Jared Wilson
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SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 03: Jared Wilson #58 of the New England Patriots addresses the media prior to Super Bowl LX at the Santa Clara Marriott on February 03, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
On Friday, the New England Patriots traded starting center Garrett Bradbury to the Bears for a 2027 fifth-round pick. A former first-round pick out of LSU by the Vikings in 2019, Bradbury signed a two-year deal with the Patriots last offseason to provide some veteran leadership and stability along their young offensive line. He did exactly that, starting every game en route to a Super Bowl appearance for the up-and-coming Patriots.
With Bradbury now in Chicago, some shuffling will be necessary for the Patriots’ offensive line. However, it is good news for a promising 2025 draft pick….
The New England Patriots Just Cleared the Way for a 2025 Draft Pick
Jared Wilson
GettyFOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – DECEMBER 14: Jared Wilson #58 celebrates after Drake Maye #10 of the New England Patriots scored a first quarter touchdown against the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium on December 14, 2025 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jordan Bank/Getty Images)
Last year, the Patriots spent a third-round pick on the extremely athletic center out of Georgia, Jared Wilson. With Bradbury locked in as the team’s starting center, Wilson found a temporary home at left guard, starting every game he was healthy and playing a key role on a much-improved New England offensive front.
However, he did struggle at times with the position shift. Wilson had a 52.2 PFF grade as a rookie, good for 67th of 79 qualifying guards. He’s a natural center, and now he’ll get a chance to prove it.
Because, as ESPN’s Mike Reiss points out, Wilson is expected to slide back over to center now that Bradbury has been traded. The hope for the Patriots is that playing his college position — along with having another year in the league — will pay dividends. New England is right to expect a lot from Wilson, and now they’re proving they believe in him and are putting him in a better position to succeed.
Of course, with Wilson now at center, left guard becomes a big need for this team.
The New England Patriots Have Options to Replace Jared Wilson at Left Guard
The Patriots have three options to find a new starter at left guard: they can promote someone currently on the roster, sign a free agent, or draft a replacement. New England doesn’t have a wealth of talent along the offensive line as it is, so they will likely be looking externally for their new starting left guard.
This isn’t the strongest offensive line class ever, but there are lots of guard options expected to be available where the Patriots are picking in the first and second rounds — where they would be looking for a day one starter. Alabama OL Kadyn Proctor, Oregon G Emmanuel Pregnon, and Texas A&M G Chase Bisontis are some of the premium options.
Of course, New England could also look to the free agent market. Alijah Vera-Tucker is the big prize in the class, but he could be prohibitively expensive, especially since the Patriots have other priorities in free agency. John Simpson, Mekhi Becton, Connor McGovern, Dylan Parham, David Edwards, and Ed Ingram are some more budget-friendly options.