The New England Patriots made headlines this offseason with their aggressive spending spree — the first under new head coach Mike Vrabel. Determined to revamp the roster and support rookie quarterback Drake Maye, the Patriots went after key free agents with the hope of instantly boosting their offensive firepower and stability.
Among the most talked-about moves was the signing of veteran center Garrett Bradbury to a two-year, $9.5 million contract. On paper, it seemed like a solid addition — a player with 88 career starts over six seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. His durability and experience were undeniable. The Patriots viewed him as a reliable anchor for an offensive line tasked with protecting their future franchise quarterback.
However, not all that glitters is gold. Early reviews of the Bradbury signing are sounding alarm bells in Foxborough. Despite his longevity in the league, Bradbury’s performance as a pass protector has been anything but stellar. His troubling pass-blocking struggles have followed him from Minnesota, and now fans are questioning if the Patriots have made an expensive mistake.
The numbers don’t lie. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Bradbury finished the 2023 season with a 62.1 overall grade, ranking 33rd out of 64 graded centers. Even more concerning, his 48.2 pass-blocking grade ranked a shocking 55th among 64 centers. Last season alone, Bradbury surrendered 37 total pressures, six quarterback hits, four sacks, and was flagged for six penalties — alarming stats for someone responsible for protecting a rookie QB.
Interior pressure has long been the Achilles heel for young quarterbacks, and with Drake Maye stepping into a pivotal year of development, the Patriots’ gamble on Bradbury feels increasingly risky. While the team successfully added weapons around Maye, protection could ultimately be the difference between success and disaster.
Patriots fans are now asking the hard questions: Did New England overpay for a liability? Was this the right move for a team desperately trying to turn the page?
With training camp looming, all eyes in New England will be on Bradbury. If he can’t clean up his pass protection woes quickly, the Patriots may find themselves regretting this $9.5 million decision sooner rather than later.