Michael Onwenu was considered one of the best available guards hitting free agency this offseason. Despite having a deep market with other teams interested, the New England Patriots were able to keep their best offensive lineman.
A Look at Michael Onwenu’s Contract Details
Michael Onwenu’s three-year, $57 million deal with the Patriots keeps the 26-year-old guard in Foxboro, Mass., for the foreseeable future. Compared to some of the other contracts given out to some of the other available guards, it is within the Patriots’ price point.
- Robert Hunt (CAR) signed a five-year, $100 million deal ($63 million guaranteed)
- Jonah Jackson (LAR) signed a three-year, $51 million deal ($34 million guaranteed)
- John Runyan Jr. (NYG) signed a three-year, $30 million deal ($17 million guaranteed)
Onwenu’s contract carries $38 million in guaranteed money with an annual average of over $19 million. He becomes the fifth-highest-paid guard in the league following the long-term extension to Landon Dickerson in Philadelphia.
After three seasons of strong play, Onwenu has been locked in under the new Patriots regime in the post-Bill Belichick era.
Significance of Onwenu Returning to the New England Patriots
New England is an organization that has very few talented players on the offensive side of the ball. Whether it’s the pending release of DeVante Parker or the potential draft selection of a quarterback with the third overall pick, finding players who want to stay in Foxboro is a massive win.
Onwenu being paid like a top guard isn’t an issue. His above-average 71.5 Pro Football Focus grade was higher than the previously mentioned Dickerson and was among the best in football.
The Patriots also came into free agency with over $80 million in cap space — plenty of room to improve on the three-win roster from last season.
Being able to locate and lock up strong talent on their roster, is very important.
Plenty of teams have needs along the interior of their offensive line, many of whom could have offered the kind of contract the Patriots gave their former sixth-round pick.
Onwenu choosing to come back, though, is a major feather in the cap of both head coach Jerod Mayo and leading executive Eliot Wolf and the type of culture they are building fresh off Belichick’s removal.
KEEP READING: 2024 NFL Top 100 Free Agent Rankings
In the most basic case, Onwenu is a good offensive player, and for a team that doesn’t have many of those, it’s a smart move for the Patriots.
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