The New England Patriots’ offensive line isn’t just bad—it’s a disaster. According to ESPN analytics, the unit is among the worse in both pass-blocking and run-blocking win rates, a damning indictment of the team’s struggles up front.
The personnel issues are staggering. Their starting tackles rank 72nd and 80th in Pro Football Focus’s grading, while their center sits at 41st.
New England desperately need two new tackles, has an open competition at left guard, and is banking on 32-year-old David Andrews to hold things together for another year. That’s not a winning formula.
Football is won and lost in the trenches—a cliché, sure, but the numbers back it up. Right now, the Patriots are losing in the trenches every week.
Until that changes, it’s hard to envision their offense being remotely functional, even if they land Drake Maye and pair him with a top-tier receiver.
The biggest offseason question is: How do the Patriots fix this issue?
This puts immense pressure on Eliot Wolf, the team’s personnel chief, to rebuild the unit— quickly, but there’s no easy answer.
Moreover, the NFL Draft presents challenges. Top tackle prospects Will Campbell (LSU) and Kelvin Banks (Texas) come with question marks.
Campbell’s arm length is expected to be right at the 33-inch threshold, making him a borderline tackle at the next level. Some teams view Banks as better suited for guard, further complicating the equation.
Unless the draft process reveals a surefire answer, Wolf must navigate a brutal tackle market with precision. No matter what, the Patriots must aggressively pursue offensive line upgrades, whether through the draft, free agency, or trades.
The responsibility falls on the front office and player development staff to make it work. Because if they don’t, it won’t matter who’s at quarterback. The Patriots’ offense will stay stuck in neutral.
