Patriots' Decision On Former 1st Round O-Lineman Bodes Well For Rookie

This would have made the Chattanooga alum the 14th highest paid interior offensive lineman in the NFL by average/year - a ranking that is probably not accurate given the solid, but not elite quality of the Tennessee native's play. 

With Strange's contract set to expire at the end of the season, there could well be a vacant spot on the offensive line come 2026 - if the team does not decide to bring in a big-ticket free agent to replace Strange - or indeed end up re-signing him.

And this could be best for rookie third round pick, Jared Wilson, who the Patriots selected with the 95th overall pick in last week's NFL draft. 

Coming out of Georgia, few believed that Wilson would still be on the board by pick #95, with many viewing him as a mid-second to early-third round pick. 

With Mike Onwenu tied up in a hefty long term deal, and former Vikings first round pick, Garrett Bradbury contracted through 2026, there may well just one spot available on the offensive line at the end of the season. 

In fact, whilst the Patriots may still have plans for Strange in the short and long term; they may just have felt like $16 million was too much of an overpay given his production to date; it is not impossible that with a strong training camp, Wilson could even take that job from Strange prior to the start of the 2025 season.