NFL executives, coaches, and scouts conducted the annual survey, placing Tyler Smith at the top, followed by Quenton Nelson, Creed Humphrey, and Quinn Meinerz. Onwenu started every game, stabilizing the interior of the Patriots’ offensive line and delivering one of the strongest seasons of his career. The survey results, however, seem difficult to reconcile with his performance in 2025.
Onwenu’s Production Belonged in the Conversation
ESPN’s rankings focus on identifying the best players at their positions in the present, rather than rewarding past achievements. By that standard, Onwenu had a compelling case. Pro Football Focus gave him a 78.2 overall grade in 2025, ranking seventh among 81 qualifying guards. His 78.2 pass-blocking grade was fifth, while his 74.2 run-blocking grade placed 10th. These figures describe a guard with few obvious weaknesses.
In the regular season, Onwenu logged 1,080 offensive snaps and helped the Patriots reach the Super Bowl by starting all 21 of the team’s regular-season and playoff games. Throughout his first five NFL seasons, he moved between right guard and right tackle, but in 2025 he remained at one position, and this stability appeared to unlock his best football. Pro Football Focus attributed his improved performance to this positional consistency, noting that the guard role was a driving force behind his bounce-back season. In 2024, he posted a career-low grade of 65.2 while splitting time between guard and tackle, which may explain why he missed ESPN’s rankings that year.
The ranking gap becomes more evident when comparing to others. Onwenu’s PFF grade surpassed several guards who did receive recognition, yet voters listed 22 interior linemen before noting the Patriots’ top blocker. Tyler Smith led the group with a 73.5 grade, while players like Steve Avila and Jonah Jackson earned grades of 75.0 and 72.3, respectively.
Patriots Already Showed How Much They Value Onwenu
New England’s offseason moves underscored how highly they value Onwenu. He entered 2026 with a $25 million salary-cap charge in the final year of his contract, which had been set at three years and $57 million in 2024. The two sides agreed to revise the deal rather than part ways. The updated contract lowered his cap hit to $17.5 million and included $8.95 million in fully guaranteed money for 2026. By accepting less immediate compensation, Onwenu freed up $7.5 million in cap space, preserving a productive partnership that began when the Patriots drafted him in the sixth round in 2020.
This move reflected Onwenu’s importance to the offense and to quarterback Drake Maye. While he may not attract as much attention as the league’s most decorated guards, his absence from some top-tier lists remains puzzling. Onwenu’s value often lies in preventing negative plays before they occur, rather than delivering highlight-reel blocks that dominate social media. The Patriots have long relied on him to solve problems along the line, and once they settled him at guard, he returned to form as one of the league’s best at the position.
In short, Onwenu’s impact and consistency deserve recognition, and the rankings should reflect his contributions to the Patriots’ offensive line.
