The New England Patriots didn’t just tweak their offensive line last offseason - they overhauled it. Four new starters were brought in, and the results have been hard to ignore.
Rookie quarterback Drake Maye, who ranked 28th in average time to throw last year, now leads the league at 2.94 seconds. That’s a massive leap, and it speaks volumes about the work done up front.
Let’s break it down. The Patriots used the No. 4 overall pick on Will Campbell, anchoring the left side at tackle.
They paired him with third-round guard Jared Wilson, and added veterans Garrett Bradbury at center and Morgan Moses at right tackle. Mike Onwenu, the lone holdover from last year, continues to hold things down at right guard - a spot he’s owned since Ted Karras left in 2021.
This group hasn’t just stabilized a shaky unit - they’ve turned it into one of the more reliable offensive lines in the league. And it’s not just the starters doing the heavy lifting.
The depth has stepped up, too. When Campbell went down, Vederian Lowe filled in admirably, allowing just one sack and drawing only one flag across 220 snaps.
That’s the kind of plug-and-play performance teams dream about from their backups.
Ben Brown has also been solid in limited action, logging 49 or more snaps in three games without giving up a sack. Even Thayer Munford - more of a jumbo tight end than a traditional lineman - has made his presence felt, earning an 85.5 PFF grade in just 48 snaps. That kind of depth is rare, and it’s a big reason why Maye has had time to grow and develop under center.
Still, as good as the line has been, there’s a case to be made that the Patriots shouldn’t stop investing in the trenches. PFF’s Gordon McGuinness has floated Iowa’s Gennings Dunker as a potential first-round target, and the fit makes a lot of sense.
All five starters are under contract for next season, and two of them - Campbell and Wilson - are rookies. So why keep adding?
Simple: protecting Drake Maye isn’t just a short-term goal, it’s a long-term mission. He’s 23 now, but if the Patriots want him to be the guy for the next two decades, they need to keep building a fortress around him.
Morgan Moses, for all his steadiness, turns 35 in March. While he’s likely to suit up in 2026, betting on him to still be starting at 37 - when his contract runs out - is a gamble. Dunker, who has three years of starting experience at right tackle, could be the ideal successor.
In 2024, Dunker had his best season yet. He allowed just two sacks, drew one penalty, and posted a 90.2 PFF grade.
That’s elite production on the edge. He’s also seen time at guard early in his college career, though his 46.3 PFF grade on the interior suggests that’s a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency option at best.
Some scouts have raised questions about his arm length, which could prompt a move inside, but the tape shows a player who thrives in space - especially in the run game.
And that’s where Dunker really shines. He’s a road grader in the run game and holds his own in pass protection.
As a swing tackle, he could immediately replace Lowe if he walks in free agency, and in time, slide into a starting role on the right side. Given how the Patriots have used Khyiris Tonga and Munford as jumbo fullbacks, Dunker’s physicality could even earn him snaps in those heavy packages.
Bottom line: whether it’s Dunker or another lineman, adding more protection for Maye in the top 64 picks would be a smart move. Earlier this month, other names like Ohio State’s Austin Siereveld and Northwestern’s Caleb Tiernan were floated as potential targets. But Dunker brings the kind of toughness and versatility that fits what the Patriots are building up front.
He didn’t make the AP All-American team - a tough break considering Utah’s Spencer Fano and Miami’s Francis Mauigoa (both projected top-15 picks) locked down those spots. But Dunker’s Iowa teammates, guard Beau Stephens and center Logan Jones, did earn All-American honors, and both are names to keep an eye on as well.
For a team that’s finally giving its franchise quarterback the protection he needs, doubling down on the offensive line in the draft wouldn’t just be smart - it would be strategic.