Six-year NFL veteran center David Andrews signed a new four-year contract with the New England Patriots. Andrews, a two-time Super Bowl champion, has spent the entirety of his career with the New England Patriots organization. EPSN’s Field Yates first broke news of the signing.
The Patriots and C David Andrews are finalizing a deal for him to return to New England, per sources.
Andrews is a longtime team captain and is one of the most respected players on the entire roster.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 19, 2021
David Andrews, New England Patriots, Agree to Deal
After missing the entirety of the 2019 season with blood clots in his lungs, David Andrews returned to the field for the 2020 season. While he didn’t completely recapture his pre-injury form, Andrews still played like one of the better centers in the league. Appearing in 12 games, Andrews ended the season as the 16th-best center, according to the fine folks over at Pro Football Focus. The 2020 iteration of the Patriots had a fantastic run game, and Andrews was a big reason for that success.
David Andrews initially entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent. Considered undersized by NFL standards, the Georgia product signed with the Patriots hoping just to make the team. However, after incumbent starter Byron Stork suffered a concussion, Andrews earned a Week 1 starting job as an undrafted free agent. The rookie performed very well, putting up league-average play before returning to the bench once Stork returned to the lineup.
The Georgia product earned the starting job in 2016, playing at a high level while helping New England win their fifth Super Bowl in franchise history. Andrew maintained the starting job for each of the next two seasons while continuing to elevate his play. The Patriots made it to the Super Bowl in both years, falling just short in 2017 before winning it all in 2018. Andrews was one of New England’s most important players in that Super Bowl, as he was largely responsible for keeping superstar defensive tackle Aaron Donald in check.
Andrews developed blood clots in his lungs during the final weeks leading up to the 2019 season. This condition forced him to land on the injured reserve and miss the entire season. Fortunately, the former undrafted free agent was able to make a complete recovery. The Patriots had Ted Karras fill in for the wounded star, and the former sixth-round pick played well enough to earn another contract with the Miami Dolphins.
