After starting at right tackle, right guard, left guard and as a tackle-eligible tight end in his first four NFL seasons, New England Patriots offensive lineman Michael Onwenu signed a three-year, $57 million contract extension and is now viewed as the team's starting right tackle. He started 10 games at right tackle as a rookie and finished off last year with 11 starts at right tackle. In his 11 starts at right tackle in 2023, the 26-year-old allowed only three sacks and one QB hit. The starters before him at that spot allowed five sacks and six QB hits in just six games. He'll be learning a new offensive system in 2024 under coordinator Alex Van Pelt, which will bring a new challenge for Onwenu and the rest of the team's offensive line. Onwenu feels pretty comfortable at right tackle at this point, but he noted with enough practice, he's also confident he could play left tackle, if needed.
The New England Patriots re-signed offensive guard Mike Onwenu to a three-year, $57 million deal on Monday, according to a source. Onwenu has turned out to be an excellent sixth-round pick by the Patriots in 2020 out of Michigan, as the 26-year-old offensive lineman has started 56 of his 64 games in his first four years in the league with the team. His durability and versatility to play both guard and tackle are his big strong suits. Of his 64 career regular-season starts, 24 have come at right guard, 24 at right tackle, five at left guard and three as a tackle-eligible tight end. Former head coach Bill Belichick said that Onwenu was "built to play guard," but needs at the tackle position forced the team to move Onwenu around in several seasons.
