Pats Pulpit
Offensive line play was one of the New England Patriots’ biggest issues in 2024, and a key area for the organization during the first offseason under new head coach Mike Vrabel. As part of the rebuilding process, the team invested two early draft picks up front.
The first at No. 4 overall was spent on LSU’s Will Campbell, who has manned the left guard spot from Day 1. The second pick was used to bring Georgia’s Jared Wilson aboard in the third round.
Wilson did not immediately run with the starters, but eventually managed to overtake former first-round draft pick Cole Strange for the left guard spot. With the exception of a brief injury absence in Week 4, Wilson has manned the position ever since — to varying levels of success. While there have been definitive bright moments, the youngster also has had his issues particularly as a run blocker.
In Week 7 against the Tennessee Titans, however, he also showed some struggles as a pass protector: Wilson was credited with two sacks and five total pressures given up. It ultimately did not matter too much because quarterback Drake Maye is playing on an exceptional level right now even with pressure in his face, but the performance once again highlighted Wilson as the biggest question mark along the Patriots’ O-line.
With that all said, let’s turn to this week’s SB Nation Reacts survey: with New England gearing up for a potential playoff run, do you think they should stick with Wilson as their left guard despite his rookie growing pains? Or would you rather see somebody else — i.e. veteran Ben Brown — take over if the struggles continue?
Please sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
