The New England Patriots are going through major changes following the departure of longtime coach and de facto GM Bill Belichick. In addition to all of these moving parts, the team will need to sign a significant number of free agents.One of the most notable names on the 24-man roster is offensive lineman Michael Onwenu. Onwenu, a 2020 sixth-round draft pick, has been one of the Patriots’ most consistent players over the past four years, providing high-level play at multiple positions on the team’s offensive line.The Patriots should have the resources and motivation to keep him
However, according to a recent report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, he may be headed to town.The latest news on whether guard Mike Onwenu will be re-signed: Many teams believe Onwenu is the best offensive tackle in free agency because of his physicality, speed and ability to defend or tackle. The Patriots know that Onwenu will not be back and that he will be highly valued. It’s no surprise that Onwenu is attracting interest from other teams around the league. He’s been one of the best tight ends in the league since coming to New England and has starting experience and proven experience at guard and tackle. In 2023, he saw starting reps at both positions. He originally opened the year as the Patriots’ right tackle, but in Week 7 he was moved to the right to help shore up a position that had previously suffered from personnel inconsistencies and inconsistent performance. After getting Onbenu, the straight line looked better. In all, he played in 15 games and played 850 snaps in 2023. At guard, he was 194 in 4 games and 656 in 11 scrimmages. In all, Pro Football Focus stopped 23 quarterbacks, including three sacks. Given his performance and the general uncertainty surrounding the Patriots offense, especially its direction, keeping one of the team’s best players should be a priority for the organization under new management as well. This is especially true as the club is expected to be among the leaders in available salary amounts in 2024. According to Miguel Benzan, the club is expected to have around $70 million in cap space of $242.5 million .
