Exploring the best offensive tackle fits for Patriots in 2026 free agency originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Editor’s note: In the coming days, we’ll be rolling out the best free-agent fits for the Patriots at key positions. Earlier this week we analyzed edge rushers and wide receivers. Today, we look at five offensive tackles New England should consider in free agency.
The New England Patriots lost Super Bowl 60 to the Seattle Seahawks for a lot of reasons, and one of the most obvious was the offensive line.
The whole unit did not play well, but the left tackle spot — occupied by rookie Will Campbell — was a serious issue. Campbell gave up 14 pressures, which, according to NextGen Stats, was the most by any player in a single game last season.
Campbell struggled in all four playoff games, and it’s possible that the MCL injury which forced him to miss four games late in the regular season contributed to his dip in performance.
The No. 4 pick from the 2025 NFL Draft received a 76.1 pass block grade from Pro Football Focus in the regular season, which ranked 20th among all tackles who played at least 50 percent of their team’s snaps. That’s not bad at all for a rookie.
Still, one of the hot debate topics in the offseason will center around whether the Patriots should move Campbell to guard. If they do, that would open up a spot at left tackle. That said, giving up on Campbell as a tackle this early into his career would probably be unwise.
And it’s not like he was the only reason why the Patriots gave up an NFL-record 21 sacks in the 2025 playoffs.
How can the Patriots bolster their depth and talent at tackle in free agency? Let’s look at five players who would be good fits.
1. Rasheed Walker, LT, Green Bay Packers
Walker is by far the best offensive tackle who could hit free agency. He’s not an elite player, but plays at a high level and is quite durable, evidenced by the fact he hasn’t missed a single game in the last three seasons.
He has played more than 1,000 snaps each of the last two seasons and allowed eight sacks during that span. According to ESPN, Walker’s “pass block win rate of 93.8 percent with the Packers ranked 11th among 68 qualifying offensive tackles in 2025.”
Walker would be an expensive addition in free agency because he is a solid starter at a premium position, and it wouldn’t make sense to sign him unless he’s going to play left tackle. So if the Patriots consider moving Campbell to guard, Walker could be a nice fit in New England.
2. Braxton Jones, LT, Chicago Bears
David Banks-Imagn ImagesA knee injury limited Jones to just four games in 2025. But before the injury, he was an above average tackle who earned a 80.8 pass block grade from Pro Football Focus in 2024. His 77.4 overall grade from PFF in 2024 ranked 22nd among all offensive tackles.
Jones could start for a team that’s weak at left tackle, but he’s probably best suited as a backup until he can prove his durability. He hasn’t played more than 12 games since his rookie season in 2022.
3. Jermaine Eluemunor, RT, New York Giants
Eric Hartline-Imagn ImagesEluemunor played quite well for the Giants in 2025, earning a 76.7 pass block grade from PFF, which ranked 17th among tackles and slightly ahead of Campbell’s 76.1 grade that led Patriots tackles. Eluemunor also allowed just four sacks in 16 games.
Eluemunor probably wouldn’t be able to start in New England, but he would provide great depth behind veteran Morgan Moses, and his ability to play tackle and guard would add valuable versatility to New England’s offensive line.
Eluemunor played two seasons with the Patriots in 2019 and 2020, so he should have some familiarity with the franchise.
4. Yosh Nijman, LT/RT, Carolina Panthers
Jeff Hanisch-Imagn ImagesNijman starred as a run blocker last season, earning an 86.1 run block grade from PFF, which ranked sixth-best among all tackles who played at least 250 snaps. He has great size at 6-foot-7 and 314 pounds.
Nijman did a nice job filling in at both left and right tackle when the Panthers dealt with injuries last season, so he would bring some good versatility to New England. His pass blocking needs work, but the Patriots could do worse in their search for o-line depth.
Nijman also is a durable player who hasn’t missed more than one game in any season since entering the league in 2020. He has played in 99 games (29 starts) over that span.
5. Vederian Lowe, LT, New England Patriots
Jeff Hanisch-Imagn ImagesLowe did a solid job filling in for Campbell when the former LSU star missed four games from Week 13 through Week 17.
The 26-year-old veteran allowed only one sack and two QB hits in 176 pass blocking snaps last season.
Lowe has proven to be a solid backup who can step in and start a few games if needed, without there being a steep drop-off in performance at the position. Those kinds of players are valuable because injuries are inevitable.