Riley Reiff

Riley Reiff Reverts To Season-Ending IR

December 6th, 2023 at 12:24pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Eagles became the first team to let a player’s IR activation window close this season, leaving safety Justin Evans on IR; the Patriots will be the second. New England will not activate Riley Reiff for a second time, with Bill Belichick indicating the tackle’s three-week activation window will close.

Reiff signed a one-year, $5MM deal with the Patriots in March, representing a low-cost solution attempt for the team at right tackle. But the former first-round pick could not stay healthy. The Pats placed Reiff on IR before Week 1, and his return consisted of just one game. Back on IR soon after, Reiff returned to practice on Nov. 15. Wednesday’s transaction will end the longtime starter’s season after 45 snaps.

Belichick said (via ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss) three Reiff setbacks will lead the team to keep him on IR rather than use another activation. New England activated Reiff in Week 5, when he was first eligible, after a leg injury had sidelined him. Reiff, 35, sustained a knee injury — one Belichick classified as different from the ailment that shelved the 12th-year vet in August — upon attempting to come back.

This marks familiar territory for Reiff, whose RT run with the Bengals ended because of a late-season injury, but the former Lions first-rounder has largely avoided steady injury trouble. Reiff came into this season having never missed more than five games in one campaign; other than 2021, he had never missed more than three in a season. His injury-prone run with the Pats has represented one of the team’s many problems in a season that has been bad enough to remind of the franchise’s pre-Bill Parcells days.

Although the Patriots still carry five IR activations, matters pertaining to the 2023 team’s status are almost immaterial at this point. New England has dropped to 2-10 this year. Belichick’s Foxborough future is up in the air, and the team will look to the 2024 draft and free agency to reboot its quarterback position.

Brought in to take over for Isaiah Wynn at right tackle, Reiff came to Massachusetts with 149 career starts under his belt. The ex-Lions, Vikings, Bengals and Bears blocker had spent most of his career at left tackle; though, the 2020s brought a switch. Reiff also spent time at guard in New England and did not start the one game he played. The Pats have used multiple cogs on the right side, most notably Michael Onwenu — a guard the team kicked back to the edge during the season. Onwenu is a 2024 free agent.

Patriots Designate T Riley Reiff For Return

November 15th, 2023 at 12:02pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Patriots’ top offseason acquisition to staff their right tackle spot has not been available much this season, but the team still has Riley Reiff in its plans. Despite already using one IR activation on Reiff this year, the Patriots once again designated him for return, per ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss.

Reiff is back at Pats practice Wednesday, signifying the return designation. The NFL’s 2022 rule update, which reintroduced limits on how many players can return from IR in a season, allows for the same player to be designated for return twice. Both moves, however, will count toward the Pats’ eight-activation total. So far, the team has only used three. Reiff landing on IR for a third time would end his season; he has three weeks to be activated or would revert to season-ending IR.

An October activation went to Reiff, who was initially placed on IR just before the season. A leg injury shut Reiff down at that point. A knee injury, which Bill Belichick classified as a new malady rather than an aggravation of the previous ailment, led Reiff back to IR two weeks later. The Patriots are on bye this week, but Reiff became eligible to return to practice after Week 10. It seems likely the 34-year-old blocker will be back on the Pats’ active roster soon.

Reiff, who signed a one-year deal worth $5MM this offseason, avoided a notable injury last season and ended up transitioning from a Bears swingman to their right tackle starter. While the Patriots were rumored to be eyeing a bigger splash at right tackle, they instead signed Reiff and made other lower-level investments to staff the position. The team has since moved guard Michael Onwenu to right tackle, thus making Reiff’s return interesting on multiple fronts.

Onwenu has played right tackle extensively, but the former sixth-round pick began the past two seasons at guard. Although the team planned to start Onwenu at right guard and Reiff at right tackle to begin the year, Bill Belichick said Onwenu is staying at right tackle. Reiff has also spent time at guard this year, playing inside in Week 5 and having previously worked at the position in the summer. Reiff has spent nearly his entire career at tackle, lining up on the left and right edges for his bevy of teams. If Onwenu is truly entrenched at RT, Reiff may well have another chance at guard.

Reiff, who will turn 35 in two weeks, is likely nearing the end of a lengthy career. This is Year 12 for the former Lions first-round pick. He has started 149 career games and played in 164, suiting up for the Lions, Vikings, Bengals, Bears and Patriots. While a season-ending injury prevented Reiff from helping the Bengals clinch a Super Bowl LVI berth, the Iowa alum had never played fewer than 12 games in a season. The two IR stints this year ended that streak.

Patriots Activate CB Jack Jones, Place OL Riley Reiff On IR

October 21st, 2023 at 7:38pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Patriots made a number of roster moves on Saturday which will see the return of a key defender on one hand, but an extended absence of a veteran O-linemen on the other. Per a team announcement, cornerback Jack Jones was activated from injured reserve while tackle Riley Reiff was placed on IR.

Jones was designated for return earlier this week, a move which opened his three-week practice window. It comes as no surprise that the Patriots are moving quickly bringing him back into the fold given their injury woes at the cornerback spot. First-round rookie Christian Gonzalez is out for the year with a torn labrum, while Marcus Jones is on IR. Those injuries led to New England’s re-acquisition of J.C. Jackson earlier this month.

Jack Jones had a signficant role as a rookie last year, posting a 54% defensive snap share. That playing time resulted in a pair of interceptions, six pass defections and one forced fumble. The Arizona State product also posted strong coverage statistics, allowing a completion percentage of 54% as the nearest defender. A hamstring injury led to his IR stint ahead of Week 1, so Sunday’s game will mark Jones’ 2023 debut.

Reiff, by contrast, has only made one appearance this year. The 34-year-old missed the beginning of the campaign due to a leg injury, with his first IR stint shutting him down for the first month of the season. He suited up in Week 5 and saw time at both left and right guard. Signed to a one-year deal to provide depth at a number of spots, Rieff could have been option at right tackle as well when healthy. Now, though, he will be sidelined for at least another four weeks.

The Patriots also activated veteran special teamer Cody Davis from the PUP list. His return will lead to his 2023 debut, and it will not count against the Patriots’ IR activations count. Bringing back Jones, on the other hand, will use up one of the team’s six remaining activations. The same will be true of Rieff if he is brought back during the second half of the campaign.

Patriots Activate T Riley Reiff; Place CB Christian Gonzalez On IR

October 7th, 2023 at 5:55pm CST by Ely Allen

With a number of names becoming eligible to come off injured reserve, the Patriots were likely hoping for more. Still, Mac Jones and company will be happy to hear that veteran offensive tackle Riley Reiff has been activated from IR, according to a team announcement. It was also announced that rookie first-round cornerback Christian Gonzalez was officially placed on IR.

With names like cornerback Jack Jones and wide receiver Tyquan Thornton eligible to be activated off IR and defensive end Trey Flowers designated to return from the physically unable to perform list, Reiff alone feels a little disappointing. Flowers’ window is still open, and he’ll hopefully be able to return next week, but for now, he remains on IR as his 21-day clock counts down.

With Gonzalez officially on IR and likely out for the remainder of the season, getting Jones back soon becomes imperative. The team traded with the Chargers to bring back cornerback J.C. Jackson, but even still, adding Jones back to an ailing cornerbacks group could be huge. Like Flowers, he still has the option of being activated soon. Unlike Flowers, his 21-day practice window has not yet been opened, so he may remain on IR for a few more weeks to come.

While Gonzalez found his way to IR, New England has yet to place star pass rusher Matt Judon on the injured list, according to Ian Rapoport. Judon, who underwent surgery for a bicep injury earlier this week, has been pronounced as out indefinitely. Based on how surgery went, and his continued presence on the active roster, it sounds like there’s a decent chance for Judon to make a return in 2023. December is reportedly a goal that appears to be realistic.

The return of Reiff will be big for the depth of the team’s offensive line, particularly at tackle. Vederian Lowe, Calvin Anderson, and rookie Sidy Sow have all contributed for the Patriots at right tackle across from Trent Brown so far this year. Reiff, a longtime starter in the NFC North, was expected to compete for the starting job at tackle, and his return could be impactful for the New England offense.

The last transaction for the Patriots before their Week 5 matchup is the standard gameday elevation of defensive lineman Jeremiah Pharms Jr. Pharms was activated last week and made his NFL debut in the team’s loss to the Cowboys. He gained some USFL experience after going undrafted out of Friends University and signed with the Patriots at the conclusion of the USFL season.

Patriots Open Practice Window For T Riley Reiff, DE Trey Flowers

October 4th, 2023 at 2:07pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Patriots could soon have reinforcements in place on both sides of the ball. Among the players designated for return on Wednesday were offensive tackle Riley Reiff and edge rusher Trey Flowers, as noted by MassLive’s Chris Mason.

The former had started the season on IR, while the latter resided on the PUP list. Both players now have up to 21 days of practice before needing to be activated. The same is true of safety Cody Davis, whose practice window has been opened after he began the campaign on the PUP list.

Reiff joined the Patriots in the offseason in a move which gave the team a veteran option at the tackle spot, one which faced plenty of uncertainty heading into the year. His one-year deal includes over $4MM in guarantees, which led to the expectation he would see starting duties on the right side. He played there over the past two seasons in Cincinnati and Chicago. However, a leg injury suffered in new England’s preseason finale led to 34-year-old’s IR stint and kept him sidelined for the first month of the season.

The Patriots have primarily relied on veteran Trent Brown on the blindside in 2023, along with 2022 sixth-rounder Vederian Lowe on the right side. Calvin Anderson has also seen action this season, though, so it will be interesting to see where Reiff fits in upon return. The latter has 163 appearances and 149 starts to his name, and he will at least add an experienced depth option to a New England O-line which has battled injuries and inconsistency this year.

Flowers visited New England in March, doing so again in August. The second trip produced a reunion, as the 30-year-old spent his first four NFL seasons with the Patriots. His ability to play for the team for the first time since 2018 was delayed when he landed on the PUP list during final roster cutdowns, but a return will be welcomed given the injury suffered by Matt Judon in Week 4. The latter will miss considerable time while recovering from surgery to repair a torn bicep, leaving the Patriots thin on the edge. Flowers has only totaled 3.5 sacks in the last three years, but he could be a rotational contributor when activated.

As Mason notes, neither wideout Tyquan Thornton nor cornerback Jack Jones have been designated for return. Both are now eligible to come off IR, but their respective recovery timelines will see their practice windows opened at a later date. The Patriots’ CB room was dealt a significant blow with first-round rookie Christian Gonzalez suffering what could be a season-ending injury. That news prompted the reacquisition of J.C. Jackson, who could suit up as early as Week 5 alongside Reiff and Flowers if they are activated by that point.

Patriots Place T Riley Reiff On IR

September 4th, 2023 at 5:26pm CST by Sam Robinson

Riley Reiff made it through last season unscathed, but the veteran tackle will spend time on IR for the second time in three years. The Patriots shifted Reiff to IR on Monday and promoted tight end Pharaoh Brown from the practice squad.

The 12th-year blocker suffered a right leg injury in the Pats’ preseason finale. Although Reiff’s timetable is not known, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport notes the issue is not believed to be one that will end the veteran’s season. Still, this stands to affect the Patriots’ offensive line configuration to start the season.

Both tackle spots loomed as concerns for the Patriots this offseason, with perennial injury risk Trent Brown having missed time earlier this year. New England had also experienced issues at guard, with Michael Onwenu coming off the active/PUP list in late August. Cole Strange has also missed notable preseason time. Reiff now must miss at least four games. He will factor into the Pats’ IR-return mix; teams have eight such activations available in-season.

Reiff has only played tackle in games as a pro, but the former first-round pick was working at guard — a position he slid to at points in practice for the then-guard-limited Pats — when the injury occurred, Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald notes. Reiff signed a one-year, $5MM deal in March, coming over after spending 2022 in Chicago. A Bears backup to start last season, Reiff eventually replaced Larry Borom in the 3-14 team’s lineup and started 10 games.

The well-traveled blocker has not run into substantial injury problems over the course of his career, only missing more than four games in a season once. That came in 2021, when an ankle injury sidelined him for the Bengals’ final five games. Working as Cincinnati’s starting right tackle that year, Reiff did not return for the team’s Super Bowl LVI run. Reiff, 34, will begin this season having started 149 career games.

This development creates uncertainty for the Pats, who were connected to a bigger investment at the position than the ones they eventually made. Rumored to be eyeing one of the top right tackles, the Pats instead added Reiff and ex-Broncos swing tackle Calvin Anderson. The team has rookie Sidy Sow as an option, and Kyed notes Onwenu moving back to tackle — a position he played earlier in his career with the Patriots — could be an emergency avenue. That would create a right guard vacancy.

New England also has Tyrone Wheatley Jr. and recent trade acquisition Vederian Lowe on its 53-man roster. Wheatley has yet to suit up for an NFL game; Lowe played in four as a Vikings backup last season. Sow arrived this year as a fourth-round pick out of Eastern Michigan. Anderson is the most experienced Patriots backup tackle. The Broncos’ tackle issues led to Anderson starting a career-high seven games last season. He has made 12 career starts but spent much of training camp on the active/non-football illness list.

Browns Acquire Pierre Strong From Patriots

August 27th, 2023 at 11:35pm CST by Rory Parks

The Browns and Patriots have swung a trade that will allow both clubs to reinforce position groups that feature injury concerns. As Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports, Cleveland is acquiring running back Pierre Strong and is sending offensive tackle Tyrone Wheatley Jr. to New England.

Strong was selected by the Pats in the fourth round of the 2022 draft, and he earned just 10 carries in his rookie season. Thanks largely to a 44-yard scamper in a Week 13 victory over the Cardinals, Strong turned those carries into 100 rushing yards, and he added seven catches for 42 yards.

However, as Mike Giardi of the Boston Sports Journal notes, Strong has generally failed to impress the Patriots’ coaching staff, which was evidenced by the fact that the club was actively seeking a veteran complement to RB1 Rhamondre Stevenson this summer. Of course, New England ultimately signed longtime Cowboys standout Ezekiel Elliott, which made Strong expendable.

The Browns, meanwhile, allowed Kareem Hunt and D’Ernest Johnson to depart in free agency, as they were comfortable with their own second-year back, Jerome Ford, serving as the primary backup to four-time Pro Bowler Nick Chubb. Unfortunately, Ford is dealing with a hamstring ailment that has jeopardized his Week 1 availability, and even if Ford were healthy, Cleveland could stand to supplement an RB room that includes unproven or uninspiring options like Demetric Felton, Jordan Wilkins, and Hassan Hall. As Tony Grossi of TheLandOnDemand.com posits, Wilkins’ two fumbles in the Browns’ preseason loss to the Chiefs yesterday likely cost him his roster spot.

What Cleveland lacked in RB depth, it made up for in OT talent. With Jedrick Wills, Jack Conklin, James Hudson III, and fourth-round rookie Dawand Jones in the fold, Wheatley — who spent most of the 2022 campaign on the Browns’ taxi squad — was unlikely to have a place on the 53-man roster. He did, however, play well in an extended look during this year’s preseason slate, and though he has yet to see any regular season work in the NFL, he is an ascending player that can serve as needed depth in Foxborough.

As Mike Reiss of ESPN.com writes, presumptive right tackle Riley Reiff left New England’s preseason loss to the Titans on Friday with a right leg injury that could linger into the regular season, and swing tackle Calvin Anderson is presently on the NFI list. Anderson is reportedly close to a return to the active roster, though there is still plenty of room for a tackle with Wheatley’s upside.

Patriots Notes: Judon, Gesicki, Cunningham, Flowers

August 17th, 2023 at 9:41pm CST by Ben Levine

We’ve got more details on Matthew Judon‘s reworked deal with the Patriots, per ESPN’s Field Yates (on Twitter). The pass rusher’s revamped contract includes “more 2023 guarantees and upside” for one of New England’s top defenders.

Specifically, Judon got a $7MM signing bonus while seeing his 2023 base salary drop from $11MM to $7MM. His 2023 incentives increased from $500K to $3MM while his $1MM in per-game bonuses stay the same. That all results in a cap hit of $16.44MM.

More simply, Judon got an effective $3MM raise in his 2023 base pay (which is reflected in the $7MM signing bonus, not the base salary) and a $2.5MM raise via incentives, per Ben Volin of the Boston Globe (on Twitter).

As we noted earlier this month, Judon had some of his 2024 money pushed up to 2023, setting the stage for more drama next offseason. In a telling sign, Volin points out that the last time the Patriots accommodated this type of cap machination was in 2020 with Stephon Gilmore. New England ended up trading the star cornerback the following year.

More notes out of New England…

One of the Patriots’ biggest offseason acquisitions suffered an injury during practice this week. Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter), Mike Gesicki suffered a “mild dislocated shoulder.” Despite the injury, Rapoport notes that there’s hope the tight end will be active for Week 1. Following a five-year stint with the Dolphins to begin his career, Gesicki inked a one-year deal worth up to $9MM with New England this offseason. The veteran is expected to often play alongside fellow TE Hunter Henry in the Patriots’ offense this season.
Veteran offensive lineman Riley Reiff signed with the Patriots this offseason, and while he’s destined for a role in the starting lineup, it remains to be seen exactly where he slots in. As Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald writes, Reiff has played both right guard and right tackle during camp. The 34-year-old’s role probably won’t be solidified until we get clarity on some of the Patriots’ other linemen, including Michael Onwenu (PUP), Calvin Anderson (NFI), Kody Russey (injured) and Cole Strange (injured).
Undrafted rookie QB Malik Cunningham impressed during training camp and the Patriots’ first preseason game, and Volin writes that the organization has no choice but to roster the Louisville product as a third QB behind Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe. As Volin notes, the Patriots signed Cunningham with the hope that he could be “another Julian Edelman” and transform from college quarterback to NFL wideout. Cunningham mostly worked with receivers in the spring, but Volin observes that the rookie has taken more and more reps under center and has clearly supplanted Trace McSorley as the organization’s third QB.
Trey Flowers‘ second stint in New England will see him playing on a $1.165MM salary ($50K guaranteed), per Yates (on Twitter). The veteran defensive end can earn another $510K in per-game bonuses, plus a potential $825K in not-likely-to-be-earned incentives. This leads to a max value of $2.5MM, and Flowers will be attached to a $1.285MM cap hit.

Latest On Patriots’ Tackle Situation

July 4th, 2023 at 2:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

Not re-signing Isaiah Wynn, the Patriots have some questions at their tackle posts. New England might boast some depth, should everyone stay healthy here, though the soundness of its strategy at this position can be debated.

Trent Brown is back in place as the Pats’ left tackle, but the ninth-year veteran struggled with fitness during minicamp. Weight clauses exist in Brown’s Patriots contract, just as they did when the team reacquired him from the Raiders and reworked his deal. Brown’s weight at various offseason points will trigger the bonuses. Given his minicamp form, it is worth wondering how many of those benchmarks the talented blocker will hit this year.

The team was connected to making a more concerted effort to upgrade at right tackle, but Riley Reiff is in place on a one-year, $5MM deal. The 34-year-old tackle signed for $4.15MM guaranteed and, as of now, is positioned to re-emerge as a Week 1 starter. The Bears stationed Reiff as a backup to open last season, but he closed the year as the 3-14 team’s right tackle starter. Reiff, however, took left tackle reps during the Patriots’ offseason program, per the Boston Globe’s Ben Volin.

Reiff has extensive experience on both sides, having been drafted in the 2012 first round by the Lions to play left tackle. He worked as Detroit’s full-time left-sider for three seasons and Minnesota’s for four. The Bengals used Reiff as their starting right tackle for much of their 2021 AFC championship season, but an injury ended his run before the playoffs. Reiff has made 149 career starts. Although Reiff’s profile did not present the intrigue Mike McGlinchey, Jawaan Taylor or Kaleb McGary‘s did at free agency’s outset, the Patriots passed on a big-ticket signing or a high draft choice for this role.

Reiff seeing left tackle time could point to Brown’s roster spot being uncertain. When healthy, Brown has played well during his two New England stints. He played 17 games last season but missed eight in 2021, which followed an absence-riddled Raiders tenure. Brown’s cap number ($12.25MM) sits third on this year’s Pats roster. The team would save $8MM by releasing the 6-foot-8 cog, who is going into his age-30 season.

Brown reporting to training camp in shape and staying healthy would be the best O-line outcome for the Patriots, but Reiff’s experience does provide some insurance. That said, questions also surround Reiff given his age. Reiff spent time with the backups during minicamp and has not started and finished a season as a first-stringer since 2020.

During the offseason program, the Patriots used ex-Broncos swing tackle Calvin Anderson on the left side and ex-Jet Conor McDermott on the right. Fourth-round pick Sidy Sow, who has impressed the team during his initial NFL offseason, is being viewed as a right tackle, Volin adds. Sow is attempting to convert from college guard to NFL tackle. Anderson and McDermott each have 12 career starts; the latter started six games for the Patriots last season, after being signed off the Jets’ practice squad.

Although the Pats boast an interesting five-man contingent at this position, its ceiling largely hinges on Brown’s status. Training camp figures to be important at this spot, with the team likely set on its interior O-line.

Do Patriots Need To Pursue An Upgrade At Tackle?

June 14th, 2023 at 5:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

As second-stint Patriots OC Bill O’Brien installs his offense, the team has seen improved form — in June, that is — from Mac Jones. Following a strange season that featured a career defensive coach given the play-calling reins on offense, New England looks to be in better shape on the whole on that side of the ball.

The team also has a strong interior offensive line contingent, being set to use the Cole Strange–David Andrews–Michael Onwenu trio it played inside last season. But New England may have an issue at tackle. Trent Brown missed the start of the team’s minicamp this week and could not finish practice Tuesday, per NBC Sports Boston’s Tom Curran, who notes the mammoth left tackle needed to be relocated to a side field for conditioning work.

Brown signed a two-year, $13MM deal to stay with the Patriots in 2022 and was moved to the left side — where he played in 2018 to set up a monster Raiders payday — last summer. But the veteran blocker has struggled to stay on the field for many years. Brown did play all 17 games last season but missed eight in 2021, 11 in 2020, five in 2019 and six in 2017.

The Patriots have included weight bonuses in Brown’s latest contract. They indicate a preference against Brown playing above 365 pounds, with the bonuses — totaling $750K — rewarding the 6-foot-8 tackle for moving down below that weight over the offseason. Brown carries the Pats’ third-highest cap figure this year ($12.25MM), though only $3MM is guaranteed ahead of Week 1. The former 49ers draft pick worked out on his own this offseason, skipping OTAs. Releasing Brown would create $8MM in cap space for the Pats, though that might be premature given his talent when available.

New England was linked to potentially diving into the robust right tackle market in March. But the top options (Mike McGlinchey, Jawaan Taylor, Kaleb McGary) landed elsewhere. It is not exactly uncharacteristic — 2021 notwithstanding — for the Patriots to stand down in free agency, but their O-line does not include a player earning more than $6.5MM on average. Rather than move into the deep waters at right tackle, the Pats added 12th-year veteran Riley Reiff on a one-year, $5MM deal. That contract features more guaranteed money ($4.15MM) than the Pats gave Brown on his two-year pact, but Reiff entered last season as a Bears backup and missed the second half of the 2021 campaign due to injury.

Reiff did emerge as the Bears’ right tackle starter midway through the season, and Pro Football Focus tabbed him as a middle-of-the-road starter (51st, eight spots behind Brown). But he will turn 35 later this year and, per MassLive.com’s Karen Guregian, spent time with the backups during minicamp. The team added ex-Broncos swing tackle Calvin Anderson and re-signed Conor McDermott, whom it initially plucked off the Jets’ practice squad last season. Fourth-round pick Sidy Sow, a six-year Eastern Michigan cog, is also converting from guard to tackle ahead of his rookie year.

Regarding free agents, three-year Jets starter George Fant (60 career starts) may be the best available. Multi-stint Patriot Marcus Cannon is also unattached, but the Pats look to have their swing spots covered. The Titans released former Pro Bowler Taylor Lewan in February, but knee trouble is threatening to cut the former first-rounder’s career short.

The Bengals’ deep right tackle competition, which is pitting Jonah Williams against La’el Collins and Jackson Carman, is worth monitoring for every team with a shaky tackle situation. Collins’ status, in particular, will be notable once he recovers from the ACL tear he sustained in December. The rebuilding Cardinals now have a healthy D.J. Humphries and a re-signed Kelvin Beachum joining first-rounder Paris Johnson and primary Humphries 2022 fill-in Josh Jones.

New England has a recent history obtaining a starting tackle via offseason trade, nabbing Brown from San Francisco in April 2018 and then reacquiring him in March 2021. Brown’s performance — during his age-25 season — helped the Patriots to their sixth Super Bowl win and earned him a then-tackle-record deal in 2019. Isaiah Wynn, who succeeded Brown in 2019, did not pan out as a Patriot, despite effective stretches, and signed with the Dolphins this offseason.

The Pats passed on the opportunity to draft Broderick Jones in Round 1 this year, trading out of No. 14 to give the Steelers that opening, indicating relative confidence their tackle plan will hold up. But Brown’s health and fitness level again looms as crucial to a team attempting to develop a first-round quarterback. After the Matt Patricia–Joe Judge experiment led to a Jones step back last year, the team is exiting minicamp with a potentially glaring issue on its offensive front.

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