As free agency opened for the NFL on Monday, the first former Michigan football player to do well for themselves was Graham Glasgow, who got $20 million on a three-year deal to stay with the Detroit Lions. Not to be outdone, Jon Runyan Jr. was lured away by a three-year deal for $30 million to leave the Green Bay Packers for the New York Giants.
But it’s Michael Onwenu who is outdoing them all.
Later on Monday, Onwenu agreed to stay with the New England Patriots, the team that drafted him. He’ll also be signing a three-year deal, but for a staggering $57 million. Of that, there’s a $22.5 million signing bonus and $38 million is guaranteed.
Sources: The #Patriots are re-signing versatile OL Michael Onwenu, one of their cornerstone players, to a 3-year, $57M deal including $38M guaranteed. A clear priority for New England, he gets a $22.5M signing bonus. pic.twitter.com/mDpUz5CvSS
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 11, 2024
A sixth-round pick in 2020, Onwenu couldn’t even join the Patriots after being drafted due to COVID, instead having to learn the playbook from his apartment in Ann Arbor, awaiting the day he was able to report to Foxborough. He’s been something of a linchpin for the New England offensive line, playing all over, starting his rookie year, working as a plug-and-play lineman who could play any of the five positions.