The New England Patriots should seriously evaluate all their options to improve their offensive line this offseason, beginning with the center position.
New England might want to look into signing a veteran free agent center to bolster their line, and Carolina Panthers center Cade Mays could be a great fit for the Patriots.
Mays is coming off a solid season, starting 12 games for the Panthers. Pro Football Focus ranked him as the 24th overall center out of 40. He earned the 13th-best blocking grade among centers, though his run blocking needs improvement, placing 33rd in that category.
The 26-year-old center did an impressive job keeping the quarterback protected, allowing just one sack and a total of 11 pressures throughout the season.
New England signed center Garrett Bradbury to a two-year deal worth up to $12 million last offseason, but it can’t move on from him this offseason. Bradbury is set to hit the salary cap with $6.9 million this coming season, but if the Patriots decide to let him go, they could save $5.7 million by cutting him.
Mays is likely to cost more than Bradbury, who Spotrac recently listed his market value at $12.3 million per season. However, Mays should provide a significant upgrade over Bradbury.
More NFL: Patriots Identified As Potential Landing Spot For Cowboys' Pro Bowl WR This Offseason