Tag: Liam Fornadel

Contract details for Patriots OL Liam Fornadel revealed

Here are the contract details for Patriots OL Liam Fornadel’s new deal

Former DC Defenders offensive lineman Liam Fornadel signed with the New England Patriots earlier in the week. According to KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson, it’s a three-year, $2.83 million deal for the former UFL standout.

So it’s a minimum salary for Fornadel’s opportunity to play in the NFL.

The first thing that stands out about Fornadel is his versatility. During his collegiate run at James Madison University, he started at both tackle positions, along with working in as a guard.

That sort of flexibility is a huge asset in a Patriots offensive line room that needs all of the help it can get.

The biggest area of concern for New England is at left tackle. Trent Brown is gone, and the team will have to resort to starting one of their right tackles, Chukwuma Okorafor or rookie Caedan Wallace.

Starting guard Cole Strange being out with a knee injury has also hurt their interior blocking. There is no shortage of opportunities for Fornadel to at the very least make a case for a practice squad spot.

Report: Patriots signing former UFL standout offensive lineman

A former UFL standout is reportedly signing with the Patriots

The New England Patriots are reportedly signing former DC Defenders guard Liam Fornadel, per Boston Globe’s Christopher Price. 

Fornadel is listed as a guard, but he has multiple starts at both right and left tackle during his time in college at James Madison University. So right off the bat, he offers the sort of versatility a team experimenting with multiple offensive line combinations would want.

The Patriots have struggled along the offensive front in previous seasons, and some of those same issues showed up during the spring practices. Fornadel’s ability to work at both guard and tackle could earn him an opportunity to get on the field.

The former UFL standout was one of the top offensive linemen in the league in 2024. He was named to the 2023 All-XFL team before the merger.

This was the corresponding move to the Patriots releasing rookie offensive guard Ryan Johnson on Monday. They’re likely hopeful Fornadel can offer a more immediate return on their investment due to his experience.