What Patriots OL Mike Onwenu stated about his upcoming free company and future plans

Patriots

“I’m actually simply specializing in the now.”

The Patriots have loads of selections to make this offseason.

And whereas these franchise-altering calls begin with Invoice Belichick’s future in New England, the Patriots even have over $75 million in cap area this offseason, per OverTheCap.com.

However with over 20 gamers on their roster set to hit free company this winter, the Patriots might want to decide what number of contributors on that sizable swath of the roster warrant a bigger payday in 2024 and past.

Depend offensive lineman Mike Onwenu as one key cog set to money on this offseason, particularly after the 2020 sixth-round decide solidified that unit this season by swapping over to proper deal with.

“For me, I’m actually simply specializing in the now. An important. I can’t management no matter that’s,” Onwenu instructed reporters Monday about his future plans. “However I can management the following 4 video games and pour every part into that and ensure I’m doing the suitable issues. Be sure I’m correcting myself.

Be sure I’m trusting myself and my approach and all that. In order that’s the place I stand. I’m not likely paying an excessive amount of consideration. An important factor to me is the following sport this week.”

Though the 26-year-old Onwenu has downplayed discuss his plans in free company, he admitted that it’s develop into a daily subject within the locker room.

“Everybody asks me about it or talks to me about it, however actually it’s uncontrollable,” Onwenu added. “I don’t know what’s going to occur but — it hasn’t occurred but. I actually deal with what I can deal with. I do know it sounds cliche, however on the finish of the day you actually can’t management it.”

Onwenu began off slowly in 2023, with the suitable guard laboring out of the gate on account of offseason ankle surgical procedure. However since shifting over to proper deal with, Onwenu has helped stabilize an O-line that made life depressing for Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe for prolonged stretches this season.

Not solely has Onwenu’s presence pushed each Calvin Anderson and Vederian Lowe additional down the depth chart, however he has held his personal towards a few of the high go rushers within the league.

Regardless of a tough sport towards Khalil Mack and the Chargers in Week 13, Onwenu performed a key function in holding T.J. Watt contained throughout New England’s win over the Steelers on Thursday night time.

Onwenu earned excessive reward from his quarterback in Zappe on Monday for his efforts to maintain the pocket clear towards the likes of Watt. 

“He really had the toughest job out of all people on the sector, caring for T.J. Watt,” Zappe stated on WEEI’s “Jones & Mego with Arcand.” “He did an exceptional job of that. Simply form of trying again at it — we watched the movie (Monday) — the offensive line, they actually received us going this sport.

“All the credit score to them and what they did. Receivers made performs, made it very easy on me simply to form of throw it to them and so they made performs. It was a terrific sport for us.”