The New England Patriots are not contenders, but that doesn’t mean they won’t trade for an offensive lineman like Brady Christensen. New England entered the season with one of the NFL’s weaker offensive lines, and injuries decimated an already questionable unit. Chukwuma Okorafor effectively retired, Vederian Lowe and third-round rookie Caedan Wallace are battling injury, and guards Cole Strange and Sidy Sow are also out for good measure. While the offensive line wasn’t an active liability in Week 1, Week 3 showed just how bad this group is.
According to Next Gen Stats, the Patriots offensive line allowed 22 pressures on just 35 dropbacks, an abysmal rate that will get New England’s quarterback killed. Jacoby Brissett can only take so much punishment as a human punching bag, as nobody can survive 17 games with this blocking. For better or worse, first-round pick Drake Maye will likely see significant snaps this year, and he might not survive behind this patchwork offensive line. New England needs Maye to be their quarterback of the future, and a Brady Christensen trade could help the Patriots achieve that goal.
NextGenStats had the Patriots' offensive linemen allowing 22 pressures against the Jets tonight.
That was on 35 dropbacks.
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) September 20, 2024
Patriots, Panthers, Could Agree to Brady Christensen Trade
Brady Christensen is no star, but the trade candidate might be the best option for New England at this point in the season. Versatility is invaluable when you’re trying to find three or four adequate starters along the offensive line, and Christensen has that in spades. The former third-round pick spent the past few seasons at guard but started his career at tackle. According to Pro Football Focus, Christensen played 320 snaps as left tackle as a rookie and finished with a 61.6 grade. By comparison, Vederian Lowe finished the 2023 season with a 41.7 grade. Christensen might not be a superstar, but he’d probably be New England’s best option on the blindside.
Playing Brady Christensen at left tackle would allow third-round pick Caedan Wallace to move back to right tackle, where he spent his entire college career. This, in turn, would shift Mike Onwenu to right guard, a position more suited to his abilities. This means Michael Jordan would go to the bench while fourth-round pick Layden Robinson keeps the starting spot warm for Sidy Sow. Nobody will confuse this line with the 1990s Dallas Cowboys, but it should be enough to support Jacoby Brissett or Drake Maye.
Even if the Patriots don’t believe Brady Christensen can be an adequate tackle, they could still trade for him and use him at guard. New England’s top two left guards are out with various injuries, forcing Michael Jordan to step in. Christensen could easily sub in there, allowing New England to improve their interior offensive line, which is crucial for their run-heavy offense.
Would the Panthers Agree?
Obviously, it takes two to tango, and the Panthers would need to agree to any type of Brady Christensen trade. Fortunately for New England, the Panthers have every reason to try and ship the veteran. Carolina benched Bryce Young, effectively signaling the start of a brand-new rebuild. With Andy Dalton under center for the remainder of the year, the Panthers should deal veteran players on expiring contracts. Even if it’s only a sixth- or seventh-round pick, the Panthers could use all the draft capital they can get while rebuilding the roster in Dave Canales’ image.
Additionally, the Panthers don’t need Brady Christensen. The offensive lineman missed most of the 2023 season with an injury and lost his starting job to free agent signees Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis. The Panthers have an adequate offensive line, so there shouldn’t be any short-term ramifications from a Brady Christensen trade.
Main Photo: Jim Dedmon – USA Today Sports
