The New England Patriots faced significant challenges with their offensive line heading into the offseason, possibly more than any other NFL team. Thus, it surprised many when they chose to let go of center David Andrews earlier this week, given that Andrews has consistently been among their best offensive linemen when not sidelined by injury.
By releasing Andrews, the Patriots freed up just $2.7 million in salary cap space, a relatively minor amount considering they already had the most cap room in the league entering free agency.
This move left many wondering about the Patriots’ strategy. George Balekji of NESN raised the same question on a recent episode of the “Boston Has Entered the Chat” podcast.
Balekji remarked, “David Andrews seems like the kind of player Mike Vrabel values highly. Yet, they parted ways with him. It leaves a big uncertainty at center. … He’s reliable and steady when healthy. This feels like a tough, pragmatic choice that I don’t fully support. Leadership is crucial, and while Andrews was an admired leader, he wasn’t a huge financial burden. He was a respected, almost legendary voice in the locker room.”
Andrews, limited to four games last season due to a shoulder injury, has been a key figure for New England since 2015, contributing to two Super Bowl victories. Though the 32-year-old has never earned a Pro Bowl nod, he’s been a dependable and solid contributor.
His departure creates another gap for the Patriots to address, prompting reasonable doubts about whether this was the wisest decision.
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