Patriots Former First-Round Pick Called ‘Cut Candidate’ Amid Poor Camp

The New England Patriots kick-started their rebuild with the emergence of quarterback Drake Maye. With Maye looking like the potential answer at the most important position, the Patriots have made a few moves to give him the pieces to be successful going forward.

But with additions to the team, there are going to be some players who end up cut at the end of training camp.

Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski recently suggested that 2022 first-round pick Cole Strange was a cut candidate ahead of the season.

“The 29th overall pick started every game as a rookie. Maybe (Bill) Belichick did know better. Or not. Three years later, Strange is on the roster bubble after a third-round rookie seemingly took his spot in the lineup,” Sobleski wrote. “Jared Wilson, who was a collegiate center, has regularly gotten reps at left guard with the Patriots’ first-team offense in training camp.

“With Wilson and Michael Onwenu at guard, as well as Layden Robinson and Sidy Sow to serve as backups, Strange isn’t needed. The team has asked him to take some reps at center, but Wilson can shift back over the ball if an injury occurs. It’s nearing the point where Strange can be viewed as a first-round bust since he’s yet to even make it through his rookie contract.”

The Patriots have done all they can to protect their franchise quarterback. They made it clear coming into this offseason that they would be protecting Maye by using their first-round pick on Will Campbell. Campbell wasn’t the only addition across the line, though.

Strange has been pushed down the depth chart and doesn’t seem to have a role with the team. If he ends up making the roster, it’ll be as the 52nd or 53rd man on the team, likely serving as a utility backup offensive lineman.

The 27-year-old has seemed to struggle at times during training camp, pushing himself further away from first-team reps. At the end of the day, the Patriots can, and likely will, do better than Strange.

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