Tag: Mike Onwenu

What Chukwuma Okorafor signing means for Mike Onwenu

Will Chukwuma Okorafor signing impact the Patriots’ chances of re-signing Mike Onwenu?

The New England Patriots made their first strides towards beefing up their offensive line by reportedly signing former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor on Thursday.

Of course, that has a bunch of Patriots fans pressing the panic alarm on the team’s chances of re-signing pending free agent tackle Mike Onwenu to a new deal.

Take a deep breath. Relax.

This signing will not impact the Patriots’ ongoing negotiations with Onwenu. The Patriots are expected to make several signings, whether through the draft or free agency, at the tackle position, which was one of the biggest trouble spots for the team throughout the 2023 season.

Okorafor is a solid depth signing with plenty of upside at only 26 years old. Sure, he has starting potential, but he could also work into the offense as a rotational piece up front.

More than anything, the Patriots need reliable bodies to serve as a wall for whoever is under center at quarterback, and Okorafor is the kind of player that can help provide that sort of protection.

New England should still be very competitive in trying to re-sign Onwenu. Patriots executive Eliot Wolf wouldn’t have gone out of his way to call the former sixth-round draft pick a “cornerstone” player if he wasn’t serious about bringing him back on a new deal.

Nothing is ever certain in free agency, but when it comes to keeping one of their own, the new regime isn’t going down without a fight.

Available free agent offensive tackles for Patriots in 2024

There are still solid offensive tackle options for the Patriots on the free agent market in 2024

The New England Patriots are in danger of losing both of their starting offensive tackles from the 2023 season.

Left tackle Trent Brown and right tackle Mike Onwenu are both slated to hit the free agent market, which will put them in the driver’s seat of contract negotiations. Losing Brown would sting, but the Patriots have the cap space and draft capital to overcome that loss in the offseason.

However, things could get tricky if the team fails to re-sign Onwenu, who worked in at both tackle and guard last season. Onwenu is only 26 years old and in position to become one of the rebuilding blocks on the Patriots’ offensive front.

Whether he stays or goes, it’s going to take a herculean effort for the Patriots to get the offensive line back on track. It all starts in free agency by dedicating the necessary resources to young talent that can help the team for years to come.

Here are the available free agent offensive tackles for the Patriots in 2024:

Patriots OL Mike Onwenu set to be free agent with no franchise tag in place

The franchise deadline has come and gone, and Mike Onwenu is set to test the free agent market

The franchise tag deadline has come and gone with the New England Patriots opting to use the transition tag on safety Kyle Dugger. That move alone knocked offensive lineman Mike Onwenu out of the running for the franchise tag.

So, what does it all mean for the Patriots?

The transition tag will allow the Patriots an opportunity to match any outside offers for Dugger, who has stepped up as a leader in the defensive backfield after Devin McCourty retired. However, they’re risking losing Onwenu on the open market without a tag in place.

The veteran offensive lineman showed off his versatility last season when working in at both right tackle and guard. Tackle is arguably the biggest trouble spot on the Patriots’ roster, and with Trent Brown also set to be a free agent, the team could lose both of its starters on the open market.

It’s a scary situation for a team expected to select a rookie quarterback at No. 3 overall in the 2024 NFL draft.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Potential Titans FA target Mike Onwenu won’t get franchise tag

Potential Titans free-agent target, RT Mike Onwenu, remains slated to hit the open market after the Patriots used the transition tag on someone else.

As potential free-agent targets have come off the board for the Tennessee Titans this offseason because of franchise tags, there is one offensive lineman who remains slated to hit free agency, barring an extension.

On Tuesday, several reports revealed that the New England Patriots will be placing the transition tag on safety Kyle Dugger, which means right tackle Mike Onwenu won’t be tagged since teams can only utilize one tag per offseason.

While it isn’t guaranteed the Titans will seek out a right tackle in free agency with the presence of both Dillon Radunz — who finished the 2023 campaign strong — and Nicholas Petit-Frere, Onwenu should be at the top of the list of right tackle targets if Tennessee looks to add one in free agency.

Onwenu, who can also play guard, had a strong season in 2023, with the 26-year-old giving up just three sacks and 23 pressures in 850 snaps (656 at right tackle, 194 at right guard).

He finished with PFF grades of 68.0 and 72.2 in pass-blocking and run-blocking, respectively, and had an overall grade of 71.5.

Spotrac estimates that Onwenu will receive a four-year deal worth $54.5 million ($13.6 million annually). The Titans are flush with cap space, so if they want to pull the trigger and bring Onwenu in for that amount, they certainly have the means to do so.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

What does Tuesday’s franchise tag deadline mean for Patriots?

Will the Patriots use the franchise tag by Tuesday’s deadline?

The deadline for NFL teams to use the franchise tag is at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. That means it’s crunch time for the New England Patriots, if they’re considering using the tag on one of their pending free agents.

There are truly only two realistic options for the Patriots to consider: offensive tackle Mike Onwenu or safety Kyle Dugger.

Neither choice would be cheap.

Tagging Onwenu would cost the team $20.9 million for a guaranteed one-year contract, while keeping Dugger on such a deal would be $17.1 million. Of course, the team would much rather strike up a long-term deal with both players than the one-year placement rental.

Onwenu carries a hefty price tag, but he’s a vital player for the Patriots. His ability to play at both the offensive guard and tackle positions is a rare luxury for a rebuilding team. Keep in mind, Trent Brown is also a free agent this year, and none of the other tackles on the roster have panned out well for the Patriots.

It’s a trouble spot that could turn catastrophic if the team loses both Onwenu and Brown in free agency.

They’d definitely miss Kyle Dugger at safety, but there might be cheaper options in free agency or even the draft to help fill the void. The defense could survive without Dugger, but it’s hard to say the same for the offense without its two starting tackles.

Onwenu recently parted ways with his agency and has opted to represent himself in negotiations, which could make things interesting when it comes to renegotiating a possible extension with the Patriots. Meanwhile, Dugger recently changed agencies.

What happens on Tuesday could have a major impact on the Patriots’ approach in free agency and the 2024 NFL draft.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Projected market value for Patriots’ top pending free agents

The Patriots have multiple in-house free agents they might want to re-sign. Here’s what it could cost them.

Big decisions loom on the horizon for the New England Patriots heading into free agency.

They’re sitting pretty right now with roughly over $100 million in available salary cap space, but they are also a team bogged down with various holes and upgrade needs on their roster.

Free agency isn’t just about paying big money to load up on outside talent. It’s also about keeping the talent you already have to ensure some continuity. Not everything was bad with the 4-13 Patriots, and this isn’t a situation where the organization is looking to throw the entire team away.

There were pieces that stood out as potential parts of an eventual solution in New England. and it now falls on Patriots executive Eliot Wolf and the front office to figure out ways to keep those pieces intact.

Today, we’re taking a closer look at the Patriots’ top free agents and their projected market values, according to PFF.com and Spotrac.com.

25 best free agent targets for the Patriots in 2024

Here are the 25 best free agent options for the Patriots

The New England Patriots are expected to be aggressive in free agency this offseason in an effort to fill multiple holes on their roster.

It’s no secret that the onus for the 4-13 finish in 2023 falls predominantly on the offensive struggles. There’s a need to fill at every offensive position for New England, most notably at quarterback, wide receiver and offensive tackle.

However, don’t think for one second that the defense will go ignored. That unit was one of the best in the NFL last season, and it kept the team in games that would have otherwise turned into blowouts.

If the Patriots hope to remain competitive in 2024, they’ll need to continue adding defensive playmakers to keep games close. In no particular order, here are the 25 best potential free agent targets for the Patriots:

Cost for Patriots to franchise tag Kyle Dugger or Mike Onwenu revealed

If the Patriots wanted to franchise tag Kyle Dugger or Mike Onwenu, here’s how much it would cost

The franchise tag costs are set for the 2024 season, and they could prove important for the New England Patriots, if they decide to tag any of their pending free agents in the offseason.

But who would be the likeliest candidates in New England to receive the franchise tag?

The easy answer would be safety Kyle Dugger and offensive guard/tackle Mike Onwenu. Dugger stepped up as the leader in the defensive backfield after Devin McCourty retired, and Onwenu proved invaluable for the Patriots due to his ability to play at both the guard and tackle positions.

If the Patriots wanted to use the franchise tag on Onwenu, it would cost the team $20.9 million for the one-year placement holder. Meanwhile, keeping Dugger around on such a contract would cost the team $17.1 million.

Between the two players, Onwenu is the one the Patriots can’t afford to lose. The offensive line was a trouble spot for the team all season long, and the former sixth-round draft pick is their best offensive lineman.

Of course, they would much rather strike up a long-term deal than pay the hefty franchise tag fee. But with Trent Brown’s contract also expiring, the Patriots don’t want to find themselves in a position where they lose both tackles in free agency.

Fixing the offensive line is imperative if the Patriots are even considering using their No. 3 pick in the 2024 NFL draft on a quarterback.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

4 offensive linemen Titans should target in free agency

A look at four offensive linemen the Titans should target in free agency, with one from each position of need.

After yet another dismal year for the offensive line in 2023, the Tennessee Titans may end up replacing up to four starters upfront in 2024.

The only player locked into a starting role for next season is 2023 first-round pick and left guard Peter Skoronski, who showed signs that he has the goods to be a long-term solution at the position.

While Skoronski is the only sure thing, there’s no guarantee he’ll be the only one to return from last year’s group, as it’s conceivable Tennessee could stick with some in-house options at different spots.

The Titans will have multiple avenues to improve their offensive line this offseason, whether that be through free agency, the draft and/or a trade.

With free agency first on the offseason docket, here’s a look at four offensive linemen the Titans could target. We’ve included one player for each of the four positions Tennessee may want to replace.

Ranking 2024’s top 12 free-agent offensive tackles

Are there any hog mollies worth keeping an eye on in free agency?

Will the Carolina Panthers be able to find the fabled offensive line depth this offseason?

Here are the top 12 free-agent offensive tackles of 2024: