When the Patriots open training camp at the end of the week, the offensive line is going to draw plenty of attention. That’s no surprise. It might be the biggest question mark on the roster, and the range of possible outcomes for the group is all over the map.
This week, I’m breaking down each spot along the line to look at whether New England actually got better and what each position should look like. Today’s focus is center, and that’s where the real uncertainty starts to show.
The Patriots list Garrett Bradbury as the 2025 starter, with Jared Wilson projected to take over in 2026. But Bradbury has already been traded to the Bears, which leaves Wilson as the player to watch.
He logged one year of starting experience and was decent for much of his 2025 rookie season, especially considering he was playing out of position. Still, center is a demanding job in the NFL, and Bradbury at least brought veteran experience and the ability to get everyone on the same page.
Wilson hasn’t proven he can handle that part yet. This offseason and camp should serve as a crash course in the position, both mentally and physically, at NFL speed. The talent is there, and he should be a solid player, but this is a key spot and he still has to show he can do it against pro competition.
The lack of proven depth behind him only adds to the pressure. Ben Brown is back as the super sub, and he can fill in, but he’s not the ideal answer if you’re trying to start a playoff team at center. The Patriots also added undrafted rookie Jacob Rizy, though he looks more like a camp body than a real contender.
If Wilson can make the mental jump and play at a level that doesn’t dip below what Bradbury gave them, the Patriots should be fine here. In fact, the upside is pretty real. Wilson has the physical tools to become one of the better centers in the league over the next few years, and that would matter a lot for a team that wants to run the ball and has a franchise quarterback taking the snaps.
In Other News...
Robert Kraft Finally Addressed The Mike Vrabel Future Patriots Fans Feared
The Patriots spent the offseason fielding plenty of noise around Mike Vrabel, and the questions only grew louder as speculation swirled about whether his future in New England was as secure as it once seemed. For a franchise that has spent years trying to steady itself, the head coachs standing became a talking point well beyond the usual summer chatter, with fans wondering whether the organization would be forced into another reset before the 2026 season even arrived.
Robert Kraft has now made the answer clearer, publicly backing Vrabel and signaling that he expects him to remain on the sideline for the long haul. Krafts support matters because it cuts against the uncertainty that had been building around the job and gives the Patriots a more stable footing heading into the next stretch, even if the larger conversation around the team is far from finished. [Read more 🡒]
Robert Kraft Holds One Patriots Decision Players Desperately Want
The push to bring natural grass to Gillette Stadium has picked up real momentum, and Robert Kraft has already approved the idea of moving the Patriots off artificial turf. It is the kind of decision that resonates far beyond one building in Foxborough, because plenty of players have long argued that grass is easier on their bodies and better for a sport where every surface detail matters.
Recent World Cup matches at NFL stadiums have only sharpened that conversation, giving players a fresh example of how grass can work in major venues. With the NFL Players Association also weighing in, the Patriots suddenly find themselves at the center of a broader league debate, and Kraft has a chance to be one of the first owners to turn that player push into an official change. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Suddenly Have A Harold Landry Problem As Camp Opens
Training camp is about to get underway in Foxborough, and the Patriots already have a notable availability issue on their hands. Harold Landry has been placed on the physically unable to perform list, a reminder that one of the teams key edge additions is still working back into football shape as the summer ramps up. Terrell Jennings also opened camp on the non-football injury list, adding another early wrinkle to a roster that is still sorting out its health.
For Landry, the timing matters because the Patriots need as much certainty as possible at edge rusher, where the depth chart has been thin enough to make every missed practice feel amplified. DreMont Jones and Elijah Ponder are part of the mix, but Landry was supposed to be one of the players who helped stabilize that group. Now the question is how quickly he can progress once camp starts, and how much patience the Patriots will need before they can count on him in full. [Read more 🡒]