents in camp: offensive tackle Zuri Henry and center Charles Turner III. In addition, they signed Liam Fornadel, primarily a guard with the ability to play tackle. All three of these players would be considered long shots for the 53-man roster. New England has 11 NFL veterans and two draft picks in the room competing with these three for roster spots. However, there have been roster surprises in camp before. Injuries and solid play could propel them into the mix. All would be considered for the practice squad if they fail to make the roster out of camp.
Prediction
The five players who began training camp with the first unit have a leg up on the competition. However, there will be a chance in camp for others to impress. There is a new coaching staff in place who are not attached to any of the players. But rookies Caedan Wallace and Layden Robinson in particular could shoot up the depth chart with impressive showings in camp.
Nine offensive linemen making the roster out of training camp feels likely. This includes Cole Strange starting the season on the inactive list, possibly accompanied by Jake Andrews.
Mike Onwenu and David Andrews are guaranteed both roster spots and starting jobs. Caedan Wallace and Layden Robinson will be on the 53-man roster as well. Sidy Sow, Chukwuma Okorafor, and Calvin Anderson seem likely locks based on starting at the front of the line. This leaves two spots, which should be occupied by Atonio Mafi and Nick Leverett, barring something unexpected happening in training camp.
The New England Patriots offensive line needs to be vastly improved in 2024. Coach Scott Peters hopes his addition alone will help that happen. But the players on the field will have the final say. There is a solid quantity of options. Now Jerod Mayo needs to find the five players, plus reserves, who bring the most quality to the table.