Few if any position groups on the New England Patriots’ roster performed on as high a level in 2021 as the offensive line. Despite the group playing on a high level in both pass protection and run blocking, however, the Patriots have entered a rebuilding process up front.
Left guard Ted Karras left the team in free agency to sign a three-year contract with the Cincinnati Bengals. One day later, right guard Shaq Mason was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick. While third-year man Michael Onwenu will likely take over one of the starting spots — the expectation is that he will succeed Mason at right guard — the other is virtually unoccupied at the moment.