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FOXBOROUGH – Friday has been a good day to be Drake Maye.
After the Patriots drafted running back Treveyon Henderson in Round 2 and receiver Kyle Williams at the beginning of Round 3, the team traded down to pick 95 in the third round and selected Georgia center Jared Wilson.
Wilson came off the bench for Georgia in his first three collegiate seasons. Last year, he started every game at center and earned Second Team All-SEC honors. At 6-foot-3, 310 pounds, Wilson is a great athlete who gives the Patriots a developmental center.
This offseason, the position has undergone big changes in New England. That started when the team released veteran captain David Andrews. They then signed veteran center Garrett Bradbury. The Patriots also have centers Cole Strange, Ben Brown, and Jake Andrews on the roster.
Here are three reasons why the Patriots drafted Wilson:
The main goal this offseason was to better protect Drake Maye. The Patriots signed veteran right tackle Morgan Moses and Bradbury in free agency. They also added veteran guard Wes Schweitzer.
Still, they came into this draft with several question marks.
The Patriots filled their biggest need on Thursday when they drafted LSU left tackle Will Campbell. With their last pick on Friday night, they added someone who could be the Patriots long-term answer at center.
Although they have several players who can play center, there are question marks at this position. Bradbury, signed through 2026, is 30 and recently released by the Minnesota Vikings. Strange and Brown are both unproven and are in the final year of their contracts. Jake Andrews missed all of last season with an injury.
By adding Wilson, the Patriots add one of the best centers in this draft who comes to New England on a four-year rookie deal. The team is adding quality young offensive pieces to build around their young quarterback.
Wilson didn’t allow a sack last season.
Under Josh McDaniels, the Patriots had a prototype when it came to interior offensive line prospects.
The average guard or center drafted stood 6-foot-3, weighed 311 pounds, and had the following testing times: 5.21 40-yard dash, 27.5 vertical, 26 reps on the bench, 8-foot-9-inch broad jump, 7.80 3-cone time, and a 4.63 shuttle time.
Wilson blows those marks out of the water, showing the type of athlete they’re getting at center.
He hits the Patriots ideal marks at height (6-foot-3) and weighs (310 pounds). He beats Patriots marks with his 40 time (4.84), vertical jump (32 inches), broad jump (9 feet-4 inches), and shuttle time (4.56).
Wilson led all offensive linemen at the Combine with his 40 time. He also reached 21.04 miles per hour on that run. That’s the fastest ever for a center at the Combine.
At the NFL Owners Meetings, Mike Vrabel said that he’d like to see Cole Strange return to the center position after making the transition late last year. However, after seeing the Patriots draft a center in Round 3, it could be a sign that the team will keep Strange at the position he started at.
Strange started every game at left guard during his 2022 rookie season. In 2023, he started 10 games at left guard before suffering a serious knee injury. After returning last season, the Patriots had Strange move to center, where he played two games.
With Wilson in the fold, along with Bradbury and Brown, the Patriots could move Strange back to left guard. That would give the Patriots someone with starting experience on the line to go with Moses at right tackle, Michael Onwenu at right guard, Bradbury at center, and Campbell at left tackle.
Wilson will be given the opportunity to compete with Bradbury for the starting job, but by adding the rookie, the Patriots will have ample competition at left guard, too.
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After the Patriots drafted running back Treveyon Henderson in Round 2 and receiver Kyle Williams at the beginning of Round 3, the team traded down to pick 95 in the third round and selected Georgia center Jared Wilson.
Wilson came off the bench for Georgia in his first three collegiate seasons. Last year, he started every game at center and earned Second Team All-SEC honors. At 6-foot-3, 310 pounds, Wilson is a great athlete who gives the Patriots a developmental center.
This offseason, the position has undergone big changes in New England. That started when the team released veteran captain David Andrews. They then signed veteran center Garrett Bradbury. The Patriots also have centers Cole Strange, Ben Brown, and Jake Andrews on the roster.
Here are three reasons why the Patriots drafted Wilson:
Protecting Drake Maye is the priority
The main goal this offseason was to better protect Drake Maye. The Patriots signed veteran right tackle Morgan Moses and Bradbury in free agency. They also added veteran guard Wes Schweitzer.
Still, they came into this draft with several question marks.
The Patriots filled their biggest need on Thursday when they drafted LSU left tackle Will Campbell. With their last pick on Friday night, they added someone who could be the Patriots long-term answer at center.
Although they have several players who can play center, there are question marks at this position. Bradbury, signed through 2026, is 30 and recently released by the Minnesota Vikings. Strange and Brown are both unproven and are in the final year of their contracts. Jake Andrews missed all of last season with an injury.
By adding Wilson, the Patriots add one of the best centers in this draft who comes to New England on a four-year rookie deal. The team is adding quality young offensive pieces to build around their young quarterback.
Wilson didn’t allow a sack last season.
Wilson is a really good athlete
Under Josh McDaniels, the Patriots had a prototype when it came to interior offensive line prospects.
The average guard or center drafted stood 6-foot-3, weighed 311 pounds, and had the following testing times: 5.21 40-yard dash, 27.5 vertical, 26 reps on the bench, 8-foot-9-inch broad jump, 7.80 3-cone time, and a 4.63 shuttle time.
Wilson blows those marks out of the water, showing the type of athlete they’re getting at center.
He hits the Patriots ideal marks at height (6-foot-3) and weighs (310 pounds). He beats Patriots marks with his 40 time (4.84), vertical jump (32 inches), broad jump (9 feet-4 inches), and shuttle time (4.56).
Wilson led all offensive linemen at the Combine with his 40 time. He also reached 21.04 miles per hour on that run. That’s the fastest ever for a center at the Combine.
Could this move settle the Patriots offensive line?
At the NFL Owners Meetings, Mike Vrabel said that he’d like to see Cole Strange return to the center position after making the transition late last year. However, after seeing the Patriots draft a center in Round 3, it could be a sign that the team will keep Strange at the position he started at.
Strange started every game at left guard during his 2022 rookie season. In 2023, he started 10 games at left guard before suffering a serious knee injury. After returning last season, the Patriots had Strange move to center, where he played two games.
With Wilson in the fold, along with Bradbury and Brown, the Patriots could move Strange back to left guard. That would give the Patriots someone with starting experience on the line to go with Moses at right tackle, Michael Onwenu at right guard, Bradbury at center, and Campbell at left tackle.
Wilson will be given the opportunity to compete with Bradbury for the starting job, but by adding the rookie, the Patriots will have ample competition at left guard, too.
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