Despite changing coaches for the first time in 24 years, the Patriots have made retention a key component of their offseason. This continued Monday, with the now-Eliot Wolf-run team extending defensive tackle Christian Barmore.
But the team will bid farewell to one of its recent offensive linemen, releasing Conor McDermott on Monday. McDermott, 31, started 11 games for the Patriots over the past two seasons. Barring another reunion, this wraps McDermott’s second stint with the team that drafted him in the 2017 sixth round.
The Pats began their McDermott partnership via waiver claim midway through the 2022 season. Despite McDermott not being one of the Jets’ initial solutions at tackle, the Pats — as they lost Isaiah Wynn to injury — plugged him in for six starts that year. Although he spent time on New England’s practice squad last season, the UCLA alum started five games in 2023.
A Dolphins signing away from completing the AFC East cycle, McDermott spent the 2017 and ’18 seasons in Buffalo after being cut by New England. The Jets used McDermott as a backup tackle from 2019 until his return to the Pats in 2022. He played 589 snaps for the Patriots over the past two seasons, working at left tackle last season and right tackle in 2022.
Of the Pats’ Wolf- and Jerod Mayo-overseen re-signings, Michael Onwenu profiles as the most expensive. The tackle/guard is back on a three-year, $57MM deal; the plan is for Onwenu to stay at right tackle. The team signed Chukwuma Okorafor and is set to give the veteran Steelers RT a chance to start at LT; third-round pick Caedan Wallace should have a shot there as well.
Cleveland??
SMH…4-5 right tackles…let’s see if we can teach one to be left handed…LoL…clown show