Pats Pulpit
The New England Patriots, for the third time in the last four seasons, will take their act abroad again this fall. In Week 10, they will take on the Detroit Lions in Munich, Germany.
For the team, it will be a return to the international market. For offensive tackle Lorenz Metz, it will be a return home.
Name: Lorenz Metz
Position: Offensive tackle
Jersey number: 72
Opening day age: 29 (3/7/1997)
Measurements: 6’9”, 320 lbs, 10 5/8” hand size, 34 1/4” arm length, 84” wingspan, 5.30s 40-yard dash, 7.63s 3-cone drill, 4.82s short shuttle, 25 1/2” vertical jump, 8’7” broad jump, 26 bench press reps, 7.65 Relative Athletic Score
NFL: Chicago Bears (2023), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2024-25), New England Patriots (2025-) | College: Cincinnati (2018-22)
Born in the German city of Neuötting, 50 miles east of Munich, Metz’s football career started when he was already 18 years old. Before making the move to the United States, he played at the amateur level with the Kirchdorf Wildcats as a defensive tackle: in his lone season with the Wildcats, he appeared in 12 games and registered 48 tackles and a sack.
In 2018, Metz moved to the United States to play college football at Cincinnati. He switched from defensive lineman to offensive tackle upon arriving, and over the next five seasons saw action in 39 games with 26 starts.
A one-time first-team All-AAC selection (2021), Metz went unselected in the 2023 NFL Draft. He was initially picked up by the Bears as a free agent, but was released early in training camp and not picked up by another team until the following April. He later spent time in Tampa and New England as a roster exempt international practice squad player.
His only on-field experience in the NFL has come in preseason.
Strengths: The tallest player on the Patriots’ current roster, Metz offers NFL-caliber length and an overall frame that is rare even for pro-level offensive tackles. He uses his size to his advantage as both a pass protector and a run blocker, covering plenty of ground without much of an athletic effort needed. He mirrors decently well and plays with the appropriate demeanor needed to succeed in the run game; he also has solid upper-body strength and a strong punch. In addition, he provides some versatile experience having played both tackle spots and right guard during his college career.
Weaknesses: While his size is rare, Metz’s athleticism is not. He lacks foot speed and range as a blocker, while his lateral agility is uninspiring; he relies on his length to win but does not complement it with any movement skills worth noting. As a result, his use as a pull or zone blocker seems fairly limited. He also falls victim to his height on occasion and struggles to maintain leverage or play with a consistent pad level. His grip strength and ability to sustain blocks are also underwhelming.
Stats: N/A
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