Patriots reportedly plan on keeping Mike Onwenu at one spot on offensive line

The Patriots have benefited from Mike Onwenu’s versatility over the last four seasons.

The 2020 sixth-round pick out of the University of Michigan has played right tackle in 33 of his 64 games with the Patriots, along with 27 games at right guard, and 10 at left guard. He was also utilized as an eligible sixth lineman on four occasions.

But after New England doled out a three-year, $57 million contract last week to retain Onwenu’s services, the Patriots are reportedly planning on keeping the O-lineman at one position moving forward. 

On Monday, NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported that the Patriots plan on keep Onwenu at right tackle for the 2024 season and beyond.

“The plan is for the extremely versatile player to finally settle in on the right side,” Rapoport added.

Onwenu was one of the few bright spots on an otherwise dreadful Patriots offense in 2023, helping stabilize a porous O-line down the stretch after slotting over from right guard to right tackle. He started the final 11 games of the 2023 campaign at right tackle, and should add some stability to that area of the roster moving forward.

With Onwenu entrenched at right tackle, the Patriots will likely carve out a regular role for second-year player Sidy Sow at right guard in 2024. David Andrews is set to return as New England’s starting center, while Cole Strange (if healthy) will step back in as the team’s starting left guard.

Left tackle remains a question mark for the Patriots, with New England signing veteran tackle Chukwuma Okorafor on March 7. However, Okorafor has primarily played right tackle during his NFL career and might be viewed as more of a depth option in New England, rather than a starting left tackle. 

New England might have to turn to the 2024 NFL Draft in order add a fixture at left tackle.