The New England Patriots just pulled off what might be the most Patriots move ever—cutting their 2022 first-round pick Cole Strange faster than Tom Brady left for Tampa Bay. And honestly? It’s about as shocking as finding out your morning coffee is caffeinated. Where will he end up?
The Strange Saga Comes To An End
When Bill Belichick drafted Strange 29th overall in 2022, the collective NFL universe did a double-take that could have registered on the Richter scale. A guard from Tennessee-Chattanooga? In the first round? Even the most die-hard fans were scratching their heads like they were trying to solve quantum physics.
Fast forward three years, and Mike Vrabel just said “thanks, but no thanks” to Belichick’s head-scratcher of a pick. Strange started 29 games over three seasons, which sounds decent until you realize that’s barely more than one full season spread across three years.
Why the Experiment Failed
Here’s where it gets interesting (and a little heartbreaking, if we’re being honest). Strange wasn’t just some scrub riding the bench. He actually started the 2025 training camp as the top guy at left guard. But then reality hit harder than a Ray Lewis blitz.
Within one week of camp, Strange found himself working with the second and third units, primarily at center. The kicker? He had overcome a serious knee injury that limited him to just three games in 2024. He came into this season healthy, even earning one of the Patriots’ four offseason awards. But apparently, being healthy and award-worthy isn’t enough when rookie third-rounder Jared Wilson from Georgia is breathing down your neck.
The Numbers Don’t Lie (And Neither Do PFF Grades)
Let’s talk brass tacks. Strange’s rookie season produced a 54.6 overall PFF grade, which is about as impressive as a participation trophy at a spelling bee. Over 30 total games with 29 starts, he split time between guard and center. Classic Patriots versatility that somehow never quite clicked.
The writing was on the wall when the New England kept nine offensive linemen on their 53-man roster but still couldn’t find room for their former first-rounder. That is like having nine different flavors of ice cream but deciding vanilla just isn’t worth keeping around.
What This Means Moving Forward
Vrabel is clearly putting his stamp on this roster, and it is not pretty for Belichick’s late-career draft picks. With Wilson stepping into the starting left guard role and veteran Ben Brown providing backup depth, the team is essentially admitting that sometimes the best way to fix a mistake is to just move on.
The financial hit isn’t exactly devastating. He was still on his rookie contract, but the ego bruising for the organization? That is gonna sting for a while. This is the same franchise that once turned late-round picks into Pro Bowlers, and here they are cutting a first-rounder before his rookie deal expires.
The Silver Lining (If You Squint Really Hard)
Here’s the thing about Strange. He is 27 years old with a first-round pedigree and legitimate NFL starting experience. Some team desperate for offensive line help will probably take a flyer on him. The Patriots’ trash might just be another team’s treasure, especially if that team has a better offensive line coach or scheme fit.
Plus, let’s give Vrabel credit where it’s due. He is making the tough decisions that need to be made, even if it means admitting the previous regime’s mistakes. That takes guts in a league where coaches often try to make square pegs fit into round holes just to avoid admitting they inherited a mess.
The Patriots cutting the young player is more than just a roster move. It is a symbol of the franchise turning the page from the Belichick era, for better or worse. Sometimes the strangest thing about a player named Strange is that he was probably never meant to be there in the first place.
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