Cole

Strange

Strange will join the Miami interior competition in the absence of James Daniels, though it’s possible he just winds up as a pure backup. There’s got to be someone out there with a #RevengeGame narrative for Strange playing against the Patriots — who drafted him in the first round in 2022 — in Week 2, but we’d be surprised if he got many snaps.

Strange picked a great landing spot after getting released yesterday, as the Browns have almost zero starting linemen with guaranteed contracts for 2026. Corley will look to develop his skills and could perhaps challenge for an end-of-roster spot later in the season. The Browns also added QB Bailey Zappe, TE Brendan Bates, TE Sal Cannella, WR Kaden Davis, S Christopher Edmonds, DT Ralph Holley, CB LaMareon James, DT Sam Kamara, RB Ahmani Marshall, DE Julian Okwara and RB Trayveon Williams to their practice squad.

This comes just four months after the Patriots declined Strange’s fifth-year option. Strange lost most of the 2024 season due to a torn patellar tendon, limiting him to just two starts. He will now be subject to waivers should any team feel frisky enough to gamble on his underwhelming profile.

He had signed a one-year deal with the Patriots this offseason. The veteran guard played for the Falcons, Commanders, and Jets over his eight years in the league after being selected in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He started 29 games for the Falcons in his first two seasons, but was mostly a versatile fill-in player afterwards. PFF graded his 2020 season with the Commanders, where he started 13 games, as his best year as a starter. The Patriots will likely turn to Cole Strange at guard this season.

The move, or lack thereof, doesn’t come as a surprise. Strange was a stunning first-round selection by Bill Belichick in 2022, with Sean McVay saying he thought the Rams would have a shot at landing Strange with the 104th pick. Strange suffered a torn patellar tendon late in the 2023 season that cost him most of 2024. A left guard by trade, Strange made two starts at center last year. A replacement-level player at best, Strange enters his contract year in need of a breakout season.

Strange, one of the last wacky Bill Belichick first-round picks in 2022, looks like he’ll get a four-game audition with the remainder of the Patriots offensive line down the stretch. The guard has missed most of the season after leaving with what was reportedly a torn PCL in Week 15 of the 2023 season. Almost a full calendar year later, he’ll aim to make his return.

Strange suffered a serious knee injury in Week 15 against the Chiefs — reportedly a torn patellar tendon — and is expected be out for a while. It’s a huge blow to a New England offensive line graded by PFF as last year’s fourth worst pass blocking unit and 12th best run blocking unit. PFF graded Strange as the 27th best guard in the NFL last season. Sidy Sow is playing left guard for the Patriots in offseason practices, according to the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed.

Strange was overmatched by a rushing lineman early in the second quarter and had his leg folded up under him while falling backward. The replay didn’t look great, and to nobody’s surprise, Strange was carted off the field. Backup Atonio Mafi took over for strange at left guard following the injury.

That’s back-to-back weeks where Brown has been listed as questionable, but the veteran tackle has played in each of the Patriots’ last five games and shouldn’t be at real risk of missing Week 8. Brown, along with starting RT Vederian Lowe (ankle) are both listed as questionable, but Lowe was able to log limited practices each of the last two days. Starting left guard Cole Strange was removed from the injury report.

Also listed questionable for the Patriots are C David Andrews, OL Mike Onwenu, and OT Trent Brown. Injury issues along the offensive line have contributed to a poor run game through six weeks, with running back Rhamondre Stevenson one of the most inefficient backs in the league. The matchup against the Bills tilts expected production towards the ground game but concerns over an eventual game script that could move the Patriots away from the run leaves fantasy managers of Patriots backs potentially looking for other options for Week 7.