The veteran offensive lineman has experience playing tackle and guard.
After selecting him in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots would have preferred to simply insert Michael Onwenu at guard and call it a day. Circumstances beyond their control, however, forced them to regularly move him to another spot in the lineup.
As a result, his 56 career starts break down as follows: 24 have come at right tackle, 23 at right guar, six at left guard, and three as an extra tight end. His snaps are almost evenly split between the inside and the outside over the course of his four-year career.
When it was time for the Patriots to give Onwenu a new contract this offseason, they had to consider his positional flexibility. His three-year, $57 million deal reflects that: depending how you view him, he is now either the third-highest-paid right guard or the fourth-highest-paid right tackle in the NFL in terms of average annual value.
Where Onwenu eventually ends up playing remains to be seen — for much of the spring and on Day 1 of training camp they used him at right guard. Moving back to tackle would not be a problem, though, the 26-year-old said after Wednesday’s practice.
“Whatever the team needs in a play, is where I’ll be, essentially. As the days go on, I’ll keep practicing whatever position. On game day, we’ll see where I am,” he told reporters.
“I practice both. It’s camp, so I’m getting reps at both. Actually getting full, live reps is going to be important, so that’s what I’m getting and I’m practicing at it.”
Coming off a 2023 season that saw him start the final 11 games at right tackle, the belief was that Onwenu might have found a permanent home in that spot. When the Patriots talked to him about bringing him back before the start of free agency, they also discussed keeping him there (and compensating him accordingly).
He did therefore admit on Wednesday that his move back inside did catch him — no pun intended — off guard.
“It was a little surprising,” Onwenu said. “But pretty much as a football player, I’ve done it in the past. I started as a guard, started as a jumbo tackle, then I played tackle. So, it’s just one of the positions that I play.”
Versatility is one of the Michigan product’s defining traits so far in his professional career. It is also something the Patriots offensive line as a whole is aiming for this summer under new position coach Scott Peters.
“Days-in and days-out we’re going to be switching around. It’s going to be different lines. Just getting the best five out there and practicing — every guy practicing each position, and just knowing that you can play that position,” said Onwenu.
“In the past, I played multiple positions. So, it’s just, ‘The more you know, the more it helps.’ Say a player that’s to the right or left for me forgets what to do — seriously, we all learn the same thing. It’s easy to help the guy next to you when we’re all on the same page. That’s the goal.”