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The New England Patriots shook up their offensive line on Friday by reportedly agreeing to a trade to send center Garrett Bradbury to the Chicago Bears for a 2027 fifth-round draft pick.
Bradbury was everything the Patriots needed him to be last season—a solid and consistent veteran who was available for every game. But the team had a clear vision in mind when they spent a third-round draft pick on former Georgia standout Jared Wilson, who was believed to be the best center in the entire 2025 NFL Draft.
It was because of Bradbury's experience, along with the lack of depth on the roster, that the Patriots attempted to move Wilson to left guard, in hopes of keeping both of their top interior offensive linemen on the field at the same time.
But Wilson struggled at certain points throughout the season, and those issues were magnified against better defenses throughout New England's postseason run. It's no surprise that the team moved toward a change, but most expected they would have allowed Wilson and Bradbury to battle it out in training camp for the starting center position.
The loser could have served as a solid depth option for the team. However, the Patriots chose to rip off the Band-Aid by moving on from Bradbury and giving Wilson a clear path to the starting center job. The move now leaves a gaping hole at left guard, which could potentially be filled by veteran Ben Brown. One would think a future move is coming for the Patriots to ensure stability at the position, whether through free agency or the draft.
The sky is the limit for Wilson at his natural position, but he will need to prove the team made the right decision through his on-field play. As for Bradbury, he went from blocking for Maye to now protecting Caleb Williams, the No. 1 overall pick of Maye's draft class in 2024.
He's going from a promising young quarterback to another promising young quarterback.
Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Instant analysis of Patriots trading C Garrett Bradbury to Bears
Continue reading...
Bradbury was everything the Patriots needed him to be last season—a solid and consistent veteran who was available for every game. But the team had a clear vision in mind when they spent a third-round draft pick on former Georgia standout Jared Wilson, who was believed to be the best center in the entire 2025 NFL Draft.
It was because of Bradbury's experience, along with the lack of depth on the roster, that the Patriots attempted to move Wilson to left guard, in hopes of keeping both of their top interior offensive linemen on the field at the same time.
But Wilson struggled at certain points throughout the season, and those issues were magnified against better defenses throughout New England's postseason run. It's no surprise that the team moved toward a change, but most expected they would have allowed Wilson and Bradbury to battle it out in training camp for the starting center position.
The loser could have served as a solid depth option for the team. However, the Patriots chose to rip off the Band-Aid by moving on from Bradbury and giving Wilson a clear path to the starting center job. The move now leaves a gaping hole at left guard, which could potentially be filled by veteran Ben Brown. One would think a future move is coming for the Patriots to ensure stability at the position, whether through free agency or the draft.
The sky is the limit for Wilson at his natural position, but he will need to prove the team made the right decision through his on-field play. As for Bradbury, he went from blocking for Maye to now protecting Caleb Williams, the No. 1 overall pick of Maye's draft class in 2024.
He's going from a promising young quarterback to another promising young quarterback.
Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Instant analysis of Patriots trading C Garrett Bradbury to Bears
Continue reading...
