Offensive line woes troubled the New England Patriots on their Super Bowl run.
Drake Maye was sacked 47 times in the regular season in 2025, the fourth-most in the league and 21 times in the team’s Championship run — no other quarterback in the playoffs was sacked more than 6 times.
New England reinforced the offensive line this offseason with the additions of Alijah Vera-Tucker on a $42 million deal and drafting tackle Caleb Lomu with the 28th overall selection.
With the additions to the roster, this allows a second-year player to revert to his original position, which could allow him to
Patriots O-Lineman Receives Bold Prediction
GettyNew England Patriots addressed the offensive line issue in the offseason
Jared Wilson, a third-round selection for the New England Patriots in the 2025 NFL Draft, played at left guard despite originally being a center, with Garrett Bradbury having the starting center role.
The Pats traded Bradbury to the Chicago Bears (in exchange for a 2027 NFL Draft fifth-round pick), leaving the center job vacant.
Pro Football Focus’ Bradley Locker released his latest All-Breakout Team, predicting Wilson will breakout at the center position.
“Wilson experienced growing pains in his first pro season, playing almost exclusively at left guard,” Locker wrote. “However, Wilson showed signs of progress later in the year with a 73.6 PFF pass-blocking grade from Week 11 through the Super Bowl.”
“Moving back to center should do wonders for Wilson, who compiled a 79.6 overall grade during his time there at Georgia in 2024. Adding veteran Alijah Vera-Tucker to man left guard and retaining the likes of Mike Onwenu, Will Campbell and Morgan Moses creates a relatively ideal situation for Wilson.”
In Wilson’s final collegiate season, the center posted an 84 pass-block grade from PFF and allowed 0 sacks or hits on the quarterback.
The former Georgia Bulldog was graded as the 88th-best prospect and the best center in the 2025 NFL Draft class.
In line to return to his original position, Jared Wilson could have a breakout season returning to his original position.
Mike Vrabel On Jared Wilson Possibly Playing Center
GettyMike Vrabel enters his second season as head coach of the New England Patriots
Mike Vrabel has previously mentioned that he is open to Jared Wilson playing at center, saying that the team will have the best five offensive linemen on the field.
“We’re gonna try to play with the best five and we’re gonna try to put our players in the best situation… Jared worked at both positions. We asked him to prepare as a starter each week at center,” Vrabel said. “I’m sure he’ll do the same thing when we start [spring training].”
With the multiple additions to the starting line, Wilson appears slated to return to center. Will Campbell will be at left tackle. New signing Alijah Vera-Tucker at left guard. Michael Onwenu at right guard. And Morgan Moses at right tackle.
This leaves the center spot without a clear starter. But with a player who has college experience at center and has been practicing as a center during his time in the league, Jared Wilson will be the clear starting center for the Patriots offense in 2026.
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